Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
•
Download the mp3 (3M)
Transcript
This is Leo Notenboom for askleo.info.
A few weeks ago I discussed the The one skill you should hone. That skill is web searching, and I remain convinced that it's perhaps the number one skill to help you use your computer more effectively.
But it dawned on me the other day that it's not always about skills. It's often about attitude.
What attitude am I talking about? Well, I'll put it this way. If you desperately wished that computers, software, and other technologies would quit changing then you're not going to be happy with what I'm going to say:
Embrace change.
In my experience the people that are the most comfortable with technology, the people that use it the most effectively and are the least hindered by it are the folks that not only accept change as inevitable, but even look forward to it as it comes along. These are the folks who are curious, who are interested in learning what the technology can do for them, and how they can best leverage the latest and greatest to make their lives more effective, efficient and fun.
I'll contrast this with the many, many people out there who, for example, learn one way of doing something and steadfastly refuse to explore other or newer ways of performing that task more effectively or perhaps in new ways altogether.
The former group understands that technology is a tool to be used and exploited.
The later group? They may not realize it, but they're slaves to the very technology that they refuse to let go of.
The later group will often argue that time spent learning new things, which will also eventually be rendered obsolete, is time wasted and time diverted from actually accomplishing the tasks at hand. And I'll even agree that to a degree. It is possible to waste a lot of time picking up new tools and technologies that you'll never use. However that's no excuse not to focus on areas that will benefit you.
Now, I'll absolutely concede that change can be painful, change can be wasteful, and that not all change is for the good. But I absolutely believe that the pain of progress is worth it, that there is more positive progress than there is negative, and that the results of accepting change are more beneficial than hiding your virtual head in the virtual sand.
Let's face it, Windows 98, Word 2000, parts and support for your 10 year old computer, heck, even parts and support for your 40 year old classic car aren't going to be readily available forever. They may live on as specialty items, antiques or collectibles, but after a time they're just no longer viable as actual, useful, day-to-day tools.
Prepare for it.
Change is inevitable.
I'd love to hear what you think. Visit askleo.info and enter 11533 in the go to article number box to access the show notes and to leave me a comment. While you're there, browse over 1,100 technical questions and answers on the site.
Till next time, I'm Leo Notenboom, for askleo.info.
Article C3036 - May 27, 2007 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
July 30, 2011 10:20 AM
my lifelong motto.........Welcome CHANGE. Ask Leo's "The Attitude that Helps" is an insightful article. I wholeheartedly agree with the comment by Chas Berman 06.08.2007..."evaluate" CHANGE. This is a very worthwhile site. THANKS again, Leo ! Trish2040
August 7, 2011 12:28 PM
Rampant change adoption can be good, even fun--if you have the money, time and available brainpower to invest in it. Beyond that, one has to choose what new technology to invest oneself into. Think I ought to move to Windows 7? Great. I'm on SSDI--YOU pay for the computer, new software, Dummies books, etc. Doing so is not an option for me.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "Sometimes, nothing beats old school" are valid options. I'm not suggesting Ludditism--just open-minded balance.
December 3, 2011 7:29 PM
Yes change is good otherwise we would not have all that we now enjoy to make life easier. In the computing world however we must try to keep up but it is hard as it changes so quickly and it isn't as easy for some people to learn as it is for others. e.g. some people are naturally good at maths whereas a lot of people really struggle with it even though they are trying to understand it. I think the people who develop all this computer technology find it easy or they wouldn't be doing it and probably can't understand how some people find parts of it so difficult, especially older people who didn't grow up with it. And learning it is pretty time consuming and sometimes stressfull and frustrating. It is great in so many ways though so we blunder along.
December 30, 2012 9:40 AM
So long ass you are willing to operate at some superficial level then yes, bring on the change!
I read last night that in order to become proficient with a musical instrument to the professional level of a symphony orchestra, you will invest 10,000 hrs to do so. Now imagine how frustrating that becomes if included in that mastery, cavalier changes in the way tempo or perhaps tuning is employed would impact that perfecting.
One of the best books I've ever read pointing to this is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The chapter on gumption is really all you need to read. It speaks legions to this matter.
You are forgetting, Leo, that humans operate at a certain pace, far slower than what can be incorporated with the pace of change wrought by computers. We are not, as much as some would wish us or insist we are, multi-tasking. Brain science points to that.
I want to master my tools not have my tools master me. There is plenty of change involved there, and once mastered, plenty of change involved in using them at the master's level.
Just ask any musician who is confronted by having to play Mozart then Schoenberg!
It's not about stupid. It's about gumption.
Just ask any XP user.
December 31, 2012 8:41 AM
LEO
I am 92. I wish I had been able to read your articles when I was 18 ! Students nowadays don't realise how lucky they are and should thank you for giving them advice and knowledge that they will need in these forthcoming days of austerity.
Regards Tom W (UK)