Camille’s blog entries have had me thinking, and I must say she’s inspiring. Without any experience in “blogging” she jumped right in and did it very, very well. I find it a bit daunting to think of what to write and share with a group of very accomplished, professional, intelligent women. I started reflecting on my process of learning new technologies. I know that to be successful as a project, media and event producer, I need to keep learning about and using technology to become more efficient, effective and connected. However, it’s not about “she who has the most tools wins.” It’s about being flexible and adaptable because in a blink of an eye new technologies appear overnight.
Learning and using technology is a significant challenge for me because I’m a technophobe at heart. I was never very good at math or science, and stayed away from anything technical or mechanical. Living in a technical world now means I am often forced to swallow my pride, ask for help and to try something new that’s way out of my comfort zone. I read Ellen DeGeneres just recently learned to use e-mail. Phew, I was relieved at that news!
Too frequently pride keeps me from asking for help, but with computers, cell phones and the internet I have no choice but to step up to the device in question, (typically with my eyes glazing over all the instructions) and ask for help. I hate feeling like I’m not “getting it” fast enough or on my own, but technology has really taught me humility. Here is something that I can’t talk through, charm, negotiate or take short cuts with.
I’ve learned how rewarding and great if feels to turn my friends and family on to whatever new technology tool I’ve learned. I will never be able to thank enough IT staff or computer/cell phone savvy friends for all their help. However, I can share some tips and tools with others and let them know that if I can do it, anyone can!
I think I’ll get my mom and brother to blog and get the whole extended family up on Skype. I look forward to tweeting and being twittered! Through Facebook, email, LinkedIn, I am now in touch with pals I had in elementary school, and even forgave Johnny Orloff who broke my heart. I’ve found oodles of free business software tools and am now a “free trial” junkie. I’ve been to basecamp, pilfered shareware, been googled, trashed cookies, and merged playlists.
I also miss old-fashioned face-to-face interaction. I’m more confident entering the technical cyber world now, but the trick is to keep the balance with the rest of my world. Not just balancing job, family, friends, hobbies, exercise and all that – but also finding the right balance being unplugged and plugged in.
What about you? How does technology affect you, do you feel balanced, and where do you go for help?
April 14, 2009 at 7:20 pm |
OMG!! Geeze Jen…I cannot believe someone else out there feels..or felt, like I do. Thats me too!! I too am a technophobe – severly, I might add. I am not on facebook or teeting on twitter, I don’t try free software trials and I don’t have a cell phone – so your WAY ahead of me. But I am getting braver… I am thinking seriously about facebook, I plan on getting a cell and I recently found that I love blogging – well, at least commenting on the blogs!! See, I relate to people, not technology and the techy people are always frustrated with me….but, Bless their hearts, they keep trying with me! I agree that balance is key – that AND the willingness to feel odd & rediculious when you must ask for help. I do like keeping up with new technology when I climb a new technology mountain and gain a new skill – then I feel better, smarter. And I do the same, Jen – I pass anything I learn on to others. So, THANK YOU JEN for saying what most of us technophobes felt to phobic to say!! At least me anyway. Awesome article!
August 4, 2009 at 4:22 pm |
Jen, on thursday at Cafeinated we’ll hear more about Twitter. i fear i may succumb and start tweeting. what about you? coming up with a personal criteria for connecting is probably a good idea. to do that, i have to know about the new tech stuff to be able to say yes or no. ah the joy of conscious discrimination.