Technology: Too much of a good thing?
I attended a technology conference last week in Atlanta and was reminded, once again, of how alluring technology can be. I was reminded of how quickly folks latch on to the trendiest new tech thingies, thinking they have finally found the answer that is going to take their business to that highly, profitable place they have been dreaming of. Most of all though, I was reminded of how complicated our lives can become when we abandon simple things that have been proven to work over and over again.
As I sat there listening to speaker after speaker, I found these questions swirling around in my head.
- How much time are these “hot new” programs taking from an agent’s work day?
- How are agents tracking their ROI when using these programs?
- Are these programs bringing agents closer to their goals or further away?
- Is the use of this stuff dollar-productive or a just distraction?
As it turns out, I was not the only person thinking this way. One speaker, who happens to be an owner of a very reputable technology company, gave a presentation titled, “Manage your business and not your tools.” He stressed the power of simplicity and emphasized the point that while he believes in technology, he also suggested that if it is not making life easier for you and helping to produce more income, then it’s really an obstacle and not a tool.
It was refreshing to hear a leader of a technology company publicly embrace the principles on which we founded ours. Technology represents no more magic to our businesses than do our shoes or a ballpoint pen. They all have their place and can potentially add value, but none are a substitute for timeless best practices.
Remember Occam’s Razor. It’s the belief that all other things being equal, the simplest solution is usually the correct one. If you can accomplish the same or more with less “overhead”, why wouldn’t you.
Simplicity…
- enables us to achieve more by staying focused on the core things that matter most in our businesses.
- breeds clarity, taking the stress out of not knowing what’s most important for us to be doing at any point in time.
- enhances profitability because complicated tools and systems generally cost either more money, more time, or both.
- enhances creativity by keeping our minds uncluttered and free from the burdens of ambiguity and worry.
- keeps us out of the unnecessary “muck” that slows us down, allowing us to more nimbly react when opportunities present themselves.
So the next time you find your self bedazzled by high technology, ask yourself whether it’s truly going to take you where you want to go. And be particularly suspicious of anything that claims to solve all of your problems or run your business on auto-pilot. If such things really existed, everyone would be sipping mixed drinks on a faraway beach while their businesses ran themselves.
