Frank Childs

I have recently thought about all the changes in technology. OK, let me rephrase that. I am in the technology industry so I think about technology changes all the time not just recently. It does not matter whether it is about the Internet and cloud computing or about mobile phones, particularly the so-called smart phones and the new tablet or pad devices that are out there, just to name a few examples.

Some days I feel like the changes and updates are coming at us so fast it is like the wind in a category 5 hurricane. I am sure others feel that way at times as well. It is at these times that we need to stop and take a deep breath and remember that we only need to worry about the technology that applies to us in our lives and professions and in our businesses.

You may ask yourself how do I take advantage of all this technology to improve my life or my business? In my opinion, that is the wrong question and I am not saying that I know what the right questions are, however, I think a much better question is this. What new technology should I be looking to implement at my work or in my life to be more productive, profitable, and gain greater peace of mind? This begs the question, how do I determine what technology is best and right for my business or organization?

I believe that in order to answer these questions you must have a deep and clear understanding about your business and what you are trying to accomplish? One of the beauties of modern technology is that it is very customizable and can be made to do whatever you need it to do in many cases. On the other hand, if you do not fully understand what you are trying to accomplish and have not planned carefully and thoroughly you can very easily make extremely costly mistakes that can cost you your job and in some cases even bring the entire organization down with it.

So, what is my point and where I am going with all this? We do not need to worry about the continuous onslaught of all the technology anymore then we need to learn how to drink from a high pressure fire hose. What is much more important is that we understand clearly how our business works and that we do what we need to gain clear insights into how our organization functions and works.

How do we do that? I have some thoughts on this as well and that is perhaps a topic for another blog some other time. However, I do believe that if you can do this then you can see much more clearly what new technology trends and solutions will most benefit your organization. Then that will enable you to invest your limited financial resources in technology solutions that will deliver quick returns on your investments and help you stay ahead of the competition. At ISI, we call this “deploying technology to accelerate your business”.