For last week’s newsletter things went a bit sideways last week – literally – I cannot explain why my newsletter photo published on it’s side instead of upside-right, because it was and still is correct on my editing screen. Sometimes these inexplicable quirks of technology remind me that I may be getting past that age at which I can readily adopt and adapt to all of the latest, greatest technologies.
Continuing that musing on my personal challenges with emerging technologies, as they sometimes seem to push me toward a world in which the pace of our interactions and our relationships does not align with my “1900’s” idea of what that pace should be.
Does anyone remember the days when you had to get up and turn a dial on the television to change the channel? And you really knew it was time to go to bed when the screen turned to a grey snowstorm because the network had gone off-air! Ahh, the gold old days!
Nowadays there is no such thing as “off-the-air”, and I need to get up and get my reading glasses, turn the reading light on, and read the instructions for the remote control get my “smart” tv in the correct mode so I can even find the channels. Such convenience!
On the other side of the ledger, that being looking at positive outcomes of the onslaught of technologies and the brave new world it leaves us in, I watch a lot less TV because it’s too much work!
Our recent public health situation has forced a lot more people to learn and adapt to video conferencing, and that has allowed for us all to connect in more meaningful ways than we would have been able to while isolated. And we’re more than happy to meet with and consult with our client family by video – it allows us all to be a little more efficient, avoids drive time, and allows us to extend our reach to help those further away from our office than would otherwise be convenient. And that’s a good thing.
As I’ve begun to embrace podcasting and video technology this year, I initially thought I may be in for more of the tech-shock we sometimes can experience, I thought it may be more hectic and pushing my pace further from my comfort-zone. I see these young kids with their hype and energy podcasts, giving the impression that they are ramped up at 110% all the time, and never sleep, take a deep breath, or sit for a quiet conversation with another human being.
But I’ve been pleasantly surprised that the experience so far has been more like a quiet conversation with a friend or new acquaintance. It actually comforts me a bit to think that I can share more of our hard-won insight into how good planning, poor planning or no planning impacts families. And, just as I say when we do our presentations, if the information we share inspires one person to take the steps to ensure their loved ones are protected – whether they take those steps with our help or with another attorney or law firm – if just one person takes those steps, we’ve mutually helped make the world a better place for those we leave behind!