I admit it–I don’t have an iPad. My MacBook is the old style, white, not aluminum uni-body design. I didn’t have a smart phone until the iPhone 3GS was out. And then only because the rest of my team forced us to get them.
I’m a big believer in having the right tools for the job. Without them, you struggle. But, I am NOT an early adopter of technology. I like to see versions 2.0 and 3.0 roll out after the bugs have been worked through.
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, talks about technology as an accelerator. If your core business competency is dependent on a particular cutting-edge technology, then you need it. If your stock-in-trade is quickly-edited, beautiful, professional video, then you need the fastest, best video equipment and highest-processing speed computer.
But if you don’t do that, you probably don’t need the latest and grooviest.
I try to be careful with our equipment dollars, because expenses eat up profit very quickly.
How do you face getting the tools you need? Do you have a conscious strategy around investing in the tools you need?
6 Responses
I try to be careful with our equipment dollars, because expenses eat up profit very quickly <— yes. I'm in the same boat Mark.
well, I wouldn’t say I am fast adopter, either, especially when it comes to things that are useless to me. For example, I got my first cell phone when I became a student and had to communicate with home or other students. I don’t understand why parents buy their 8 year old children smartphones! I still use my 2004 AMD computer. It works fine with all the software I need to use daily like browsers and Office. Why bother buying the latest Mac book Pro? It won’t help me bit improve in my work.
I’m not an early adopter either. For example, I’m just now getting into using my Facebook Page, rather than profile, for business interactions and it feels great that I’m entering the party once it’s already got into full swing, rather than being one of the early few trying to get it started.
Out of interest, in my other life I’m ALWAYS the first one on the dance floor 😉
Corrina- I’m so with you- we haven’t done much with our Facebook page either… and I, too, love to dance. 🙂
I am definitely not an early adopter too, I am still using Firefox 3.15, I don’t have iPhone yet although I do plan to get one in May. And I don’t have a facebook account yet.
I so hear you Nicholas- we’re on Facebook, but painfully inactive with it. And I as forced to get an iPhone by my team. 🙂 And I have to say, it’s been a great asset.