Sometimes it’s fun to look back, see how far we’ve come before looking ahead to where we’re going. No doubt times are changing and being a proponent of innovation, I’m focused on the opportunities new technology brings us on daily basis. Yes, we know the tools are meaningless by themselves much like a Ferrari is helpless without an engine. Content is king and relationships are what fuel the social media bonfire.
With the recent announcement of the iPhone 4 among many other soon to be released devices, the sky’s the limit when it comes to next generation gadgets. Keep your Motorola flip if that’s what floats your boat, we can’t bring everyone along for the ride. I use to think everyone should consider joining the social media revolution but as time goes by I realize it’s not for everyone, like roller-coasters and scotch.
Comparing the old and the new fascinates me. We use to keep to ourselves, now we feel inclined to tweet our every move, thought, and feeling. It’s not necessarily a bad thing but the saying, ‘no need to reinvent the wheel’ keeps popping into my head. Let’s revisit a little history, shall we?
Prospecting then and now
Who can forget when prospecting was primarily done through cold calls. Sure there are some industries that still rely on this technique but much like wildlife in the gulf, it’s quickly becoming extinct. Now we’re spending more time using Twitter search, targeting our prospecting to those most likely to be interested in our products and services based on keyword online conversations. We’re also spending more time on LinkedIn, utilizing the functionality it offers ranging from Q&A, joining specific groups, and giving/receiving recommendations. Facebook pages are popping up quicker than ever as our favorite brands try to capture fans in the form of likes. Social media is on the rise, that is without question.
Communication then and now
The handwritten note is becoming obsolete, replaced by email, tweets, and text messages. As much as I love innovation, I’m fearful that skills like penmanship will continue to decline. It’s a sad reality we have to come to grips with just like those who fought to keep old Tiger Stadium erect. I use to enjoy receiving letters from my closest of friends during college let alone those sappy love letters we wrote one another in high school. Back then the teacher was the only one who saw the confiscated note, now the world sees our mistakenly sent tweets intended to be direct messages.
Children then and now
Our kids get bored if they don’t have multiple stimuli surrounding them at all times. For better or worse we’re moving in a new direction where multitasking won’t be just an art form, it’ll be an Olympic event. The Decathlon will soon be replaced by the Tweetathon, a new event where participants swim across a crock filled swamp while tweeting. First person with all limbs intact and no spelling errors wins.
Kick the can has been replaced by the Wii, black and white television has been replaced with HD TV, and Michael Jackson music videos have been replaced by Miley Cyrus dirty dancing and Miss USA pole dancing. Plot driven movies have been replaced by special effects and 3D trickery yet I’d love to see a remake of Glengary Glen Ross, with the new actors being played by Seth Godin, Gary V, and Chris Brogan.
I guess I want some of the old with some of the new. What say you?
Photo credit (Main): http://www.lessignets.com/signetsdiane/calendrier/aout/14.htm
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }