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| Dog working on laptop ©KariDesign, Fotolia |
Learning to program for the first time at age 51 isn't easy,
especially when you weren't a dazzling success in high school subjects
that involved math, science and problem solving. Don’t misunderstand me.
I excelled in my undergraduate and graduate studies, but I took
subjects I understood almost intrinsically from my youth up. They didn't
require me to leave my comfort zone to the extent I am leaving it now.
Computer science is no more challenging than my previous work. After
all, it's not everyone who can sit through several years of music theory
at the undergraduate and graduate level, and use it to create original
compositions. Just the same, I'm challenging my mind in new ways, and I
suspect this investment will eventually pay off.
Speaking of science, they say you add more grooves to your brain with everything you learn. I’d like to see if my brain has become any groovier since starting this course. If I could visualize it, I'd also love to see the new synaptic connections I've developed since taking on computer science. So far, the best lesson I’ve learned is that an old dog can learn new tricks after all.
As our economy continues to recover, the importance of adding new skills will increase. Whether we’re welders or physicians, we’ll have to augment our core competencies with evolving knowledge and emerging technical skills. To be seen as indispensable, most of us will have to become resourceful problem solvers.
It’s no longer a secret that almost every modern career is either partially or totally vulnerable to change. No one is safe. Part of the problem is outsourcing. Companies want to pay as little as possible to get the job done. They don’t want to pay for benefits. The idea of seniority and automatic pay raises is no longer sacred. Here’s what they’re saying, “I love what you did yesterday, but now I need something new. By the way, can you do it with less? If not, I need someone who can.”
Another part of the equation is technology. Repetitive tasks weren’t just time consuming; they were expensive. Moreover, they were subject to human error. By contrast, stabilized computer programs removed miscalculations and mistakes. Consequently, companies replaced human effort with automation immediately after the technology behind it became inexpensive.
As intimidating as progress may seem, it is no match for the human mind. The way to overcome this threat is to adapt the latest innovations to new uses. It’s time to think outside the box.
Note: All images in this blog are licensed to Bill Graham by Fotolia.
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| Old dog shaking a hand ©fotowebbox, Fotolia |
Speaking of science, they say you add more grooves to your brain with everything you learn. I’d like to see if my brain has become any groovier since starting this course. If I could visualize it, I'd also love to see the new synaptic connections I've developed since taking on computer science. So far, the best lesson I’ve learned is that an old dog can learn new tricks after all.
As our economy continues to recover, the importance of adding new skills will increase. Whether we’re welders or physicians, we’ll have to augment our core competencies with evolving knowledge and emerging technical skills. To be seen as indispensable, most of us will have to become resourceful problem solvers.
It’s no longer a secret that almost every modern career is either partially or totally vulnerable to change. No one is safe. Part of the problem is outsourcing. Companies want to pay as little as possible to get the job done. They don’t want to pay for benefits. The idea of seniority and automatic pay raises is no longer sacred. Here’s what they’re saying, “I love what you did yesterday, but now I need something new. By the way, can you do it with less? If not, I need someone who can.”
Another part of the equation is technology. Repetitive tasks weren’t just time consuming; they were expensive. Moreover, they were subject to human error. By contrast, stabilized computer programs removed miscalculations and mistakes. Consequently, companies replaced human effort with automation immediately after the technology behind it became inexpensive.
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| Dogs using human technology ©Roger costa Morera, Fotolia |
Outsourcing and automation have driven many careers into
obsolescence, not just in the United States, but around the world. It
may seem cruel, but there is no end in sight for these trends. Many
long-term careers are now exclusively the domain of computers, robots
and programs. To overcome the double-edged sword of innovation, we’ll
have to forge new careers and industries instead of falling back on
traditional jobs. Future occupations must take advantage of our unique,
heuristic capabilities as human beings.
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| Thinking outside the box ©masterzphotofo, Fotolia |
As intimidating as progress may seem, it is no match for the human mind. The way to overcome this threat is to adapt the latest innovations to new uses. It’s time to think outside the box.
Note: All images in this blog are licensed to Bill Graham by Fotolia.
