Teach this old dog some new tricks

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.

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.

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.

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.

Time to Reinvent

Jacksonville, Florida is a microcosm of a world that’s changing around us. Empty buildings stand as ghostly reminders of a busy past. In a few cases, these structures were built as far back as the dawn of the 20th Century. For years, they’ve stood as hollow shells of businesses that once bustled with activity and life. A few years ago, I looked inside one of these architectural relics and the only thing I saw was a nest of pigeons. In other cases, however, businesses recently closed due to the latest recession.

One cause of our economic misery is technological innovation. Automation has enabled companies to cut down tremendous amounts of backlog while significantly reducing overhead. Of course, that means they laid off workers by the thousands never to rehire them. As with all things, technology is a two-edged sword. We can either let it hack us to death, or we can wield it to carve new roles and groundbreaking opportunities for ourselves.

Today, I’ll discuss two opportunities. One of them is self publication. This opportunity doesn’t just apply to writing books. It applies to almost any creative or technical thing you do. It is no longer necessary to submit your work to a publisher. This is one of many ways the Internet and digitization have leveled the playing field. Seem too simple? Lots of people are doing it.

For example, people are publishing music on their own and keeping the profits. They’re also writing every genre of literature, and adding to their bottom line. A lot of it is drivel, but that’s not a new development. Moreover, it represents an additional opportunity for freelance editors and writing consultants to assist with tools that make them more productive and profitable.

Similarly, it's getting easier to program applications. In fact, it's so much easier that it’s quickly becoming accessible to the public with inexpensive tools. This used to be the exclusive domain of highly trained specialists. No longer! All you need is the idea, and these tools will do most of the work for you. In a few more years, we'll see many more tools that will transform our ideas into profitable applications without hiring teams of developers.

On the other hand, developers can enhance their careers by transforming their knowledge, skills and experience into marketable services. For example, they can become consultants for those who need quick advice in developing their ground-breaking applications and businesses or they can create code for specialized functions not covered by the standard functions of these new applications.

Progress is unavoidable, but you don’t have to let it destroy your future. As long as you can imagine the possibilities, you can reinvent yourself in a multitude of ways. As I look at those empty buildings in Jacksonville, I don't see rubble. I see new opportunities to rejuvenate and transform them into future hubs of innovation. That's what I hope you'll see as a result of reading this note: an opportunity to reinvent yourself for the future.