It Struck Me Out Of Nowhere
Sometimes when I'm thinking of articles to write for HelpfulAdvisor, I draw a blank. Yet, when I'm in the middle of something, I'll get hit out of nowhere with a powerful urge to write on a topic that I think will make a positive impact for the readers of my blog.
Today was one such day. As I was cleaning up my lunch dishes, a powerful thought for a topic came to mind. My inspiration was to share from the heart a message for those of you who may not know very much about computers or technology: I've Been Where You Are Now.
We All Have To Start Somewhere
I'm not sure why I was prompted to write this, but I'm glad I was, because I'd like for this to serve as a note of encouragement for all of you who excuse yourself from technology. I've heard it all. "I'm not very good with computers." Or, "If someone would just show me how to do this, I wouldn't feel so stupid." Or what about, "That's way too technical for me."
Do any of those sound familiar? Yeah, I'm hoping so, because I hear these just about every day. And yet, for as long as I've been in the information technology field, I can still remember the very first time I looked at a computer. Wow, talk about having NO idea what to do! I was lost. Totally lost.
The thing is, if we keep excusing ourselves from the things we don't know, in this case technology, how can we ever expect ourselves to get better at it?
Some tough love is needed here, folks, and the bottom line is two-fold:
- Computers aren't really a new-fangled invention anymore.
- In this super-competitive world, you might want to start learning more about how to use it.
Notice I didn't say how to fix it. That's because, believe it not, the more you learn about how to use computers, the more you'll learn how to fix the things that can be fixed within your level of knowledge.
The more you can learn how to use computers, the more skills you acquire elsewhere. More on that in a bit. The important thing to remember here is that being comfortable around computers and technology is what's key, even if you don't know every little thing about them.
Nobody is Born With Computer Skills
You know I've been in the tech field for so long that a couple of amazing things have happened. First of all, whenever most people that I know personally, or relatives (especially) think of the word "computers", I'm usually one of the first people they think of.
I think in some marketing circles, that would be called "branding". And so when I think of how powerful my association with the word computers, or networks, or technology really is, I'd say that's pretty awesome. The thing is, it took me many, many years to reach that kind of status.
While most people would complain about that, I tend to embrace it. The reason is, I don't mind owning my niche, and my niche is technology. However, it hardly happened overnight!
My daddy once told me, "Son, it takes 20 years to be an overnight success!" And when I tell that to my kids, they look at me just as crazily as I looked at my dad when he first told me. But then I let it sink in, and it totally made sense.
For anything we want to be good at, it takes time, patience, and practice to really own that thing we want to master. And for me, in the 20+ years I've been doing technology, I'm still learning new things each and every day. And trust me, I wasn't born with computer skills.
As I mentioned in another article, one Christmas, I got the stereo and my brother got the computer. That was in 1985. However, little did I know at that time, in 1987, I would be joining the Army and learning an awful lot about technology. As luck would have it, that was the specialty I tested for the strongest during my military entrance exams.
The thing is, I learned the specific technologies the Army wanted me to know... and it wasn't about computers. What I did learn from the Army were the very same systems we all use today, except back then, it was too expensive for mainstream usage like today. I learned a lot about how to identify and fix problems. First it started with communications systems, then networks, and now with entire teams and organizations.
When I first saw a computer in 1990, I was amazed, but didn't know the first thing about them. I remember wanting to play a video game one night, and to get the game to play, I had to copy the contents of a floppy disk on to the hard drive of the computer.
This was well before the days of Windows, so it had to be done via the DOS screen (which in those days was the ONLY screen). So, I asked a friend how to do that. He offered to do it for me. I thanked him, but asked him to show me so I could write it down.
Once I wrote it down, I looked at my notes any time I wanted to play that game until I could do it without looking. Ah, my first experience with then-modern computers!
Fast forward to 2011, and most people think I was born with a keyboard in one hand and a mouse in another! Hardly.
But I'm Not In The Computer Field Like You
The point to my story about how I first got started on computers was that I didn't have to learn computers, I wanted to learn about computers. Even though at the time I was only 19 or 20 years old, I knew that the more I could learn about new technologies, the better off I would be.
Even though I learned a lot about technologies the Army was using for communications back then, at the time, they really didn't use a lot of computers. The thing is, something told me I needed to learn computers to be useful in the coming years, especially once I got out of the Army.
I made a comment earlier in the article about "excusing ourselves" from the things we don't know. What I mean by that is that if you keep making excuses about learning new things about technology, you may never get around to it.
So why am I going on about learning computers and technology? Because, the more you know, the more self-sufficient you can become, and the more comfortable you can feel at work and at home. That comfort is because you have a better understanding of what goes where and what does what when it comes to computers.
Computers are everywhere, aren't they? Heck, they're even on your smart phones now, on TVs, even in our cars. It would be different if I was saying you should really learn to play guitar, because guitars are everywhere! Well, no, they're not. So learning something like the guitar or any new instrument is not really going to benefit you much, is it? Well, unless your job requires you to know instruments, then I'd say it's time to learn.
The thing is, with computers, they've been around for over three decades now, even longer for some, and yet many folks still treat learning how to use them as some kind of option. I can assure you, it's not.
Stop Hiding Behind The Monitor
When I used to provide tech support in my earlier years, people would hunch down and give me one of the many excuses as to why they couldn't help themselves and why they needed to call me.
And one of the several standard excuses came out as to how they weren't very technical, or they just didn't know very much about computers, or how their kid usually helps them with this stuff.
The thing is, if you want to be more self-sufficient, it can only help you. Think about this:
People who know how to use their computers can get more done in less time. The less you have to hunt and find, and perhaps even call tech support, you're getting your work done faster. Those that know where something is because they took the time to learn it are over and done in the time it took for you to make a call and explain it to some young tech support kid who you can hear sighing over the phone.
People who know how to use their computers save money. In many cases, if you don't know how to use a computer, or even how to maintain your computer, things can get real costly when it comes to repairs. Many repairs can be avoided by doing a little care and feeding on your computer once in a while.
But since people who don't know about how to use their computers never learn how to take care of them either, things will break down when maybe they didn't need to. As well, just like mechanics, who might be out there willing to take advantage of the fact you don't know about computers that will give you a bogus explanation of things? Just think how someone can charge you an arm and a leg for an otherwise simple repair. Well, whether it's true or not, how would someone who doesn't take the time to learn about computers know the difference?
I'm not saying all tech people are crooks, because we're not. But like in any group, there are some out there that will have no problem making you pay for your lack of knowledge.
People who know computers tend to be problem-solvers. If you're comfortable at a computer, and your favorite program stops working, chances are, you're going to want to try to figure out what's wrong. At least give it a try before calling in some help.
Those that know more about their computers (again, no need to be an expert, but at least comfortable), tend to have a more methodical approach to solving problems. Those types of problem-solving skill translate outside of computers and technology. They help in all aspects of life. Anyone who's seen as a problem solver or has "analytical thinking skills" are in huge demand for good paying jobs these days. Just read any want ad or job posting and tell me I'm wrong, I dare ya.
People who know how to use a computer are more socially accepted. Let's face it, the modern age has become the era of the geek. Where computer geeks were once teased and left off most party invite lists, some of the richest and most influential people in the world today have at least some technical savvy.
And these days, tech-savvy is sexy. No, I'm not saying that knowing computers is going to get you dates (although stranger things have happened). I'm saying that nowadays, knowing computers, knowing a little about the Internet, or about the things that make your computer tick no longer have a negative stigma attached to them. In fact, you'll be regarded as more of a self-sufficient type, therefore, less needy.
People like people who aren't always bumming free tech support off the ones who did bother to learn about technology. Sorry, but that's just how it goes.
I for one, don't encounter any stigmas when I help someone out of a technical bind. I never get told, "Thanks for saving my A**, but you're still a dork so get lost." Instead, I get, "WOW! That was awesome, thanks SO much! You are so smart. Can I buy you lunch?"
Yet, if I were the one always bumming help from others, what do you think they would say? I know it wouldn't be about how smart I was, and I'd probably have to buy my own lunch. Perception is reality, folks. So, it is what it is. Make your own decision on that one.
What Can I Do?
Please, do not think I'm saying that anyone who doesn't have a certain level of comfort or experience is worthless and doesn't deserve friends. All I'm saying is that just like any other tool you use for work or for play, learning more about the computer is deserving of your time.
I bet learning how to drive didn't take much convincing, did it? What about learning how to use the telephone? What about email? I bet that one didn't take too long to pick up, did it?
See, these are all tools. All tools that you use every day, that probably started out of the desire to have fun, then you also learned how to use them for work.
Same thing with the computer. The computer is most likely your central tool for work, and for your home life, too. Why not learn a little more about how to use it?
Ok, I think by now you can get where I'm coming from. So here are some things you can do to help propel your knowledge of computers WAY faster than you ever thought possible:
1. When you ask for help, STOP letting that person do it for you while you do something else. No reading magazines, or talking to other people, or making phone calls. It's your computer, watch what they do and take notes. Better yet, ask them to SHOW you and take even more notes, then do it again with them there so you can be sure you got it right. Doing this also shows your commitment to learning more each time you ask for help.
2. Stop being afraid to "mess something up". There's very little that you can do via keyboard and mouse that will physically break a computer. No smoke will come out of the chassis, and it won't explode. It's just not possible. However, it is possible to lose data, so backups are essential. However, where I learned the most about computers was in "breaking" stuff in a software sense then either finding out on my own how to fix it (this was even before Google was around), or applying step number 1. Mistakes are the building blocks to success.
3. Find some free articles on the Internet and just read them. You don't always have to break something or be right in front of a computer to learn something new. With today's browsers, you can "bookmark" sites for later reference. In this case, take some time to read a how-to article on how to get something done. Similar to people reading books or newspapers for knowledge, read more about computer related items (like this blog!) and get more tech-savvy with each how-to article you read.
4. Stop making excuses when asking for help and just ask. This is more of a confidence thing than a tech tip. When you make excuses it will most likely frustrate people even more when you ask them for help because the underlying thought is that computers aren't really new anymore, and the fact that "you're not very good with computers" will only make someone think that you just didn't bother to keep up with the times, and now you want someone else to do your thinking for you.
Hey, I'm not saying it's right, but human nature is human nature. If you just ask for the help, ask in a way that helps the other person to know that you're really trying. Try something like, "Hey Jim, I've been trying to figure out how to add a formula to this spreadsheet, and I just can't make sense of it. Do you happen to know how to do that?"
If Jim is cool, he'll help you, because you showed that you were trying it on your own first, before asking him for help. And, when someone does help you, be sure to take notes! If you don't, you'll be asking again, and again, and again. Nobody likes having to help someone over and over again who doesn't bother to even learn the solution to a recurring problem. After a while, helpful people start becoming scarce.
Taking notes shows effort on your part to become self-sufficient.
5. Back up your files. How does this work to make you more tech-savvy? Well, because if for any reason you erase something accidentally, only the smart people back stuff up. I'll write more on how to back up your files in the coming articles, so please check back often or subscribe to my blog in your newsreader.
6. If you gave it a try, then DO ask for help. Sometimes we can go the other end of the extreme and instead of asking for help the minute we see a problem, others never call for help for fear it makes them look weak. Even IT pros make this fatal mistake. Here's my take on it. Give it two, maybe three tries on your own to fix it. Read the manual, check the help file, then try Google. If you come up short, call in the big guns.
That's something that even some lifelong IT pros need to learn to do, because even they don't want to feel or look stupid (who does, right?). Just remember this, no one can know it all, not even the pros. Sometimes nobody knows the product like the maker of the product, and after a couple of tries, calling the makers of the software or hardware can actually save time. But if you do call for help, remember step number 1! ;-)
I really hope this was less of a beat down and more of an encouraging word that yes, you can learn more about computers and technology. No matter how old or how young or how much you think your job doesn't require you to know about computers, the fact remains, we can ALL stand to learn more about computers.
You don't need to know how to build a computer from scratch or how to design a network. You just want to learn more about the stuff you're using. The computer, the hardware, and the software you're putting on your machine.
I have faith in you, as we all started somewhere, and yes, I've been where you are. Just keep reading this blog and others out there that I suggest, you'll do great. And most of all... Just Try Your Best!
Thanks for reading, and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to help you learn more.
Image credit: Flickr/stevendepolo
I'm not saying all tech people are crooks, because we're not. But like in any group, there are some out there that will have no problem making you pay for your lack of knowledge.
People who know computers tend to be problem-solvers. If you're comfortable at a computer, and your favorite program stops working, chances are, you're going to want to try to figure out what's wrong. At least give it a try before calling in some help.
Those that know more about their computers (again, no need to be an expert, but at least comfortable), tend to have a more methodical approach to solving problems. Those types of problem-solving skill translate outside of computers and technology. They help in all aspects of life. Anyone who's seen as a problem solver or has "analytical thinking skills" are in huge demand for good paying jobs these days. Just read any want ad or job posting and tell me I'm wrong, I dare ya.
People who know how to use a computer are more socially accepted. Let's face it, the modern age has become the era of the geek. Where computer geeks were once teased and left off most party invite lists, some of the richest and most influential people in the world today have at least some technical savvy.
And these days, tech-savvy is sexy. No, I'm not saying that knowing computers is going to get you dates (although stranger things have happened). I'm saying that nowadays, knowing computers, knowing a little about the Internet, or about the things that make your computer tick no longer have a negative stigma attached to them. In fact, you'll be regarded as more of a self-sufficient type, therefore, less needy.
People like people who aren't always bumming free tech support off the ones who did bother to learn about technology. Sorry, but that's just how it goes.
I for one, don't encounter any stigmas when I help someone out of a technical bind. I never get told, "Thanks for saving my A**, but you're still a dork so get lost." Instead, I get, "WOW! That was awesome, thanks SO much! You are so smart. Can I buy you lunch?"
Yet, if I were the one always bumming help from others, what do you think they would say? I know it wouldn't be about how smart I was, and I'd probably have to buy my own lunch. Perception is reality, folks. So, it is what it is. Make your own decision on that one.
What Can I Do?
Please, do not think I'm saying that anyone who doesn't have a certain level of comfort or experience is worthless and doesn't deserve friends. All I'm saying is that just like any other tool you use for work or for play, learning more about the computer is deserving of your time.
I bet learning how to drive didn't take much convincing, did it? What about learning how to use the telephone? What about email? I bet that one didn't take too long to pick up, did it?
See, these are all tools. All tools that you use every day, that probably started out of the desire to have fun, then you also learned how to use them for work.
Same thing with the computer. The computer is most likely your central tool for work, and for your home life, too. Why not learn a little more about how to use it?
Ok, I think by now you can get where I'm coming from. So here are some things you can do to help propel your knowledge of computers WAY faster than you ever thought possible:
1. When you ask for help, STOP letting that person do it for you while you do something else. No reading magazines, or talking to other people, or making phone calls. It's your computer, watch what they do and take notes. Better yet, ask them to SHOW you and take even more notes, then do it again with them there so you can be sure you got it right. Doing this also shows your commitment to learning more each time you ask for help.
2. Stop being afraid to "mess something up". There's very little that you can do via keyboard and mouse that will physically break a computer. No smoke will come out of the chassis, and it won't explode. It's just not possible. However, it is possible to lose data, so backups are essential. However, where I learned the most about computers was in "breaking" stuff in a software sense then either finding out on my own how to fix it (this was even before Google was around), or applying step number 1. Mistakes are the building blocks to success.
3. Find some free articles on the Internet and just read them. You don't always have to break something or be right in front of a computer to learn something new. With today's browsers, you can "bookmark" sites for later reference. In this case, take some time to read a how-to article on how to get something done. Similar to people reading books or newspapers for knowledge, read more about computer related items (like this blog!) and get more tech-savvy with each how-to article you read.
4. Stop making excuses when asking for help and just ask. This is more of a confidence thing than a tech tip. When you make excuses it will most likely frustrate people even more when you ask them for help because the underlying thought is that computers aren't really new anymore, and the fact that "you're not very good with computers" will only make someone think that you just didn't bother to keep up with the times, and now you want someone else to do your thinking for you.
Hey, I'm not saying it's right, but human nature is human nature. If you just ask for the help, ask in a way that helps the other person to know that you're really trying. Try something like, "Hey Jim, I've been trying to figure out how to add a formula to this spreadsheet, and I just can't make sense of it. Do you happen to know how to do that?"
If Jim is cool, he'll help you, because you showed that you were trying it on your own first, before asking him for help. And, when someone does help you, be sure to take notes! If you don't, you'll be asking again, and again, and again. Nobody likes having to help someone over and over again who doesn't bother to even learn the solution to a recurring problem. After a while, helpful people start becoming scarce.
Taking notes shows effort on your part to become self-sufficient.
5. Back up your files. How does this work to make you more tech-savvy? Well, because if for any reason you erase something accidentally, only the smart people back stuff up. I'll write more on how to back up your files in the coming articles, so please check back often or subscribe to my blog in your newsreader.
6. If you gave it a try, then DO ask for help. Sometimes we can go the other end of the extreme and instead of asking for help the minute we see a problem, others never call for help for fear it makes them look weak. Even IT pros make this fatal mistake. Here's my take on it. Give it two, maybe three tries on your own to fix it. Read the manual, check the help file, then try Google. If you come up short, call in the big guns.
That's something that even some lifelong IT pros need to learn to do, because even they don't want to feel or look stupid (who does, right?). Just remember this, no one can know it all, not even the pros. Sometimes nobody knows the product like the maker of the product, and after a couple of tries, calling the makers of the software or hardware can actually save time. But if you do call for help, remember step number 1! ;-)
I really hope this was less of a beat down and more of an encouraging word that yes, you can learn more about computers and technology. No matter how old or how young or how much you think your job doesn't require you to know about computers, the fact remains, we can ALL stand to learn more about computers.
You don't need to know how to build a computer from scratch or how to design a network. You just want to learn more about the stuff you're using. The computer, the hardware, and the software you're putting on your machine.
I have faith in you, as we all started somewhere, and yes, I've been where you are. Just keep reading this blog and others out there that I suggest, you'll do great. And most of all... Just Try Your Best!
Thanks for reading, and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to help you learn more.
Image credit: Flickr/stevendepolo
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