I interview and shoot the you know what with a lot of people in this industry, including Presidents & CEOs, sales managers and sales reps, service managers and service techs, marketing executives, and analysts and consultants. Should I be surprised when someone tells me they aren’t that tech savvy when it comes to the idiosyncrasies of the products they sell? Often that’s someone at the top of an organization with a boatload of responsibility.
Some might be taken back by that, but then I realize I’m a member of that club too. And that’s okay. Let me explain what got me thinking about this.
I was having a computer issue last week and couldn’t log on because of some strange error message when I first booted up that I’d never seen before. It was early morning, the time of the day when I’m most productive and not being able to log on put me in a state of near panic—not full panic because I double back up my files. Deep down, I knew I’d be alright. The only thing lost would be time.
Taking a deep breath, I tracked down the number for Geek Squad using my iPad, called and signed up for a Geek Squad account. While I was waiting on hold I tried System Restore. The first attempt was unsuccessful. The second, taking my computer back to the beginning of the month did the trick. However, I still wasn’t convinced that the problem was resolved. For the $214 with tax I was paying for a Geek Squad service account, the peace of mind was going to be worth every penny even if they came out and found nothing, which is exactly what happened two days later. Until the tech arrived I held my breath the next two mornings when I booted up my computer hoping I didn’t have that same problem.
For all the years I’ve been using computers as well as writing and reading about them and other related technology, I sometimes feel like a dummy when it comes to technology, especially when I have a technology related issue. I’m not handy around the house either. But I can cook, clean, and do laundry, and write fairly well, so that’s something.
There are a lot of smart people in the document imaging industry, many of whom are technically savvy. Others are better at other things, like running a dealership or an office technology company, but smart enough to surround themselves with technically savvy people. Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to, understanding what you know and what you’re good at, but knowing who to call or who to rely on when the conversation shifts beyond your area of expertise.
I respect those who recognize that in themselves and aren’t embarrassed to admit it.
We can’t all know everything, can we?
Thanks for reading.
