Ecommerce Information

Overcoming Frustration with Technology


For whatever reason, when we get a new boost in productivity, whether that be from a tool, technology or technique...we quickly forget how much more efficient it's made us. It's human nature. It's like the commuter who gets angry about how bad traffic is, but forgets what a pain it was to wait for the bus. Or the cell phone user who complains about a bad connection, and forgets about the days when he had to fish for spare change to make a call from a pay phone.

It's much the same with technology.

If your plan for your online business is in a long term one, there's no getting around it: You will have to find a way to overcome the frustrations you will have with technology. It's inevitable.

Here are some simple tips for dealing with the frustration

Slow down.

Let's start with an analogy: When you're driving a car at 100 miles per hour, a small thing like a bumblebee hitting the windshield can cause you to lose control and crash. How does this translate to online frustration?

When you're straining your systems and technology to work faster and better for you, the smallest technical glitch can have a bigger impact on your performance than seems logical. That's because you are pushing for "more, faster and better" in the first place.

The solution is to slow down. What this means for you as a carbon-based being is: take a stretch break, breathe a couple deep breaths and generally loosen up. Lighten your grip on the intensity you are trying to sustain, both for yourself and your systems.

Concretely, this may mean taking care of your email just a little bit slower. Typing not quite as fast. Or giving yourself an extra hour to set up your new audio recorder. The extra time spent is worth it if it means you don't have to clean up a tangle later. This may seem counterproductive, but it gives your tools time to do their work for you. Sometimes you have to slow down to get to your destination sooner.

Change channels.

Online frustration is something most people experience from time to time, and this includes your suppliers or contractors. If you have a virtual assistant, you likely know this first hand. The next time you, a colleague or assistant experiences frustration with technology, suggest they "change channels". This means exactly what you think it means, that is, switch tasks.

If your technology is acting up, try switching to an activity that comes naturally to you before going back to solve the problem. There's no point forcing something to work when it is resisting you. Go where the energy is flowing by changing channels.

"Remember when."

Yes, a little reminiscing can be the perfect medicine when you're struggling with technology. As you try to set up your email account for the 12th time, consider the fact that just 10 years ago, thousands of small business owners did not have email, and did all their correspondence by mail, telephone or fax. Do you remember your "mail inbox" in the last office you worked in? How about letter openers, overflowing voicemail boxes or wet sponges to seal piles of envelopes? Remember when we used to get paper cuts on a regular basis?

With the increasing growth of the personal development movement in the last 10 years, many of us have learned to become more self-aware and handle anger, frustration and other strong emotions with techniques such as meditation, journaling or even prayer.

But because the Internet is a new-ish modality, sometimes we forget to apply these relaxation techniques to handle "cyber" stress. The next time you have the technology blues, stop. Don't struggle. Instead, become child-like -- slow down and enjoy, play awhile, and laugh a little about the wonder of it all.

Andrea J. Lee coaches entrepreneurs and online business owners. As Thomas J.Leonard's General Manager, she helped build and manage the largest network and trainer of personal and business coaches in the world. Now the CEO of Andrea J. Lee Group of Companies, she writes, speaks and consults on Marketing, Internet and Business systems. For more helpful tips, visit www.39lessons.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Practical Ecommerce (subscription)

Copyright Law for Ecommerce Merchants
Practical Ecommerce (subscription), Grand Junction - 3 hours ago
The Internet makes copying photographs, artwork, and words easy, since a relatively unsophisticated user can just browse the web saving or copying nearly ...


ayr1 Partners with Reshare® To Offer Home Furnishings eCommerce ...
Furniture World Magazine (press release) - 18 hours ago
ayr1, a leading eCommerce provider for the home furnishings industry, and Reshare Corporation, a pioneer in Collaborative Channel Commerce® (C3) software, ...


New Belk.com Web Site Debuts with Innovative Design, Enhanced ...
IT News Online, India - 2 hours ago
"Our talented eCommerce team has partnered with the best eCommerce resources in the business to help us rebuild Belk.com from the ground up," said McKay ...


Canada.com

YouTube teams with iTunes, Amazon to offer e-commerce feature
ZDNet - Oct 8, 2008
Now, YouTube has partnered with Amazon and iTunes to to incorporate an e-commerce element into its video pages. The idea is that, with a click, ...
YouTube Unveils eCommerce Platform MarketWatch
Still looking for dollars, YouTube adds ecommerce button to videos Local Tech Wire
YouTube Launches E-commerce Platform xchange Magazine
Ecommerce Journal - PC Magazine
all 471 news articles


First Data Becomes First Payment Processor To Offer All Major
Retail Solutions Online (press release), PA - 5 hours ago
CardinalCommerce Corporation is the global leader in enabling authenticated payments, secure transactions and alternative payment brands for both eCommerce ...


TradeMotion Announces Free Online Accessories eCommerce Product ...
MarketWatch - Oct 8, 2008
We will continue to focus our products on reducing the dealers' overall technology spend while increasing their ecommerce sales," concluded Mr. Lucas. ...


eCommerce Software From Motive Helps Retailers to Drive Bricks ...
MarketWatch - Oct 8, 2008
Software development company, Motive Technology, has announced a new release of `MotiveShop', its ecommerce software solution for the retail sector ...


Momentum Sports Launches E-Commerce Store
1888 Press Release (press release), TX - Oct 10, 2008
Momentum Sports launches a new ecommerce store for cycling and skateboarding products, in addition to adding additional functionality to a Web 2.0 Blogging ...


AuctionBytes Blog

Pink-Slip Monday for Ecommerce with uBid, eBay Layoffs
AuctionBytes Blog, MA - Oct 10, 2008
... electronics, supplies and toys for the kids. But shoppers - like venture capitalists and ecommerce firms - are being smarter with their dollars.


Webplus Shop Debuts E-Commerce Promo
HostingTech.com, KS - Oct 10, 2008
Webplus Shop was created as an easy, affordable ecommerce web hosting solution, for individuals and businesses building an online store quickly, ...

Ecommerce - Google News

home | site map
© 2006