Embracing technological frontiers

So with the holidays over the stores are empty. I pulled up to a space at my favorite department store and parked. Most people circle and wait for the closest parking space. I say why bother? By the time that person parks I’ll be walking through the door. Plus it’s a good way to fit in a tiny bit of extra exercise. So I park a little further out. There’s no cars around me and plenty of parking spaces.

But when I got back to my car there was a car parked right next to me. Literally too close for me to pen my door. This happens to me ALL THE TIME. It’s infuriating because even if this person thought like me and wanted to get in exercise and have a little car elbow room, why, with so many empty spaces around, would they park directly next to my little mini van?

It’s because people, like to follow. There is a natural inclination to wait for someone else to do something first. And then follow without straying too much from the initial person. Think about it, a parking lot is a perfect example. When you park all alone there’s something discomforting to some people. Yet there’s something that feels secure in being near someone. I guess some people are fearless and others, well, they like to follow.

What’s your business style? Do you like to explore new strategies? Are you open to embracing new technology? Are you open to new ways of promoting your business? In this era of intergrating our lives with our technology it pays to be open-minded. This “Twitter business” or “Facebook nonsense” or whatever new-fangled technological thing isn’t going away. These advances may wane in popularity, replaced by something else, and then they simply become integrated into our lives. It’s a new frontier, will you be a leader?