Lead Image © Somchai Suppalertporn, 123RF.com
Keeping Up with the Times
Welcome
Every week that goes by, I read about some new technology, new device, new app, new security patch, or new something else for me to try. The speed at which developers create new or improved products is at such a pace that I find it difficult to keep up. I just don't have enough hours in a week to try out every new thing that grabs my attention. It's important to maintain one's "edge" by reading, installing, breaking – I mean testing, and exploring the newest gadgets and the latest and greatest things that someone dishes out. Plus, I still need to devote time to my actual day job, a few games, watching Jeopardy, a bit of cooking, family time, and enjoying a few hobbies such as filmmaking and podcasting.
So, my question is: "How does one keep up with this rapidly changing landscape of apps, gadgets, and life?"
My short answer is to focus on a few specific things yourself and then rely on experts for everything else. Is it the perfect plan? No. Is it manageable? Yes, for me, it is. I must draw the line somewhere because I can't spend every waking hour studying peripheral technologies, and by peripheral I mean something that's not in my direct line of sight. I enjoy knowing a little something about a lot of things, but sometimes I must apply a filter on the number of what's covered by "a lot of things."
I admit that knowing a lot of different things kept me employed through habitual layoffs during the time period between 2001 and 2016. I didn't love seeing hundreds of my coworkers walking out the door time and time again over that stretch. I was always happy when my manager would announce to our team that, "There was a layoff event today, but now it's over. If you're still here, you still have a job – for the moment." Not comforting, but I could take a deep breath of relief for having a job for another month.
During these "events," I kept my skills sharp, expanded my value by learning new
...
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy ADMIN Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Related content
-
My Five Favorite Sys Admin Tools
I've written hundreds of articles over the past two decades, and I always seem to come back to a single theme: sys admin tools. I have five favorite tools that have not only stood the test of time but have also served me well in every job I've held, including when I ran my own computer consulting company. -
The Great Resignation
The upside and downside of the post-pandemic employment trend. -
The Fine Art of Negligence
For 16 years, I worked for a very large international support company, mostly as a system administrator. For those 16 years, I found that the fine art of negligence was not only prevalent, but an actual and conscious career choice for some of my colleagues. -
The Dilemma of the Ten-Second Commute
The new work-from-home paradigm has both pros and cons. -
Keep Positive
The road to success is paved with negative commentary.