Sharing and collecting data has been the avenue in which we are now able to have customized experiences. Like increasing the standard of living it’s difficult to go backward to something generic. Customized experiences are now the expectation. When I don’t get an at least somewhat customized experience I assume there’s something wrong with the business, and am put out. Especially when it results in me doing extra, repeated, or what feels like unnecessary work.
Now it is more important to understand and know how to leverage data to create customized experiences for ourselves and others. The work we engage in is getting increasingly more complex, without the use of data automation it will be harder to spend enough time with the deep work necessary to make forward progression.
Computers have the ability to make our lives easier, automating repeated tasks and making room for meaningful and impactful work. This sounds grandiose but it’s not limited to large datasets and software. It’s starts with simple things like managing our contacts on our smartphones.
Filling in the basic information on the profile of my contacts will give me the foundation for building stronger and more fulfilling relationships. Not knowing that birthdays from contacts are pushed to the calendar, or that I can pull a list of addresses when I’m ready to send out Christmas cards is getting in the way of knowing and understanding data and the systems that use them.