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How Long can You Escape Technology?

By 06/06/2013August 21st, 201840 Comments

Okay so this post is just for fun. Don’t get upset because I’m mostly teasing. Plus if you’re reading my blog this most likely doesn’t apply to you, so just be entertained.

How long can YOU Escape Technology?

So here’s the thing, if you are thinking you can still get away with having your assistant print out your emails (I met a businesswoman like this just two years ago, no joke) and just slide by this whole technology thing altogether, I have four questions for you:

1. Are you too young to know what a computer is (above) or too OLD. Everyone has a different interpretation of old, and I highly doubt that’s you.

2. Are you in totally secure employment that does not require you to be anywhere near a computer ever?

A potential employer or recruiter will google you without question and if you don’t have an on-line presence you’ll only have your two page resume to stand on. 

3. Are you quite certain you’ll NEVER be self-employed?

4. Are you independently wealthy and will never need to promote yourself or your business for the rest of your life?

Cause if you answered no to one or all of these questions, get one of your kids, or your husband, wife or any one of your friends to show you the basics.

Really. Or don’t tell anyone that you are this technologically impaired.

It’s kind of like when I lean over to Terreeia and say “Tell me again who our Prime Minister is?”

Embarrassing right? She always says “Don’t tell anyone you can’t remember that”.

Here’s another example, I had a conversation with a woman with teenage age children a while ago who proceeded to tell me how she loved my blog but couldn’t post comments on Facebook to let me know because the last time she ‘shared’ a joke with her son that only he would understand, she accidentally shared it with all her friends too and she was embarrassed. And then he had to fix it for her.

“Tee, hee, hee”, she giggled “So now I just read stuff and don’t venture out to comment in case I accidentally do that again.

Really? Post comments on Facebook??? This is not difficult.

You are missing out on so many connections, opportunities, and new friends, I’m here to tell you it’s impossible to think that you can just keep hanging out pretending you don’t need to do that ‘Social Networking’ thing.

I’m still cranky that it took me about 8 or 9 months to actually set up my own Pinterest account. But when it happened I resisted. I thought to myself “Really? Yet another site to eat into my already little free time?”

Yet I was still using Pinterest during that time to source all the images for my blog because it cut down the time it took for me to find them by about 50%.

So it was actually a time-saver in the end. Who knew?

Feel free to follow me there by the way, it will cut down your sourcing time by quite a bit because I’ve already curated everything I like for your convenience.

So here’s how you know you can’t actually get away with not participating in one social network or another.

When you look at the side of a bus and there’s a sign that says “Follow us on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest”.

Or how about an electrician with a follow me sign by the side of the road.

That’s how you know.

So jump on with all of us will you? You will be so glad you did.

And I love you!! Don’t be mad. I just want you to have a great life and I want everyone to know how to beat a path to your door because you’re so fabulous.

I know you’re wonderful but what about everyone else?

ps. Ok, so who do you know who’s a teeny tiny bit like this?

Related posts:

10 Tips that will take your Home Design Blog to the Next Level

10 Easy Ways to Look Smarter, Right Now

The Best Advice for anyone Wanting to Start an On-line Business

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To make sure the undertones in your home are right, get some large samples!

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40 Comments

  • Alana says:

    Hi Maria,

    Speaking of technology–I was wondering if I might be able to catch your webinar on front doors soon. Do you have information about when and where that will be available? Thanks so much. So sorry I had to miss the “live” webcast.

    • teresa says:

      I was contacted via email after I signed up. I was able to watch it later, but I think the link might be down by now.te

      • Alana says:

        Thanks for the information. I did get an e-mail to join it–and an e-mail reminder that it was happening, but nothing after that, I’m afraid. I am incredibly disappointed.

  • Susan@Susan Silverman Designs says:

    No one could ever get mad at you!

    xo

  • Jula Cordeira interiors says:

    As interior decorator, my younger clients are very tecnology savvy. They expect you to do business using all the current tech tools. You have to keep up!

  • This question confused me:
    3. Are you quite certain you’ll NEVER be self-employed?
    My husband & I are both self-employed and we use computers. 😉 We also hire each other to work on things we cannot do ourselves (not just computer work) but know the other one can do 🙂

    My suggestion to those technologically challenged is “Hire a 5 year old. They usually don’t charge much but they know a LOT about techno stuff.” 😉

    Not everything about the techno world is good…but I dare say it’s not going to go back to the ‘old ways’ anytime soon. 😉

    • AK says:

      I think what she meant was, if you’re self-employed you’ll have use a computer yourself, instead of relying on others — just as you & your husband do.

      Great points, Maria, these are exactly the things I told my dad a few years ago when we really hit a limit on his fear of computers.

    • Maria Killam says:

      What I mean about ‘never’ being self-employed is that if you plan to be self-employed at some point in your life then that’s when you’ll REALLY need to be social networking.
      Maria

  • Are you sure the baby in the picture doesn’t know what a computer is? I’ve seen babies with IPhones in their hands many times recently (just being entertained, I guess).

    I use all of the above mentioned medias except Twitter – haven’t warmed up to that one yet. But I know I will one day soon.

  • teresa says:

    It’s not that I’m NOT computer savvy…it’s the main focus of my business. It’s just nice to turn it off for a couple of hours a day regarding my personal life. I was on linkdn and my account ,along with thousands others, was hacked recently so now I’m a little less keen on the whole thing.
    My Dad’s computer savvy, but HATES email. Urrgh. He doesn’t see the need for it. I think the main problem is it’s hard for him to type with arthrtiis, so he’s always hitting the wrong key and ending up on some other site. It’s really ad with his ipad! Maybe they’ll come up with a mainstream verbal command solution for that as I’m sure alot of older people have the same problem
    p.s. Love the baby swiping TV image!

  • Angela says:

    Had to LOL at Connie’s remarks about hiring a five y.o. So true though huh?
    Well I’m retired and collecting my pension so may I be excused from not participating in every technological thing out there? I know time is money, but I miss the human connection.

  • Paula Van Hoogen says:

    Yep–this is me! Funny thing is as soon as some shows me how to do stuff–I think–wow–that’s easy!
    I’m still clueless— somewhat—but now I’m fearless!
    Haha! Love this Maria!

  • Jennifer Johnson says:

    I don’t know who the Prime Minister is either 🙂

  • I actually had a client last year who is in her mid 50’s and does not own a computer nor did she know how to use one. I could only reach her by phone. It was the most difficult relationship and going forward I would not do it again. It was so time consuming to have to call her by phone every time I needed to tell her something or ask a question…not to mention 9 times out of 10 I got her voice mail.

  • mrsben says:

    Shan’t argue that the age of technology is here to stay and it can be ‘a good thing’ however I also view it as ‘an addiction’ for those who appear they cannot live without it.
    -Brenda-
    P.S: Next time you are out in a restaurant Maria, observe how many people are actually socially interacting with the person across from them. Sad, sad, sad! Also nothing annoys me more, having to listen to someone’s conversation while using their cellphone in a public place … beCAUSE …. I do not want to know your da*n business and further more you are holding up the checkout line. Get out of my way. ☺

    • mrsben says:

      Ooops, that should have read … nothing annoys me more, THEN having to listen ……. .
      Also forgot to mention, the youngest of my grandchildren who just turned three, knows how to use an I Pad. Who knows, maybe she will become our Prime Minister some day ….. ha.

    • Fran says:

      Technology is great, but it does have its downside. When dining out, my husband and I frequently notice how many couples are so busy texting or talking on their cell phones that they don’t even interact with each other! We always wonder why they bother going out!

  • Cute post. Still many things about FB I can’t grasp.
    By the way, your link to your Pinterest follow brought me to an error page? Funny, Still work to do.

  • Kristi says:

    I’m so glad you did this post. It made me knuckle down and finally figure out how to follow you on Pinterest. I signed up a couple of months back and got so frustrated because I couldn’t figure out how to follow anyone and gave up. Just looked again now and figured it out in two seconds. Some days are more technologically challenging days than others.

  • mimi says:

    Hi Maria,
    As a member of the generation that did not grow up with computers, I have come to realize that it is imperative to become technically savvy. Otherwise, the gap between younger and older generations widens even more! I have a dear friend who just will not use the computer despite my urging and I can’t help but be frustrated. I feel that as she grows older she will find communication very difficult because the computer is only going to become more a part of our loves, not less.

  • mimi says:

    Oops, make that more a part of our lives!

  • Mia Staysko says:

    Maria, I’m 47 this year and although I had used computers, couldn’t say I really understood. Then about 3-4 years ago I decided that I wasn’t ready to be a dinosaur. Bought a Mac. Changed my computing life! Have now built several websites, do all my own graphic, designed my own digital magazine – know more about this baby than my husband and my young adult kids put together. One thing I’m glad for … When I had to take typing in Jr High, I despised it. Had long nails, was slow, thought “I’m never gonna be someone’s secretary”. It is a skill I am sooo grateful I have, especially when I watch my hubby ‘hunt and peck’.

  • BillP says:

    Ok, now let’s see some backyard pics!

  • Angela says:

    I’m with you BillP:)

  • Kathryn says:

    What do you mean by sourcing the images for your blog on Pinterest?

    Pinterest is how I found you in the first place, by the way. I love it for design, decorating, cooking, gardening, and clothing.

  • Your Prime Minister comments really made me laugh! Either you are teasing or you are really walking your talk about being transparent. Besides, you don’t have to know politics to be a good designer 🙂

    • Maria Killam says:

      Haha, it’s true I did ask her that, the whole world knows who the US president is at all times but unless you watch the nightly news (which I do not) NO ONE AND I MEAN NO one talks about the Prime Minister in Canada.
      Maria

  • Kathi says:

    There are only 2 or 3 of my 60 year old friends that do not use a computer and they are missing out on activities, people get tired of trying to reach them by phone all of the time, I just talked my 83 year old friend into buying an IPad and am giving him private lessons on how to use it-he LOVES it and it has opened up a whole new world for him-our next lesson is about booking his own airline tickets at fabulous prices-Fear of computers is what is stopping people from trying them out-I wish everyone would ask someone if they would like some help and donate a little time to teaching them so they don’t feel it is so hard that they can’t ever possibly learn how-if my friend can learn at 83, trust me, he is quite the curmudgen, anyone can!!

  • You may have been joking, but your post is so true for me. I’m very good with the computer and love email, but just can’t bond with Facebook and Twitter. I’ve tried with Facebook, but find the layout confusing and there are so many different features and hidden pages and I just don’t get it. I really should try harder with both though as I understand they are good for bloggers.

    I’d love to see a good post on how to use Pinterest. I have an account and have some boards, but I just don’t love it. I feel like the oddball in the corner saying that though. I can find things far easier by Googling than I can with Pinterest. I find when I do a search for something the images that pop up are the same ones over and over again and the total number of pictures found when you search are really not that many. Also the search is in no way comprehensive. I did a little test once and that’s how I know that the search engine is poor. I pinned a photo of a blue chair from Sarah Richardson and had all those words in the title and description, yet I couldn’t get my photo to pop up when I searched it. Sooo, do tell. Why is Pinterest so great (phew, I’ve finally revealed my lukewarm feelings toward Pinterest in public).

    And speaking of techno-savvy children, have a look at this babbling baby – she totally cracks me up:
    http://www.godvine.com/Baby-Babbles-fb-gv-3419.html#.Ua6GJn7GNs4.twitter

    • Kathryn says:

      I agree with you about facebook, but I really like Pinterest. Try not to think of Pinterest as a search engine. Think of it more as a river. You find people who curate beautiful boards and you follow them. Then for the moments when you’re on Pinterest, it’s like sitting on the levee and watching the river go by. When you see something you like, you pin it to one of your own boards. Then dig down to the source of the image and find the original website to explore.

  • Lucy Haines says:

    Maria, I am new to your website and all of your blogs. I love them and am now following every one. I wish that some of your blogs could be put into book form because each one has so much information that I would love to keep. I have been a designer for 35 years and now retired? but still working with old clients. Amazing how much I still have to learn. The computer is still a challenge but I am determined to learn it all!
    Lucy

  • Debbie says:

    O.K., your post really is about me (sort of). So my second comment ever- will be to wish you a happy birthday, Maria. Thanks for your generosity through this blog. DT

  • GaBi says:

    Happy Birthday Maria!
    Well technology……… Yes I have to agree on one side that it is very helpful, but in another site we have lost totally our privacy. Most of the users of the Facebook ,Twitter have absolutely NO idea what is hidden behind this very attractive tools. My husband is working at the IT industry and when the Facebook came in and I have asked him about this new tool he just simply said :”If you want to open the door of our bedroom for the all world you can go ahead”. Of course I was very disappointed because all of my colleagues already started to use this tool. Facebook to this day has about half a million law trials about the lies and misuse of the private photos, misuses of the private data you name just few. Worst t hing is that what you have posted you CAN’T TAKE IT DOWN!!!!!! This sounds like an extortion to me.
    Pinterest is the bank to be inspired, but never used by the professional designers who has developed their own style. There is the comment about NOT TO HAVE COMPUTER AND THE COMMUNICATION WAS POSTPONED…….are we planning to die tomorrow????? Why we are in such a hurry? Professional and lasting pieces were never developed by the hurry / look at the paintings for example from Rembrandt, Picasso,Goya…….they were never in hurry and their paintings are still admired by the all world./
    Talking on public and discussing very private things is nothing just a disrespect towards another people.
    And now is someone ever was thinking about what is going to be left after our generation is gone? Because the disk and the data is gone for ever after 10 years it’s unusable it evaporates. Then
    where is our stress and hurry where nothing is left. There will be NO BOOKS LEFT AFTER OUR GENERATION, NO HISTORY just a very big empty space. Yes, I do use computer daily because with out it is unfortunately the world that they will judging you like you are a monkey. I can assure you that till today the biggest names NOT just in designers industry, but also architects,artists using the very old and reliable method sharp pencil and paper. Maria do you remember the presentation of the Vicente Wolf at the Convention Centre / I was there too / and he is done a lot of beautiful designs till today he is using pencil and paper. Only final rendering is done by computer.
    For the rest of you don’t despair because they will be force to find out something to keep the history going and NOT to be evaporated.

  • Linda says:

    I just love the internet for finding out all sorts of stuff (I often say “let’s ask Grandma Google”). It’s where I go to find answers to all sorts of questions. Providing you use a bit of good old common sense about the sites you get your info from it’s wonderful for finding out the answers to all sorts of curly problems like….how to treat the hallway carpet when you dog decides it’s a great place to go and vomit! The internet and Pinterest are also the most fabulous way to “armchair” travel the world looking at gorgeous interiors and fashion and gardens and …. the list is endless. My 86 yr old day is just flabbergasted by what we can find for him on the internet. He just shakes his head and says “can you really find that information in that little box.” : – )

  • Although I’m techno savvy, there are many times when I wish I could just move to the country and give it all up! It feels like everybody is always “on”. Like I always have homework to do (since I have my own business). I agree with the others, I’m tired of having to listen to strangers talking on their phones in the grocery store. But, now that I think about it, that happens less since everybody is texting ALL THE TIME.

    • mairi says:

      I’ve seen people texting during weddings and funerals…really! No time for manners?? Wow..
      Anyway, unwinding on weekends in the country where there is no internet etc. or anything with a screen (on purpose!) is priceless. I highly recommend a weekly break from technology- Being instead of Doing!

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