Two people recently have wanted to connect via Instant Messenger. The problem: I don’t use IM. I find it disruptive. It’s like a conversation that demands to be had, right now.
But what is instant? My friend Jeremy Meyers points out that Twitter isn’t, because when we receive information is dependent on our refresh settings. Adrian Chan called this streamtime in an excellent post a few months back.
While I guess I’m okay without instant-ness, I do value immediacy–especially online. I realized how much our expectations have shifted when someone tweeted out the “Breaking News” that Abe Pollin (whom I never met, but vastly admired) had died. But it isn’t new, was my first thought, I knew this 10 minutes ago. Then I caught myself and smiled.
How have your expectations shifted over time? And what are the implications for business?
Photo by Toni Rantanen (Flickr).
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I like the immediacy, the now, you describe. No waiting, no editing, no control. It makes it our world. We make it our world.
The price though is perspective, context, even connection. That last one is ironic doncha think? Social media is all about building connections. It does, we do with its resources. But the connections are about…right now. That loses our connection too often with our traditions, history, a sense of place…even the ability to consider these items.
Zane–I agree that perspective and context sometimes gets lost, but I’m less sure that this emphasis on immediacy is costing us tradition and history. I’ve always associated the concepts of tradition, history, and institutional memory with the offline world, but you may be right that as we move more and more of our lives online we may slowly lose these very different but (arguably) equally important connections to community. You’ve certainly raised some good food for thought, and I will ponder this further.
This whole thing of immediacy, now, in-the-moment…it’s intoxicating. But I’m afraid it makes us vulnerable. We lose our foundation, our true identity, our core values and principles and dare I say it…limits. Accountability maybe increases. But, for what and to whom? The issue of the moment, the mob of the season? TCOT, tea parties and birthers are the early-warning signs. Ironic, as their members are the members of yesterday’s status quo, ruling majority, earlier touting the love it or leave it sentiment/Flag/President.
I understand the fear of losing…what has been earned with such hard work. But it’s that fear of the moment, so easily manipulated in this world of immediacy, instant communications, now.
That’s definitely a concern. And worse I’m afraid will come.
On the other hand, the transparency between our personal and professional brands will force us all to look closer at why we hide our values at work, allow their compromise, when we could embrace them, honor them, share them and…create organizations where we can meld, integrate, both into something very powerful, earnest, honest, sustainable and cash-flow positive.
2010 looks to be another interesting year! Until then, have a great holidays.
- Zane