The
Information Trap
Tim
Connor
OK, when you finish this article, do a Google search on
any word or word combination and I’ll guarantee you get millions of choices of
places to visit for information. (You really don’t need to do this as I’m sure
you have already done it several times today). Tell me you have time to review even ten or
twenty of these!
We are becoming overwhelmed with more information on
every conceivable subject than at any time in history and it’s only getting
worse – yes worse. You might think that
all of this available free information is a great asset and makes life easier
but I’m here to tell you if this is your view that you may want to reconsider
your opinion.
Information is a wonderful thing but when does it become
more than we need or could possibly ever process?
Just to be clear – it’s not information that contributes
to success, happiness and every other life circumstance but wisdom. Yes, more information can give you more choices,
options and things to consider but the question remains – what do you do with
all of this stuff and when all things are considered is it making life more
peaceful or more stressful?
I love knowledge, I make my living sharing it, but I
really don’t have time to search thousands of websites to verify, validate, and
confirm etc every piece of information available before deciding what is of
value and what isn’t.
Please don’t take me wrong here, I am not against
technology and the information explosion, but consider how much time you steal
from other areas of life (relationships, fun, health etc) while you spend hours
on the internet. I recently read that
the average person spends over 80 hours a month (that’s over 20 hours a week)
on the internet.
During a recent speaking engagement while gone I counted
no fewer than (9 out of 10 people everywhere I looked were on some kind of
technology device – well when you travel alone you have a lot of time for
observation!). I also observed several
couples at lunch or dinner and in every situation both had their phone on the
table next to their plates – waiting for a call or text or waiting to call or
send one. One couple didn’t say a word
to each other for thirty minutes as both were on the phone the entire time. Sad folks, really sad.
You may not be guilty of this behavior but most people
are today. They think information and
especially free information is the new salvation and answer to all their life
needs, dreams, goals and challenges.
Sorry, the solution is not more information, but using what you have in
a more mature, effective and timely manner.
Let’s face it, sooner or later you have to accept
information limitations no matter how much is available. You can never review it all before making
choices or decisions. There just isn’t enough time even if you spent 24/7/365
searching and reviewing. You will always
have missing pieces and just have to act with what you know. The question is can you effectively filter
out what you don’t need and then use what you do have with common sense and
wisdom? That my friends is the key.
“The
best part of our knowledge is that which teaches us where knowledge
leaves
off and ignorance begins.”
O.W.
Holmes
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