Trying to Stay Sane in an Age of Information Overload
I woke up one morning last month, and started my day as I do most every other day. Admittedly, I am blessed at this point in my life that most of my work and time is done from my home office as a Job Search Strategy Coach. Clients that I do meet, are often living far away from where I live so connecting with them virtually by computer or via the telephone has become a way of life for me. Before I start my work day, I will have breakfast and look to catch up on the news headlines.
When I turned on my phone, I was greeted with two texts from individuals I know well. They asked me if an email I sent them was a scam, or if my computer account had been hacked. To my knowledge I had not send either person a note. When they described what they had received from me, it had me recall an email I had received the day before which many times I would ignore, but based on the topic and the name it came under, I became curious. I opened the note that had an electronic invitation card, something like what I had received before from others. In trying to open the invitation, I ran into difficulty. I tried to open it a second time, but then gave up. What I had not realized is I had “triggered” an application that sent the same note onto my distribution contacts, across multiple email accounts I use to operate my business.
The two texts in the morning led to emails and texts throughout the day. To everyone’s credit, they were understanding when I explained what happened. However, I felt terrible about the whole situation. In fact, for the most part, I am not lured into reading or getting caught up in to communications that do not connect with me. However, it is very apparent in an age of automated tools that can send out messages, notes, etc. (whether it be by email, phone text/message, or even United States postal mail), this whole situation has gotten out of control.
I am a child who grew up in a generation where US Mail was your main way of receiving communication. And, as such, even to this day, I receive a lot of communications that way. Most of them are from charitable organizations. Some I donate to, if they are causes to which I connect. However, that leads to similar causes mailing me for a donation to their cause. Also, the ones to which I donate, are no longer satisfied with an occasional donation, but looking for a contribution each month. As one who has been open to many organizations, (but on a periodic basis), this leads to a lot of mail being briefly looked out, ripped up and recycled.
The email equivalent to this is the “Delete” key. Many times, just from the Subject of the email, I know I am not interested. Others make promises that do not connect with me at all, or assume I am so desperate, that I will open anything to achieve the next step forward in my business, (side note: I am happy with what I have achieved, and look to continue it to help others). After the episode I spoke of earlier in this piece, I will likely be even more diligent about even accepting the ones I may have a slight bit of interest in receiving.
Finally, there are the phone calls and texts. If you call me or text me, and I do not have your number in my contact list, I AM NOT ANSWERING. If it is important for you to connect with me, that is what my voicemail box is for. (I do maintain it, and if you can identify yourself, and how I can help, I will call you back). However, I am not “allured,” by your seductive message or curious to let you know anymore you may have called the “wrong number.”
So, you may say, how can I get in touch with you? If you can compose a communication that indicates who you are, what that I offer you may be interested in, or who may have referred you to me, I will answer. I will even be happy to speak with you. If you are introduced to me through another, that I know and have worked with before, I will connect with you. But, if you are going to either blindly reach out or worse yet, let your computer application include me on your lists of numbers or emails to contact, please look to find another contact.
