Out of the Box

New technology - phone, tablet, computer.  They just keep releasing in unrelenting waves.  Droid phones seem to have a new model every month; we wait holding our breath for live tweets from the latest Apple summit, and now Sprint has the iPhone.  How to keep up?  More importantly, how to make it all productive?


New technology can sit in the box or you can engage it to grow your business. Here are four key affirmations for making new equipment work for you:


Be Curious:  I am truly amazed when I hear someone say, "I haven't even take it out of the box yet."  Is there something in there that is going to bite, explode or contaminate you?  Dive in.  Be a child.  Go wild and maybe even skip the manual.  My friend JG just laughs about reference materials.  He'll say, "It's an Apple.  Just turn it on!"  One key quality to leveraging technology is curiosity.  The tools are made for you;  good products wont' break from you pushing buttons, apps, or icons just to see what happens.  Explore.


Be Steady:  like most new toys, the interest in technology can fade. Instead of getting bored with it, consider making a commitment to it.  Continual learning in manageable doses is what helps an agent become more productive.  Staying up all night with your new iPad will just make your eyes burn the next day.  Be steady and set out a course of learning that is sustainable.  A little bit in small doses will have you on the expert platform in a few months.


Be Talking:  there's a lot to learn from other people, especially the ones who are using the same iPad, Droid, or App as you.  Ask and post questions.  Share your own insights.  There is always someone ahead of you and also someone behind you in the learning curve. Be generous.  The community can help you progress and process much faster.


Be Outside:  it is easy to get a narrow focus.  Yes, other real estate agents with a tech focus can teach you a lot about your new device.  But look outside your industry to discover something no one else inside your industry is yet doing.  Ask a home builder, a designer, or a medical sales rep how she uses her iPad. You'll learn something helpful while expanding your network.


So go ahead, crack the cellophane and get busy making that technology work for you.