Technology As Innovator

It was early 2003, half a year from my university entrance exam, when I sat in a pensive state, imaging my vision for my career. I had chosen IT for 6 years at that time, and had never thought twice ever since. My university application was filled with preferences for IT; I always declared my direction with anybody who asked.

But something was missing. People, who never ever worked in the IT industry, always commented that IT was dry and IT people were rigid. I knew it was not true; in fact, I felt so.

I liked art and literature, composed poem, wrote reflections of music and developed a sympathetic character.

And suddenly, this motto flashed through my mind: “To bring humanity to IT”.

I wanted to prove that IT existed to serve humanities, not to become a self-contained world itself. I wanted to become a bridge between IT and those who didn’t understand it clearly.

I had a vision. It was my very first vision.

***

During my undergraduate education, I developed some products, some games. I joined some debates on the IT career and challenged the “Computer Science for Computer Science” thoughts. I discussed with geeks who value the efficiency of algorithms over designed patterns, who are obsessed about command lines, who were demented to the “Art of computing” stuffs, and so on.

Throughout much argument, I was enlightened that what these computer scientists were pursuing, though they never admit it, would eventually benefit the communities of non-experts, if and only if a bridge existed between the technical clusters beneath and the users on the surface.

I knew I could be that connecting layer.

***

Now I am a business analyst, who looks at and defines the system from the user’s point of view. I am having more discussion with system analysts, who look at the system from the technical point of view, on wiki(usability) and efficiency, value of functionalities to users and to the architecture.

I am writing some articles on Web 2.0 wiki(usability) and giving feedbacks to Web 2.0 system development teams. I am attracted to how well Web 2.0 serves normal, ordinary users.

I just realized that I am doing exactly what I wrote in my vision: I am now really a bridge between IT and end-users.

My plan that lasted for one decade came true and my first vision is here so touchable. I’m looking forward to my second twelve-year vision: my parents’ retirement plan.

I received this joke from a friend via IM: “You are truly a ‘modern’ young person if you have more than 300 numbers in your cell-phone and less than 3 of them ever call you”

It’s a pity I wasn’t able to sense the humor out of this statement. It is true that I have more than hundreds of numbers in my cell-phone and half a thousand contacts in my IM lists. It is also true that the number of people ever call me, or remember my birthday is relatively small compared to the total. But it is no matter. I call my friends every 3 months to save them the efforts of buzzing me; I organize get-togethers for different groups twice a year to warm up the relationship; I shout out if I want people to know my coming birthday will be next Friday so they won’t have to create a reminder; I even shamelessly publicize and spread my wish-list to save time for them for wondering what to buy for me. I go the extra miles from the boundary of my emotional territory. I choose to be straight-forward and open to receive the kind of response I expect. Not all are interested in my dust-kicking; but for the few that reply, I see their attachment, and I will be spending more time for those who care.

Of course, there is the cost I have to pay. Time, communication expense, misunderstanding, amusement are just a few to name. But if I don’t invest, return is zero. Worse, I would be spending time tormenting myself and blaming life. Life’s ungrateful and human is forgetful. That’s the very thing one needs to accept and find positive way to solve. There’s nothing wrong with upturning the habit. Spending energy to attract results in more positive outcomes than converging that energy into an internal and fragile melancholic bubble of torment.

The difference only comes to ones who choose to grow out of the average and be more proactive about their life. Pardon me, I might be too serious, but living effectively should never be a joke.

This is a fun story

Once, Chen Stormstout - a marketer who worked for one of the world’s leading FMCG companies - returned to his poor, secluded hometown, and was greeted stately by his relatives.

His uncle rejoiced “We have been poor farmers for centuries. This is the first time our line has ever been this honored by the success of our child. All thanks to Chen. He’s our VIP now. He can be our manager; let’s call our hero Marketing Manager!” The whole family applauded his idea.

Suddenly a niece cheered “No. A Marketing Director is higher, let’s call Chen Marketing Director!” The whole family cheered even louder; they knew a director is someone really important.

Chen’s cousin, who also studied business in the province college, cleared his throat and said pensively “But the Marketing Director still reports to the Vice President of Marketing, PR, Advertisement and Communication. Why don’t we call him Marketing VP?”

Everyone paused for a while when Chen’s aunt interrupted the silence “Boo! When your mother and I went to complain the musty cakes to XYZ, that VP was effusive in his apologies to us. He declares something about customer first and all the stuffs I didn’t bother remembering them all. I see that a customer has even more power; let’s call Chen Marketing Customer“.

Finally the sage in the crowd spoke deliberately “Now, to complete your sophisticated loop, customers are managed by a Marketing Executive, that is Chen. Why name him something fancy, only to make him lose his identity?!”