The Moments (In Technology) That Matter.

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you are off to an amazing start on the achievement of your goals, your resolutions, and your general pursuit of happiness.  I think 2024 is going to be a really great year.  As we jump into this new year, I want to take a really quick look back.  CES, or as some might call it, Nerd-Central, just ended.  That means the real work year is officially off to the races.  This year promises to usher in so many changes and innovations, but I wanted to look back at some of the most impactful and life-changing experiences I have ever had as it pertains to the world of technology.  

Do you remember the first time you used a microwave oven?  I do.  That means I’m old, but I remember it clearly.  I was a young kid and I was able to heat up a can of soup quickly and without using the stove top.  No more worrying about whether I turned it on or off.  No worrying about getting burned.  That was a big deal in itself, but almost nothing compared to the first time I heated up a Hot Pocket for lunch.  The world was my warmed up oyster and lunch would never be the same.

What about the first time I was exposed to the Internet?  For me, it was using Unix to send pings and notes to friends in the earlier forms of email.  That and “Multi-User Dungeon” games which were the very early prequels to things like Fortnite.  Some of my friends would play through the night.  For me, everything came into focus with the first browser I saw and a fully-formed web page.  That was like the opening of Moby Dick - call me Ismael - and I had found my white whale which would shape the future for me in so many ways.

Next most impactful moments?  The iPhone and the Video iPod.  I had cell phones before that, and I had devices that showed video clips, but when the iPhone came out it was a massive change in form and function for everyone.  That preceded the video iPod by a few years, but the video iPod meant video was not “on-the-go” and could be truly taken everywhere.  Once the iPhone was upgraded and video was omnipresent, the future was truly realized and media would never be the same.

What about the first time you drove an electric car?  My first experience was driving the Fiat 500 in Detroit on a race track and realizing it was like driving an RC car but life size and I was sitting in it.  That was an experience unlike anything else and it has propelled the growth of the industry.  It was all torque, all the time, and like no other driving experience I would ever have.  Then along comes Tesla and the rest of the mix, and driving continues to evolve.

And then, last year, Chat GPT.  Those first few days when I sat and played with the query inputs and got it to write songs, sonnets and soliloquies.  These days I use it weekly for work, and I am never short of surprised at what comes out of it.  The experience continues to grow, and the use cases expand, but we are at the tip of what AI will do in the years to come.

I bring all of these look backs to you because I never want you to take a moment for granted.  If you are reading this, I probably know you personally, and I know you love to have new experiences.  Don’t overlook the moment.  You might be trying something, meeting someone, or being exposed to a new idea or opportunity that could have a life-altering impact.  At the very least, an incredibly fond memory.  At the time, I had no idea how impactful each of those moments were going to be, and yet here I am in some cases over 30 years later saying that I still recall them quite clearly.  I remember where I was the very first moment I heard Nirvana. To many that would be a moment that blends in with so many others, but for me I can clearly remember every detail of that moment.  Back then I was very focused on the moment, and these days I try very hard to do the same.  Sometimes not very successfully since being an adult means lots of people and things are vying for your time, but I try.

2024 is going to be great year, and especially if you make sure to be in the moment and paying attention to what is right in front of you.  Take the moment in and enjoy yourself and make a mental note for future years when you want to look back.  

In the coming weeks I plan to write about a few topics including:

The future of the ad agency business model.

How to win by changing the game.

Marketing philosophy.

And more.

Thanks for reading!

Cory