| - High-powered professionals crumble in tears, | | | | platforms, the focus is on ease of use. Users do |
| - Mature adults run screaming down the office hall, | | | | not need to know technical lingo; they just point |
| - Moms, dads, employees, and experts dignified | | | | and click selections. As a starting point, remember |
| by day, trembling in the privacy of their homes.... | | | | your computer is really an electronic filing cabinet |
| Maybe this is overly melodramatic, but you get | | | | with folders. Organize and store all you materials |
| the picture, don't you? It is common for adults to | | | | in them accordingly. Mine new strategies, talk |
| approach me, upset, frightened, and convinced | | | | about your system, and trade tips with colleagues |
| they cannot learn technology. For many people, | | | | at work, professional conferences, family, and |
| using a new computer program or cell phone can | | | | friends. You will gradually cultivate a reframed |
| be a cataclysmic event. Their emotions range | | | | perspective of your work, and discover how to |
| from confusion, to frustration, to anger and can | | | | use technology more to streamline your effort |
| even bring about panic attack levels of stress. Do | | | | and make your workspace efficient. |
| any of these descriptions sound like you or | | | | 4.I just learn by myself: the "peck and poke" |
| someone you know? This article breaks down | | | | method. Some adults believe that even taking |
| several critical myths that block progress to the | | | | classes won't help, or conversely, they can learn |
| freedom of learning technology. Let's explore how | | | | technology sufficiently on their own. Others do |
| to harness the truth to begin a new pathway of | | | | not want to be clueless in a class of technophile |
| success! | | | | young adults, and who can blame them? The |
| 1.Technology is only for kids; there is no way I | | | | great news is one can quickly gain confidence and |
| can learn it. This myth typifies the perspective of | | | | excel without public embarrassment with personal |
| our opening illustration. Yet, recent articles indicate | | | | professional coach or trainer who specializes in |
| that Baby Boomers are dominating Facebook (ex., | | | | helping adults learn technology. Everyone makes |
| Business Week, 2009, Sept..7) This, and other, | | | | great strides with one-on-one support, and good |
| social media sites were wrestled from the | | | | coaches build your confidence in the learning |
| keyboards of youngsters and are a major domain | | | | process. Filling in the gaps of learning, discovering |
| for connecting with our old friends, and promoting | | | | more efficient strategies, provide immediate |
| business endeavors. Who is on Twitter? It is | | | | benefits and maximize future learning. |
| widely documented that Twitter is Boomers' | | | | 5.I'm too busy to learn. Once you start learning |
| regime, not adolescents'. These are just two | | | | technology, you will realize you save a lot of time. |
| examples of clear evidence: mass adoptions of | | | | By spending 2-3 hours in a personalized session, |
| technology and social media are being driven by | | | | you will be amazed at how much you can |
| adults. Ergo, they are learning it! "Move over Zoe, | | | | streamline and reorganize your work flow. With |
| mommy has to get her Facebook time." | | | | this saved, you can allocate weekly or monthly |
| 2.I don't need technology for anything. If you | | | | sessions to address on your continuing learning |
| want to remain behind the curve and the | | | | needs. Location is not a limitation either, participate |
| advantages which everyone else has and waste | | | | in-person, or remotely connecting with your |
| money go ahead. Dismiss online banking and | | | | trainer; therefore your choice of professional |
| shopping and wait for monthly statements, and | | | | coach/trainers is greater. Live distance learning |
| spend your abundant extra retirement cash on | | | | makes scheduling much easier, as evenings, |
| postage stamps, paper statement fees, and gas | | | | weekends, and lunch time, can be possible options. |
| tank fill-ups chasing the best deals around town. | | | | By countering these first five myths, I hope you |
| Moreover, if you want professional reputation of | | | | have seen the opportunity for learning technology |
| being incapable of change and flexibility, continue | | | | is much closer. Consider which actions you can |
| ignoring technology. But, in so doing you are the | | | | take this week and next; jot them down on your |
| antithesis of what the 21st century workplace | | | | calendar and begin moving forward. If you need |
| values! Solution: make the effort, seek training, | | | | encouragement, reach out to people you can |
| and adopt new technology: these strategies can | | | | trust. In a future Myth Busting article, I will help |
| protect or change your image from has been to | | | | dispel those lies about "Old dogs can't learn new |
| mover and shaker. | | | | tricks." I will be wound up for that one! You are as |
| 3.It's way too technical. In the ancient days of | | | | capable to learn as you believe you are. Enjoy! |
| MS-DOS (circa 1985) I would have to agree with | | | | Now, what do you want to start learning with |
| this frequent excuse. But with current computer | | | | technology? 1...2... 3... start! |