50 reasons not to change - one one good reason to change
Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 06:11AM 
Above is another "discovery" made in cleaning out old files. In asking others to change, especially in the adaptation of technology in librarianship and education, I've heard a great number of these responses.
Truth be told, there are times that I would just as soon not have to change as well. As I take on new roles in retirement for other organizations, I am having to change my familiar old GSuite tools and begin using YahooMail, Exchange, and other communication systems. Even after no longer having a school email address, I now have 2 new ones, neither which are Gmail. I've needed to learn to use pivot tables and to import a column of zip codes into a GoogleMap to create map that shows the location of new club members. In my newly more important home office, I am installing a new printer/fax/scanner, computer, video conferencing camera, and wireless keyboard and mouse.
Granted, all these new learnings are voluntary - no one is making me change the way I do things.
As I look back on my career, I realize that change has nearly always worked in my favor. It's kept me from getting bored (to say the least) with the day job. It's allowed me to be perceived as an "expert" at times in my fields, taking advantage of the unknowns that technology has brought to education and to libraries by poineering and then writing about new techniques and tools. As I recently reminisced with a friend, a lot of us tech directors sort of just made stuff up as we went along when there were few, if any, documented best practices in technology PD or classroom use or security. In some ways, we still are...
The ability to see change as a blessing, not a curse, is in itself a blessing. One is never bored when changing. Terror-strickened, yes, bored no.
Reader Comments (3)
Amen, Doug, to the importance of welcoming change in our lives, at every stage...it keeps us vibrant, responsive, evolving, and engaged, whether in our primary professional careers or in our exciting semi-retirement "thrilling third" gigs. Best wishes for continued challenging changes, Doug...and I hope you will continue your inspiring blog!
Hi Donna,
How nice to hear from you. I can remember the Internet class in the mid-90s we were both a part of! I guess we both enjoy change.
You say you are semi-retired - what are you doing to keep busy and engaged?
Fondly,
Doug
Nice! Kind of relates to a couple of thoughts I work by:
1: Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it. ( From a fortune cookie. )
2: When asked if they would consider a better, more effective way of getting work done the response should not be, " No thanks, We are too busy."
Good to see you are still active in your "golden years"!
Tim