3 Ways Impulsiveness is Hurting Your Tech Game

There a few impulsive people in my life, and if you recognize that I am writing about you, know this:  I love you.  But also know this:  your decision making speed, while impressive, is hurting you; there is a balance between analysis-paralysis and chaos and you are not balanced.

There are three ways impulsiveness can hurt our technology game.  Cost, functionality, and compatibility.

Cost

First, when we are fast, we might not be getting the best deal.  If we see something, or an idea pops into our head, and act immediately, we are likely overspending, or worse choosing something that doesn’t have the value that we perceived it to have.  Alternatively, we might be wasting our time or distracting ourselves from what is more important.

Functionality

Second, when we are impulsive, the results of speedy choices might actually suck.  We could end up with a printer that doesn’t work very well or a computer that is underpowered or a document management system that you hate.  This also takes us back to cost, if we bought something that doesn’t work, its cost has sky-rocketed in your time and frustration.

Compatibility

Third, when we are impulsive we typically aren’t thinking of how well our choice plays with others.  Does that accounting system run on Mac, for example.  Is this system going to paint us in a corner in two or five years?  Will this accounting package talk to my bank?

Technology choices have lasting effects.  My recommendation is to ask a few more questions or ask a trusted advisor.  You could ask if another vendor has the same or similar device or service at a different cost.  You could ask what features and functionality the item or service has and compare that to others.  You could ask if the device or service is documented to work with the devices and services you already have. 

If you value your time over learning the hard lessons of poor technology decisions, ask Pluto Micro.  We’ve been down most of the paths you are considering, and we’ve already know what shiny objects to avoid.