Back in his day, the pen and parchment that William Shakespeare used may have seemed like cutting edge technology to the masses of people who could not even read or write. The great bard, however, probably took the tools that he used daily for granted. I have the same problem with today’s technology.
I live in a rural area and tend to think that most people that live in my community are behind the curve when it comes to technology. The fact is, it doesn’t matter where you live, some people are more tech savvy than others.
I run a set up on my home computer that has dual monitors, 5.1 surround stereo, and I can watch satellite TV on one screen while typing my blog on the other – watching an episode of Stargate SG-1 right now. I can record the episode and then sync the video to my smartphone and then watch the video while I’m sitting in a reception area somewhere. I’ve been using this set up for several years so it seems quite common place to me, but most other people seem to think it is a cutting edge set up from the near future.
I’ve been spending a lot of time talking with and meeting with people who work and live in the Indianapolis area. My general perception is that being from a more urban environment, the tech skills of the typical person would be more developed than those of a person in my rural community, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
I recently attended a business networking event and forgot my small stack of business cards in the car because I was running late due to an accident on I-70 and I was talking on my bluetooth headset while I was getting out of the car. Bad excuse – I know. Any way. I get to the event and the first person I talk to asks me for a card. Think for a split second. OK. I’m in Indy, these people are big city business, “Hey, I don’t have any more cards with me, but I can send you a V-card with bluetooth.” Blank stare. Bad assumption.
The point is that with today’s business meetings becoming more and more permeated with technology, you can’t assume that the person or company that you are meeting with is on the cutting edge. You need to be prepared for the old school person who wants a 20-page-thick, printed presentation, and the decision maker who is on top of business technology and is expecting you to bring a laptop and projector to provide a complete multi-media presentation with sound and video.
It’s hard to tell which of your clients will be tech savvy or not tech savvy, and you need to find out early in your due diligence with each potential customer, what level of technology will most likely help your sales pitch.
