Technology, Strategy, Networking and Empathy

Technology is here to improve our experience as humans. But the best way for technology to be successful is to understand what our human needs are in the first place. Empathy is the ability to have that understanding and share the feelings of someone else. Once you really understand a need, then you can leverage technology to develop a solution.

As machines get smarter, success in life for us humans will be more tied to things that cannot be programmed or automated. Things like strategy – knowing what tasks are worth doing and capable of being completed; networking – uncovering new solutions by cultivating connections that did not exist before; and empathy – understanding people’s needs and challenges.

In other words, human skills. 

My commute to work is over an hour one-way. The only two bright spots about this are that on occasion I get to drive my son to class, and that I have plenty of time for audio books. Here are some suggestions to better prepared for this new economy:

Strategy: Good Strategy/ Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters

Networking: Hard Workers Work Hard and Networkers Move Up

Empathy: Humility is the New Smart; Daring Greatly; Applied Empathy

Humans cannot compete with the best smart machines and programs in the "Smart Machine Age". Technology will help us move faster but let's make sure the destination is where we want to go.