We’ve explored ways in which technology became lost throughout the pandemic, and how we need to find ways to re-establish it, so it doesn’t become lost again.
Another way that technology can become lost is, interestingly enough, when the necessity to solve problems disappears or is greatly reduced.
Exterior agencies, such as the government, slip in and solve various issues for an organization or for an individual. This certainly happened during the pandemic, and it became evident that some companies and people were weakened through these actions.
For example, some organizations felt that they could excuse poor service with pandemic issues—possibly because they didn’t have to worry about providing service because their revenue was being supplemented.
Unfortunately, customers will walk away from companies that are providing inferior service no matter the excuses. Such companies are now having to work hard to regain their clientele.
No matter how problems are solved exteriorly, however, no real forward progress or innovation is made without it being propelled by necessity.
My Father’s Story
If we go back to my father’s generation, they really operated from the mindset that things truly got done out of necessity. No one was solving problems for them. I grew up—as did many kids of my generation—being encouraged to solve things for myself. Parents in my time didn’t solve every single problem for their children, which caused kids to begin thinking for themselves. It worked.
My father definitely passed onto me that we’re at our best when our backs are against the wall. And he would know. As part of America’s aerospace industry, he was one of the engineers who guided the Apollo 13 astronauts away from certain death and safely back to Earth.
My father was quite an individual. He spent 50 years in aerospace, and personally knew Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and many others. He worked on surveillance and fighter aircraft, including the F14, F18, and many others. He actually designed the guidance systems for the famous SR71 Blackbird.
My father was one of that generation who, possessing freedom like no other, kept making leaps forward. We got into the space race, which placed attention on something far more positive than trying to kill each other with nukes. The space program, occurring right at the height of the Cold War, was one of the best things that could have happened during that time. Yes America, like individuals, was at her best when the necessity was there to produce something of value. And in fact, any society is at its best when necessity is realized.
Why are television shows like “Survivor” so popular? They place people in positions for which, driven by necessity, they must get very clever to survive and win. Necessity brings out the best in them.
Without necessity, individuals and organizations don’t evolve technology—and moreover, they don’t seek to maintain the successful technology that they already possess.
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