Reflections of The Industry

John the Baptist, incorporating elements from the Island of Misfit Toys, set in a 1960s science fiction and splatter art style. 

For decades, I struggled in the land of silos.  Sometimes chastised and often labeled an 'outlier' or a 'John the Baptist' type for imagining and articulating situations that I thought obvious.  The many transformational movements experienced  - the move from mainframe to PC, from desktop to internet, from servers to cloud, from VAR to MSP and managed print services - taught me otherwise.  

What I see, is not always seen.  

Doesn't make me a visionary, it makes my an Outlander.  So be it.

For the past few months, each Friday afternoon, Art Post and I get together and review the week in office technology.  Sometimes we have guests, other times it is just the two of us, asking each other questions about selling, technology, the industry and what it means to work in the industry and sell copiers for a living.

Often, the style and tone take on the typical "after a meeting" style - Art might be sporting a cigar, myself a bourbon.

I also belong and participate or host other similar sessions with the Greg Walters Show and a new Ai oriented project "Ai For Thought" with me an Salvia Mirza with a Global spin on artificial intelligence, business, society and the Universe.  Salvia currently lives and works across the pond.

These interactions help me get a broad sense of what is going on in the world - and let me tell you, as turbulent as the office tech realm can be, it is dwarfed in comparison to the global technology waves happening right now. 

The copier niche is resilient and winding down. But I'm not going to go on another "this is the end of our industry rant", it is and has been for a decade.  

The one sense, the primary gut feeling I'm getting today, is one of 'combinational innovation' and inevitability. 

Here is a partial list of the types of open groups I belong and contribute:

• Ai Round table of office tech industry players
• Copier, Technology Sales
• Commercial Real Estate
• Creative Ai From London
• Ai Brain From UK
• More...

At first, I joined out of interest, even the industry specific groups.  But I'm always curious and I have always believed that no industry, business or function exists in a vacuum.

Lately, I am not alone in my observation that all things in business and life are connected - in a real sense.

This is thanks to Ai.  Toasters, robots on the moon and your accounts receivable processes are connected.  Threads today, fiber optic tomorrow, meshed the day after.

What to Do?

Technology Keep you head up more than ever before.

Look at other area's of interest not as hobbies, but as mainstays of your life.

Strive to see connections between what appear to be not connected.  You will find them.  Pay attention and continue to actively 'see'.

Why?

After you see the connections, it is easier to envision YOUR personal role in this great transition. Navigating becomes a flow with less friction helping you to respond holistically instead of reacting in a singular and short term manner.

Of course you're becoming more aware for self-improvement, but there is more.  What you do today, will echo in eternity. Do this for the generations who follow.  Don't keep your journey a secret - tell everyone you see the Whole of the Moon. 

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