I hereby resolve to not make any resolutions for New Years 2009. On a long drive, I heard a radio show featuring positive thinking and related psychobabble. It was on XM and I think it may have been someone in the Oprah orbit.
Anyway, the radio psychologist argued that New Years resolutions can do more harm than good. The reason is that they become too drastic to continue, and once the resolution is broken the resolver throws out the entire idea and ends up worse than before.
For instance, resolving to exercise every day or eat at least five vegetables each day are good ideas, but I'm not likely to achieve them one hundred percent of the time. Today, for instance, I walked to work and then left a piece of tasty pizza behind at lunch. These were good things to do but I will not be doing them each day.
What does this mean for government information technology? Well, most government agencies do not operate based on promises made at late night parties. I recommend that you find small ways to make your information technology healthier. For instance:
Anyway, the radio psychologist argued that New Years resolutions can do more harm than good. The reason is that they become too drastic to continue, and once the resolution is broken the resolver throws out the entire idea and ends up worse than before.
For instance, resolving to exercise every day or eat at least five vegetables each day are good ideas, but I'm not likely to achieve them one hundred percent of the time. Today, for instance, I walked to work and then left a piece of tasty pizza behind at lunch. These were good things to do but I will not be doing them each day.
What does this mean for government information technology? Well, most government agencies do not operate based on promises made at late night parties. I recommend that you find small ways to make your information technology healthier. For instance:
- Try something new. Take a look at commercial technology that is new to you. If you're a PC person, visit the Apple store and look at the latest Mac. Check out someone else's cell phone at your next meeting.
- Join a virtual community. Find organizations that share your interests and values and find out what you can gain from online communities.
- Stop the madness. If you have a project that is going nowhere, blow the whistle and take a time out. Reassess whether it can be reoriented to make more sense.