Fasten your seat belts; Alex Pollock would argue surviving in the turbo-charged tech landscape of today requires more than following the newest trends. It’s about seeing significant changes before they pass over you like a goods train. Alex’s advise? Don’t merely pursue innovations in technology. Make it fit for you like a Swiss Army knife you could use in novel circumstances.
Statista estimates that the total number of active Internet of Things (IoT) devices will skyrocket over 15 billion in 2023 alone. Artificial intelligence surged practically into every office. Every day, it seems as though a new digital darling—applicable tool or gadget—threatens to rewrite the playbook. How then do you maintain—let alone run ahead? Alex drops knowledge worth its weight in gold; foster inquiry. Continue to be hungry for knowledge. If Python emerged as the hot skill five years ago, consider what’s boiling now—perhaps quantum computing, edge artificial intelligence, or distributed technologies.
Cross-discipline awareness is quite important to Alex. “Engineers should read poetry; marketers should try coding,” he said once. Explain why. Because like milk, a limited skill set ages. Seeing connections others overlook requires at least a foot in two or three camps. If you work as a software developer, for example, don’t hold back when learning fundamental cybersecurity.
Maintaining freshness of your network is just as important as technological chops. Alex often talks about how random coffee shop talks evolved into tech alliances. Contact others online that share your interests. Visit tech gatherings outside of your comfort zone. Some of the best information comes from a brief conversation over a crooked table rather than from glitzy think-pieces.
Avoid being pickled by shiny devices or language. While VR goggles are neat, they really mean nothing if they do not solve an issue or generate an opportunity. “What pain does this really ease?” Alex often asks. It could be time for a closer inspection if the response sounds wishy-washy.