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A friend recently asked if I thought all screens were equally addictive. More specifically, she asked if I took issue with the amount of laptops and computers being used in classrooms today.
“Not really,” I responded. “When used correctly, computers are mostly creation and productivity machines — like F150s, hammers, or pant brushes of the digital world. They can certainly be abused. But they are excellent educational tools and workhorses that actually prepare most kids for the same amount of computers they’ll use in their careers.”
In that way, smartphones are measurably more additive. They’re mostly consumption devices that when used in excess, behave like digital depressants. Desktops and laptops, on the other hand, are often stimulants. They are better creative machines.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. I’ve written 5000 word articles with only my iPhone on an airplane, and I used to be addicted to my laptop in unhealthy ways. But the advent of smartphones more than doubled, if not tripled, the amount of soul-sucking screen abuse, by my estimation.
The always-on, bottomless, and infinite scroll handhelds we always take with us are the much larger, more depressing problem for all involved. Consequently, that’s where the majority of our focus and restraint should be on.
As we head into the holiday, I challenge each of us to set boundaries on our phones, such as gutting our notifications, deleting distracting apps, and self-imposing screen limits. It’s the best way I know to live heads up.
See also: 8 ways to conquer your smartphone obsession
In January, I made the switch from an unlimited data plan to email only. This means I no longer have access to T-Mobile internet.
I had the unlimited data plan for two years (service is a little slow, but still convenient), but I’m happy to report I’m doing fine, saving a little money, and likely to father fewer Blackberry orphans as a result of my downgrade.
What’s more, my trusty Curve supports Wi-Fi, so if I really need access to the internet on my phone while not at home, it’s not that difficult to find a public connection.
For as technologically inclined as I am, it’s ironic how technology averse I can be, in an effort to maintain some level of privacy and social sanity. Do you ever feel the same?
I don’t know where I came up with this, but I’m sure it was from someone smarter than me. When successfully connecting with someone on the phone after first leaving a voicemail and/or email, don’t ask the person if they “got your message.” It does you no good and merely wastes an additional minute or two before getting to the real purpose for the call, to solve a problem.
I’ve started implementing this policy and can say it works wonders. I simply say “Hello,” after the person answers and proceed to ask my original question assuming they didn’t get my message. This speeds things up and gets you your information quicker than the usual. Who cares if they got your message, what matters is that you get your answer.
There is a plethora of business books out in the world claiming to reveal the next big thing to make money or better run your business. Some are good, most are bad. There are books on management, sales, and even customer service. The last one I think is laughable. Customer service is equivalent to how you cordially serve your customers to make them happy. If you don’t understand that, I don’t know how you would be in business.
I therefore present Griffio’s “corporate policy” on customer service. It’s rather simple and is based on one thing: accountability. Be responsive to those you interact with. Here’s how:
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Return phone calls within 1.5 hours – it’s tough, but it can be done. You will be surprised how comforting a returned phone call can be to your customers. By your doing it, they will have more respect for you and your company.
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Reply to emails on the same day – When someone writes an email, respond to it. It usually takes about 10 seconds to do so. I recently emailed a gentleman last week inquiring about his marketing services. I still haven’t heard from him. My bet is that if he treats his potential customer’s poorly, a paying customer probably won’t get much response from him either.
Reason being: customer service is about character not dollars. It’s something that is hard to teach although it can be done. The two above items should help your efforts in showing your customers that you care enough to respond to them. They have been the only formal customer service policies we follow and have taken our company a long way in being one of the most responsive firms in our industry. Sure beats reading a long, boring business book on customer service.
