The Joys and Heartaches of Being an "Early Adopter"

According to the Diffusion of Innovations principle, the rate at which a new idea is accepted among a society falls within a specific Bell curve-like graph. They are (in order of acceptance):

-Innovators
-Early Adopters
-Early Majority
-Late Majority
-Laggards

Ever since I can remember, I have been an early adopter of anything electronic. I'd probably be able to put myself in the 'innovator" category if my socioeconomic status allowed it. The point is, I love  having the newest toy that makes people stop and ask me "What the heck is that?" It's a powerful feeling, really. I've noticed this pattern I have is even more acute when it comes to internet technology.

For instance, I am now a member of Facebook, Twitter, and Google Buzz. Of course I don't need all three of them, and Buzz hasn't really proven how it can be useful yet (it's only been out a week). But regardless of all the time I waste on those three websites, I felt the urge to be a part of the Buzz action. It's that way with almost everything Google releases. I take part in almost every service Google now offers its members, even the ones I will never need!

Unfortunately, there is a major downside to buying items that are brand new. I can speak better than anyone about the risks involved with being an early adopter. Many products nowadays get rushed to the market without a full set of test runs and the early buyers are faced with problems like overheating (xbox 360), lack of features, lack of support (Nexus One), huge price drops right after you buy it (original iPhone), and bugs galore (Windows Vista).

All that aside, I still want to be the first one on the block with the newest and fanciest tech!

Stepping Out

Late in the summer of 2009, a friend of mine shared with me a CD of a little known Canadian musician named Valerie Poxleitner, a.k.a. "Lights".  I knew from the first track that I would enjoy the CD, but one line in particular caught my attention and has become my mantra for the last few months. It's from her song "Lions!"

"You don't have to feel safe to feel unafraid"

To me, it means so much. Typically when I make an important life decision, I analyze every aspect and I've even been known to make pros vs. cons lists. It's a safe way to go through life, but that's just it, safe isn't necessarily the best way to live. Think about anyone who has ever done something great with their career. Without some element of risk, I'm pretty sure nothing exciting will happen to me. But it's easier said than done. Stepping out in faith has never been my cup of tea. Not even close. But every time I hear that song, I am reminded that even when the next step is unclear, there's no reason to doubt. It's already taken care of.