On Equinox Information Systems' 27th anniversary, it is worth reflecting on how dramatically workplace technology has evolved since the company's 1986 founding. Business cards have transformed four times over those years, adding fax, email, and mobile phone numbers as communication methods advanced.
Today's desk environment is filled with three monitors, a smartphone, and multiple digital tools for productivity. Yet there is reason to be concerned about a cultural shift: when do we find time to think, ponder, or reflect? These contemplative activities have become devalued in favor of constant digital engagement.
At a lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough, he emphasized that "thinking" represents the most crucial—yet frequently overlooked—component of his creative process. McCullough stressed this often-neglected activity as central to his success.
The challenge is to step back from the constant pull of the keyboard. Consider reflecting on customer and employee experiences, on organizational strengths and improvement opportunities. The most powerful productivity tool ever devised is the same one used by Aristotle and Lincoln: your mind. No app required.
About the Author — Byron Middendorf is CEO of Equinox Information Systems. To learn more about Equinox, visit equinoxis.com or call (615) 612-1200.