My name is Mark. I am an addict. A phone addict.
But before you sign me up for a 12-step program, I have some good reasons for my addiction. I have two businesses. Four children. Thousands of readers from our newsletter and magazine. Many rental property tenants. Over 100 current students and more than 1,000 former students. My phone contains every phone number, address, birthday, password, number, security code, paint color, article idea – everything. I need my phone badly!
This weekend I got a new phone. Anyone who knows me knows I am a dedicated BlackBerry user. On the recommendation of a good friend and multi-year Hot Firm winning, globetrotting CEO Kit Miyamoto, I got the new BlackBerry PRIV instead of an iPhone, which I had considered. At this point I am about ready to send out a death squad to hunt Miyamoto down. I can’t use this damn phone for anything. I don’t have my photos from my media card that we installed. I don’t have the over 400 notes I completely depend on. Every calendar item is repeated three times over. I cannot even figure out how to use the alarm. Take a deep breath. Exhale.
I’m sure I will get through all this. It will be a matter of time. Maybe I will just decide to completely change my life if I can’t. Sell everything and take off on a years-long motorcycle ride. To Hell with my creditors, family members (current and “ex”), friends, employees, suppliers, students, subconsultants – everyone. If I don’t have a phone that works I cannot work. So meanwhile I will have to type away on this thing on my desk called a “computer.” Funny thing about it – every website looks like it should. All my info is here and I can find it. The keyboard is good for typing. It has USB ports. It’s pretty doggone nice come to think of it!
Maybe I’ll just go to Wal-Mart and get a flip phone next time! On second thought, I am gonna get this new one going. It’s what allows me to work anytime, anywhere, and be amazingly responsive and productive – two keys to any success I have ever enjoyed!
Mark Zweig is Zweig Group’s founder and CEO. Contact him at mzweig@zweiggroup.com.
This article is from issue 1169 of The Zweig Letter. Interested in more management advice every week from Mark Zweig, the Zweig Group team, and a talented list of other guest writers? Click here to subscribe or get a free trial of The Zweig Letter.
