To celebrate the beginning of another school year, I have broken out one of my favorite poems. “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”
This is a poem that can apply to so many different parts of our lives, no matter what age we’re at, or industry we’re a part of. So, here is what kindergarten teaches us about the IT industry.
Share Everything.
Keep all of your important data on your shared drives. This ensures that it will all get backed up (as long as your backups are set up correctly), and that you will be able to access all of it remotely. Also, when the time comes to buy a new computer, the transition will be smooth and quick.
Play Fair.
So much information is available on the internet these days. Between informational websites, blogs, and Wikipedia, you can learn about anything online. But, just because the information is on the internet for the whole public to see doesn’t mean you don’t need to give credit where credit is due. Citing sources for facts, stats, and even pictures are more important than ever, especially online. It may be easier to find information, but this means it is also easier to find out if something is plagarized. Always cite your sources for everything.
Don’t hit people.
IT professionals are people too. They are there to make your lives easier, so please be a little patient with them.
Put things back where you found them.
We store our entire lives on our computers these days. Documents, photos, videos, etc. You should make sure to set up a file structure on your computer that makes sense to you. Otherwise, it might take you hours to find that one particular picture from 3 years ago.
Clean up your own mess.
It may be hard to believe, but computers have their limits. If you put too much on your computer, it is going to have an impact on it’s performance. Downloading too much, storing too much, having 100 different applications, will all build up and your computer will start to slow down. To prevent this, make sure you have your backups running correctly, run the Disk Cleanup tool and the Disk Defrgmenter every once in a while. This will help your computer run better and last longer.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
While there are many different ways these days to get IT stuff for free (music and movie downloads, software, etc.) the best way to go about getting these things is to pay for them. If you don’t, chances are at some point down the road you are going to encounter problems, and no IT professional will be able to help you because you didn’t actually pay for the items.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
The way we communicate with one another has changed dramatically with the rise of modern technology and especially the social media scene. It is important to understand though, that just because you aren’t communicating face to face, or even over the phone, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be polite. Online etiquette has become even more important these days. Spelling and grammar mistakes, not addressing an email in a professional manner, posts about your innermost thoughts and what you had for breakfast this morning…all of these might not give the best impression of you from a business standpoint. So before you post a picture, comment on a status, or send an email without proofreading, take a step back and think “What message am I sending about me?”
Wash your hands before you eat.
Your hardware isn’t invulnerable. You need to make sure to keep it clean, and take good care of it. You would be amazed how many issues a dirty computer can actually cause. And after you eat, make sure to wash your hands before you use the computer.
Flush.
Basic common courtesy is really important when it comes to devices these days. Most people have their entire lives stored on their computers, and that probably includes some things they don’t want everyone to see. If you are using someone else’s computer, tablet, or smartphone, remember to be polite and respectful. Changing the background to a goofy picture or switching the language to Portugese might be funny at first, but it is still an invasion of personal space and can quickly escalate. Be careful.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Computers need TLC too. Give them a rest, treat them right, and they can last you a long time. Severe weather conditions, not cleaning up your hardware and software, these are things that will cause your computer problems.
Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Our lives seem to revolve around our IT devices these days. Don’t forget that there is a world beyond the computers and tablets and smartphones. Make sure every once in a while to disconnect yourself from IT and get out in the world.
Take a nap every afternoon.
Everyone needs a rest once in a while, even your computer equipment. Best practice is to make sure you reboot your computer at least once a week. This will allow updates to take effect and keep your computer running as efficiently as possible.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
The IT industry is constantly changing at a very fast pace. You don’t have to navigate through it alone. There are many resources available to help advise and guide you through the complicated IT industry. For example, you can contact us! We are always happy to answer questions and offer guidance and advice.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
All the advancements that have been made in technology, especially over the past decade or so, are really incredible. Don’t forget to take a step back every once in a while to recognize how amazing it is to have all of this modern technology available to us.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup- they all die. So do we.
You computer equipment isn’t going to last forever. It wasn’t meant to. Make sure you are upgrading your hardware and software as needed.
Remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned -LOOK.
Before getting so frustrated that you throw your computer out the window and head out to buy a new one, take a breath, take a step back, and look at the computer. Maybe the problem is actually something obvious and simple.