Whether or not you’re willing to admit it, I’ll bet you suffer from some sort of Internet addiction.Don’t believe me? Then go three days without checking your e-mail. You’ll probably begin to feel disconnected, out of the loop, even nervous. Sad, but true.
You’ll worry that you’re missing something important at work or in your personal life. You’ll itch to get back online. And if you’re a Blackberry user, who is NEVER without e-mail access…well, I’d seek medical attention ASAP.
Sometimes, the mere threat of going “netless” can make you break out in a cold sweat. Last week, I thought I’d be forced to endure an excruciatingly long period of time away from the ‘net. But at least it was for a good cause.
On Wednesday, March 12th, my wife and I were privileged to welcome our fourth child, a baby boy, into the world. Ari Jonah (A.J.) Shron was born by c-section at 9:34 AM.
The good news is that A.J. is healthy and adorable. The bad news is that my wife’s c-section took a large toll on her, and she’s been generally bedridden since the birth. And she made it very clear: if SHE had to stay in the hospital, I have to stay in the hospital.
As the nurses wheeled in the most uncomfortable-looking recliner I’d ever seen – which would serve as my bed for the next few days – I feared the worst: no Internet access anywhere in the building. At least that was the case a couple of years ago when my daughter was born in the same hospital. Imagine the horror!!
To my relief, the hospital now offered wi-fi, so I was able to serve out my “sentence” fully connected to cyberspace. And sitting in my wife’s hospital room, it was somewhat liberating to know that I’ve brought my office – along with the rest of cyberspace – along with me. Who needs an office anymore when I can do my work from a hotel, coffee shop or hospital anywhere in the world?
Lest you think this article is merely a lame excuse for me to show off baby pictures, I DO have a point here.
I have a feeling it won’t be too long before wireless Internet connectivity is available everywhere. Many people already have access on their cell phones, and major cities nationwide have been working on making free wireless capabilities available throughout their cities. Cafes, hospitals, libraries and many other establishments now offer wi-fi to their patrons.
The future is upon us. When you can connect to the Internet or e-mail anytime, anywhere – a whole new world opens up to you.
Imagine:
- E-mailing your wife from the grocery store to see if you need any milk.
- Checking competitors’ prices while at Toys R’ Us, before you buy little Timmy that new bike he’s been wanting.
- Pulling up real-time traffic information from your car so you can get to your meeting on time.
- Ordering flowers for your wife from the bar to ensure that they get to your house just 3 minutes before you do…
A wireless world is certainly an exciting one. But it will also pose challenges for us as salespeople.
It won’t be long before a prospect will be able to e-mail you from her car, parked right outside your sales office. If you respond immediately, she’ll come in to visit. If not, it’s off to the community down the road.
Are you ready?
Tags: email marketing, home building, real estate
March 31, 2008 at 10:45 am
Josh! Great blog! I’ll have to subscribe after I comment on this. I understand where you’re coming from, and do agree that eventually something big will happen soon enough in the world of wireless. However, I must mention a kink in each of your examples, as I do best.
First of all, the more wireless hubs and connections that are created, the more likely it is that they’ll be hacked and/or break down. When it comes to computers, it seems that for every way around something, there are two ways through it. Not that it’ll stop anyone from trying.
When you email your wife from the store, what if she’s indisposed and hasn’t brought her wireless device. Will we really be connected ALL the time? Also, what will this constant connectivity do to religious observances that encourage periodic detachment from electronics?
Will Toys R’ Us really allow customers to check competitors’ prices on Toys R’ Us property? If so, T.R’.U. will have to start matching prices…until they go broke. No?
With cell phone bans in full effect and GPS-ing while driving already under scrutiny, will traffic info really be so available? Maybe you’re right about that one. Car radios have been around for ages and they still cause problems.
So, flowers from the bar I can accept. Although we’re already wrong all the time. Imagine being gone all the time AND wrong all the time. That’s a lot of flowers!
March 31, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Thanks Elazar! Look, we’re still a long way away from 100% Internet access, anytime, anywhere. But we’re getting a heck of a lot closer. Look at the progress that’s been made in the last couple of years! Two years ago, only a handful of corporate execs had Blackberrys. Today, when “smart phones” cost $99 and data plans are becoming more reasonable every day, I can’t help but think that “anytime, anywhere” is starting to reach the masses.
Sure, your wife may have left her internet-enabled phone at home at the time you email her. And yes, religious observances are probably not going to change too much just because the rest of our digital world has. But exciting things are happening fast.
As for real-time traffic, I just on the news that a new GPS device on the market will receive info from everyone else’s GPS devices. If the device senses that you’re stuck in traffic (based on your current driving pattern), it will notify all other subscribers not to take that route.
Thanks for reading!