Information Overload

There is just so much information coming at us today that it’s easy to become overwhelmed and suffer from that new phenomenon information overload. Before the internet, we got most of our information from books, magazines or by enrolling on courses. Today any information is only a Google away. You can get videos about how to do anything for free, read any report you want on your computer or get the latest theory about any subject.

This information highway is great. I can’t imagine life without it. It does however have its dangers. Here is the danger of going on a constant researching campaign, a danger of becoming overwhelmed with the sheer weight of the information available. I used to have Pdf books lined up in my computer about various subjects. I had so many that it would be impossible to read them all.

We don’t have the time to assimilate all this information and if we are undisciplined, we could become the computer version of the couch potato. Instead of flicking through TV channels, we click through web pages. Stopping here or there to read something before moving on. Until we realise we have wasted four hours of our life mindlessly surfing.

If you are going to start a business, part-time or full-time, your greatest asset is time. You will need to become productive and focused to ensure you make the best use of it. To do this you need to clearly define what your goals are for the day. I always have a daily “to do” list on my desk and tick each one off as I progress. Before finishing for the day I write out my “to do” list for the following day. This keeps me focused.

When I realised I was becoming overwhelmed by information overload I took action to remedy the situation. The first thing I did was delete all those e-books off my hard drive. Did I need them? No, so I dumped them, the same way I dump old books I no longer need. The second thing I did was stop aimlessly surfing. If I’m looking for information now I look with focused intent. I resist the urge to follow links to other pages that are unrelated to my original search. I stay focused on the goals because completing these will enhance my business in some way.

I’m not suggesting that you stop using the internet for pleasure. Not at all. I’m just pointing out the internet can be a great time consumer and as a business owner you need to leverage that time to advance your business and yourself. Once the hard work is done though, treat yourself with a little idle surfing. As long as you are in control, there’s no problem. The problems start when the computer is controlling you.