[Japan Lags Behind in IT] Three Traits of People Left Behind by Technology

Businesses are urgently being pushed online these days... but many people probably feel uncomfortable with technology.

As “Japan Ranks 27th in Digital Competitiveness; Data Analysis and Talent Are Weaknesses, IMD Finds” (Nikkei) reports, Japan's digital competitiveness ranks below America, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Simply put, Japan is technologically backward. Why?

Is it the fault of the government or companies?

No, no: it is a matter of each individual's interest in, understanding of, and ability to put technology into practice.

Why are so many Japanese people unable to use technology effectively?

Thinking it over, I found three common traits.

And it has absolutely nothing to do with ability.

Conversely, overcoming these three traits is enough.

If you feel uncomfortable with technology, I hope this helps even a little.

1: You Suggest to Yourself That You Are Bad at It

Have you seen people proclaim things like that?

In fact, these self-generated statements are the fundamental reason they become technologically inept.

People often say “Your self-image makes you” or “Thoughts become reality”; in effect, you are practicing negative affirmations.

We do not have skills on the level of Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg, and we do not need to aim for that.

Human abilities, meanwhile, do not differ that much, and trying new things allows anyone to activate their brainpower.

Using technology well is really only a matter of that degree.

So starting now, simply say aloud, “I can use technology effectively,” and strongly visualize yourself doing so.

2: You Never Think about Making Life Easier

What motivates us to use technology?

If you think this way, you may have become someone used by technology.

The motivation for using technology is nothing other than “pursuing ease.”

Or you could say, “Having it do everything except what I want to do.”

A mindset of continually finding cheap ways to push tedious, boring work onto technology is important.

Suppose you work in accounting.

Doing all year-end calculations mentally and writing everything out by hand would be nothing but torture.

But consider:

Can you picture how “effort,” “number of processing steps,” and “accuracy” decrease as you move down the list?

Seen another way:

These are the roles technology takes on for us.

As technologies such as AI and RPA, which we hear about frequently, advance, it will not be long before they reach the point of doing the work entirely for us.

I still often see Japanese people glorifying irrational notions such as “working busily,” “earning money through sweat and toil,” and “trying hard.”

I have received many opinions on my tweet asking, “Why is Japan's labor productivity so low?” My hypothesis is, “Because Japanese people hate rationality.” They love sports-team-style appeals to grit, and saying “Wouldn't this be economically rational?” triggers outrage.

— Akira Tachibana (@ak_tch) March 7, 2019

Isn't it time to move past that?

Frankly, trying hard at work that is not remotely interesting is madness.

3: Not Enough Love

Some people feel inadequate, and some even get angry.

There are stories like, “It would not work when I used it, but when so-and-so, who is good with machines, operated it, it worked immediately.”

The conclusion tends to be that some people are good at it and others bad, but I think it boils down to “not enough love.”

In those bullet points above, replace the implied subject “smartphone, computer, or software” with a person (family member) or pet.

Nowadays, Googling usually finds a solution to most problems.

Even when Googling does not solve it, plenty of support services exist.

Think of technology as a “living creature” and treat it with love.

The love you give it should bring returns large enough to change your life.

Live Alongside Technology and Enjoy Life

To wrap things up:

Please remember these points.

I want to emphasize that technology's power lies in bringing “life innovation”: making life easier so you can spend time only on what you love.

People talk about a 100-year life, but time is finite and precious.

Spending it on boring things or worrying about them is wasteful.

Even with work, unless it is something you truly love, would you not rather live without doing it?

Then make maximum use of technology's power.

As an aside, this article was written on an iPad during my flight from Miyakojima to Tokyo after a WORKATION.

Work can actually be that light.

But writing this article is something only I can do, making it the most valuable thing.