Leave Mr. Obama and his BlackBerry Alone

All those in favor of President Obama giving up his Blackberry raise your hand? All those in favor of him keeping it? I thought so.

A recent Newsweek article titled, “Will the BlackBerry Sink the Presidency?” delved into this topic. The article mainly discusse the danger of interruptions by the Blackberry on brain processes. The authors write, “Given the damage caused by interruption overload and continuous partial attention, we can infer either of two things about people who use their BlackBerry while holding a conversation, weighing decisions, trying to solve a problem or attempting to do creative work with, they claim, no ill effects. Possibility one: they are lying. Possibility two: their work just isn't that hard.” This was based on research from the Harvard Business School.

Can you picture it? “Excuse me Queen Elizabeth, I didn’t hear you. I was looking at my BlackBerry.”

I would imagine the President gets interrupted by many more things, such as people, more than he might his BlackBerry. In fact, I don’t know how he can sit and think with the number of meetings, calls and much ado about whatever whenever and wherever he is. His BlackBerry probably allows him to take a step back and get lost in his thoughts once in a while.

The authors also write, “Truly novel solutions and ideas emerge when the brain brings together unrelated facts and thoughts. That is hard to achieve when you are attacking the problem head on.”

There is also something about low self-esteem and using a BlackBerry. If that’s true, then we have millions upon millions of people in all positions with low self-esteem. Don’t blame that on the BlackBerry.

I use one. It saves me as I am not in the office all day and can stay quite connected to the mother ship and my clients. I am more confident with it in hand when I need to be out of the office.

My point: Fortunately, the folks at Newsweek ended the piece with “…If you're the most powerful man in the world? Not a worry.” Whew. I got scared for a minute that people really believed the president wasn’t going to be able to run the country well because he had a BlackBerry. What’s next? Take away books because they might give him ideas?

I Gotta Kick the Habit

It takes a tragedy to open up someone’s eyes. Let’s take… cell phones and texting while driving. Estimates of the number of U.S. traffic deaths caused by cell phone talking while driving are generally in the 2,000 - 3,000 range with one hundred times as many injuries. Now, add in texting. You get the picture.

I admit it. I will use my cell in the car. I have also texted on my Blackberry And anyone who denies he/she does that is lying. Abigail always yells at me for doing that. She’s right.

Which is more valuable, your family’s safety or that one more email to the friend or client? I’ll take the family any day of the week.

This isn’t going to be easy but I am going to vow not to text during car rides. I cannot promise I won’t use the cell phone, but I will try to use it less. Maybe only receive a call.

I think I know what it means to have a habit. I need to kick the habit before it’s too late.