One of my colleagues struck me by saying “you are tool dependent”. From the very moment he said that to me, I agree deep within – although I never answer or loudly answer YES. I know what he means by that and now I’m asking myself that very question. In order to answer that question, lets define first what being tool dependent is?
- Explores a lot of tools, recursively
- Is lazy
- Yet is ideal
- The goal is to produce or optimize things with very little effort
- Does not focus on the subject matter but instead focuses on the tools to accomplish the problem or the subject matter
- Kills time for tool exploration
- Plays alot with the tools
- Spends time doing boilerplate codes
- A tool slave – relies on the tools very much
- Always buying time or always lacks time
- Never get things done
- Couldn’t get things done without the tools
- Having a hard time controlling oneself
- Does not have self-discipline
- Have an attention deficit disorder
- Easily persuaded by tools
- Jack of all trades, master of none
- Critical thinker
- Creative thinker to the point of once a problem occurs, the solution instantaeneously pops out of the brain and then performs research about what tool accomplishes the problem instead of analyzing the problem first and then acting after.
- An action man without thinking first
- You overly submit oneself to that way
- Has a lot of options because of the result of finding a lot of possible tools and solutions to solving a particular problem.
- Always planning to escape being tool dependent but cannot
- Tends to over-analyze things
From this definition alone, I would say I am. Well, I just made up this definition from what I understand to be a tool dependent.
Upon reflecting, here I think are ways to escape from being a tool dependent person.
- A determination to change
- An everyday re-assessment of goals if it gets done
- Focus and focus on solving the subject matter by not relying from the tools
- Organize
- Follow up
- Focus on personal development – by not using those tools
- Have a general sense of whats happening – have a birds eye view
- Think first before acting
- Always rely to oneself. Don’t be dependent to things – and don’t escape the situation
- Develop a sense of independence
- Believe in your own competency
- Gain personal mastery and self-control
Systematic way of tackling tool dependence.
- Being dependent on things means holding on desperately to things to give life a meaning or direction. In this case, to give you a desired solution to the problem you are tackling.
- Be willing to let go of the tools. Begin by resenting those tools that can keep you back from all that you are capable of.
- Have the ability to self-initiate and lead oneself.
- Limit the tool selection to just 3, so that at least you have the options.
- Don’t over-analyze things for your pleasure.
- Practice, practice, practice. From what I’ve heard, all it takes to acquire a habit is to perform it for two weeks consistently. For example, if you are lazy to brush your teeth everyday – and you want to do something about it; train your mind and *do* it for two weeks and it becomes a habit.
gerard lee 