When I took a typing class at 14, little did I know I was building a foundation that would help me keep up with technological changes over the next several decades.
After college, I spent years working as a secretary, office manager, and eventually, executive assistant. My typing skills helped, but I was also forced to grow along with technology — from manual typewriters to electric typewriters to computers.
The various jobs that I held were never very fulfilling or challenging, but being a single mother with three children left me little time to make a career move. That changed when my youngest became a teenager.
The World Wide Web was born
In 2000, the internet was growing, and companies were starting to have their own websites to market their businesses. I took a webmaster class because it seemed like designing websites was something I would like, and that changed everything.
I did well in the class, mainly because I was familiar with computer programs and how to work with them. Web development languages were not too difficult, but they pushed my technical skills to the next level. My keyboarding skills were a plus.
After the class, I learned about business networking and started a freelance web design business.
Tech started to change rapidly
The technology behind building a website has changed drastically over the past two decades. Had I not continued to learn about and embrace new technology, I would not have been able to continue my business.
These advances affected not only how a website was constructed, but also how a small-business owner marketed his/her business. Ads in the yellow pages became social media posts. It was my job to guide my clients through all of these changes so that their businesses would survive. Therefore, I was forced to learn and use them myself.
Still, at times, I fought change. As cellphone technology advanced, I was determined not to start texting until I realized that my children never responded to my phone calls, only text messages. Then clients began communicating via text message, and I really had to accept that texting was here to stay.
My technology skills translated from computers to cameras
In 2014, when I decided to create a community television show called “Two Grannies on the Road” as a side project, new technology was once again forced upon me.
I had to learn to operate new, more complex video equipment and edit the videos we created. This was a much easier process because of my web design experience.
Over the past dozen years of creating videos, this technology has changed tremendously as well.
Change is inevitable
The lesson for me is that things are always changing, and if you’re not growing, you’re shrinking. I’m always advocating that baby boomers are not irrelevant. But we may appear that way to the rest of the world if we are fighting hard to keep things the same as they’ve always been, especially when it comes to technology.
Admittedly, it gets harder to learn new things as we get older. However, that learning has been shown to help keep our minds sharp.
I’m now 76, traveling around my state, and posting about my journey on social media. I wouldn’t be able to do all of this if I hadn’t kept up with tech.
Looking back over the years, I’m very glad I chose to embrace changes in technology.
Beth Sobiloff is a grandmother, web designer, knitter, and founder of the “Two Grannies on the Road.”
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