Embrace Change or Stay Behind - The Importance of Systems

When I was in my early teens, we did not have cell phones, we had to use what they call a rotary dial phone.  Yes, you had to physically dial a number that hopefully you remembered and if the second last number in your phone number was dialled incorrectly, you would have to start over.  Often, we would phone the wrong number because you would not be able to see the number you dialled. 

How times have changed.  Now you simply command your phone “Hey Siri, please call Nicolene”, and she does.  You also don’t need a map book; you already have an app on your phone.  Need to take a picture?  You guessed it; you have an app to do that for you.

Sit back and look at what you have around you.  Let’s start with the computer or laptop you use in the office.  Now imagine your life without it, and everything you do on it will have to be done manually.  No more emails, now you will ask but how do we send documents?  The old-fashioned way….by fax machine, or the post office.  How long will this document take to get to its destination? No more Excel, some of you might think that this would be a blessing, all your spreadsheets will have to be done manually.  If you are using Excel (or Sage) for your bookkeeping you will also have to do this manually, in books.  Yes, that’s plural.  You will need a debtor’s book, creditors book, trial balance book, assets and liabilities book, general ledger book, etc.  You would have to write each transaction in the relevant book and the balance them.  Now that sounds like a lot of work, that will take a lot of time. 

We live in an era where everything is instant.  You send an email and it’s delivered instantly; you send a WhatsApp and if it has a double tick, you know it’s delivered.  You don’t even need directions to anywhere, you simply open your GPS app, enter the address and instantly you have a map in your hand.  You don’t even need to memorise the directions; your phone will do it for you.

Why deny yourself the luxury of saving time by not using systems that can do just that…. save you time. 

What is the importance of systems?  My answer is to save time. 

We all complain that there isn’t enough time in one day, but do you use all the systems available to you?

We also live in an era that is constantly changing.  Think of the way we do our banking.  You have a bank card or internet banking.  For most transactions that is all you need.  Then technology changed and you only need your smartphone or smart watch but wait technology has changed even more.  Now you don’t need any of these, just your face.  Wait, what?

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said that the only constant in life is change.  Are you embracing the change and changing with it, or are you staying behind?

Author: Karin Kruger – Training and Education Coordinator at Century 21 South Africa

29 August 2022