Content Marketing

A Note from the Road

The last year has been an amazing year for me and my business. The refocus and attention to my customers has been fruitful and I’m so thankful for the incredible clients I have! The challenge I’ve had his balancing work (which I love) with health (which I’ve ignored). Over the last year, injuries coupled with bad habits have pushed my wasteband to its maximum and have painfully immobilized me.

It was time to unplug and re-focus.

With a prescheduled trip to DellWorld, I took the opportunity to shift meetings and set expectations with clients that I’d be working from the road. I decided to drive from Indianapolis to Las Vegas, taking a southern route that has been nothing short of life-changing.

Thinking About Technology and Our Future

Much of my down-time for the trip has been spent on researching each of the 10 or so interviewees we’ll be doing podcasts for with Dell Luminaries. The range of topics and use of technology is beyond your imagination – be sure to subscribe. I also sat in on an influencer presentation this week on human-technology predictions – which made me think a lot about this trip.

Because I’m carrying my equipment, I rented a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica with all the bells and whistles. Features include:

  • Carplay – an extension of iOS that works flawlessly with the mini-van, from navigation, to Siri, to calls, to music.
  • Adaptive Cruise Control – my mind was absolutely blown on this feature. Set the cruise control and the car will automatically keep pace with traffic.
  • LaneSense – the car detects your lane and nudges you back when you move too far to the left or the right. And don’t try to cheat by taking your hands off the steering wheel – it’ll yell at you.
  • 360 parking cameras –  I don’t know what magic they use, but the back-up assistance for parking is nothing short of wizardry.

While we think of these as features, the reality is that this is the future of human-machine interaction. Nothing took my job from me… all of these features assisted and enhanced my interaction with the machine. They made my drive safer, helped me maintain good gas mileage, and extended the entertainment from my phone to the car. This is why I’m not worried about the future, I’m looking forward to it.

Thinking About Lack of Technology and Our Future

As I reached Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and now Utah, I had several periods with zero connectivity online. Sometimes, it was right in the middle of navigation! I just drove and took it all in. No alerts, beeps, haptic feedback… just silence. At one point, I stopped on the Navajo Bridge at sunset, walked outside, and I was stunned – there was nothing. No noise, no interruptions, no people, you couldn’t even hear the wind. I don’t know that I’ve ever been more relaxed.

As we integrate and automate our future, we’re going to need time to disconnect. I’m going to make more of an effort to do that each week. I don’t think 24/7 connectedness is healthy for me. It may not be for you, either.

We’ll Catch Up Soon

Follow my Instagram if you’d like to see some of the amazing places I’ve been. I mentioned on Facebook that I may never fly again – thinking about all the incredible things we miss in this beautiful country by flying over instead of driving through.

I am checking in daily, and then stopping periodically at coffee shops. Today, it’s the River Rock Roasting Company. How’s this for a view:

Rover Rock Roasting Company

So, I just wanted to let you know why – after 15 years of publishing – you haven’t seen too many posts these last couple weeks. With my diet back on track, my brain getting some fresh air, my soul inspired, and my biggest conference of the year all in the same month… I’m looking forward to getting some balance back to my life in May.

Between now and then, if you’d like to write a guest post about sales or marketing technology – feel free to hit the submit page and fill in all the details requested. No backlinkers please.

Got to go… my power is at 3%.

Douglas Karr

Douglas Karr is CMO of OpenINSIGHTS and the founder of the Martech Zone. Douglas has helped dozens of successful MarTech startups, has assisted in the due diligence of over $5 bil in Martech acquisitions and investments, and continues to assist companies in implementing and automating their sales and marketing strategies. Douglas is an internationally recognized digital transformation and MarTech expert and speaker. Douglas is also a published author of a Dummie's guide and a business leadership book.

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