After I posted, The efficiency trap, I came across this a few days later on YouTube titled, “What I learned from automating everything“. Initially, I thought it was going to tell me about the unintended consequences of this thinking and a call to be more human and authentic.
Nope, it really was about automating everything like a cyborg would.
Hmm, really everything? I have a question. Do you have a soul? How do other people feel if they know find out how little you actually give them thought with this faux caring.
As many in the comments point out, automated birthday reminders was the breaking point. Marketers figured out awhile ago people don’t appreciate that. Inbox noise destined for the electronic trash bin.
Here’s the deal:
When you try to apply a concept to all the things and go too far, in this case, efficiency as your marker for success, you end up failing at connecting with actual people. Sure, you might fool some people and get your “networking” skills on, but it’ll be an inch deep and a mile wide.
It’s also another case of getting a little too excited about your gadgetry and not the actual effects.
And if your nonprofit or in your daily life fail to connect, or worse, people see the ugliness behind these types of attempts, then well, you’d be better off to not do anything at all. There’s a reason why going out of your way to see someone face to face or a handwritten letter go deeper and spark a positive reaction.
Remember, the technology is an assistant to scale your impact, not a replacement for it.