Quick, take a look at your keyboard. What are the first six keys in the top lettered row? Chances are they are “QWERTY.” That’s because most keyboards are laid out the same way (they are even cleverly called “QWERTY” keyboards,” because those are the first six letters in the top left. Plus, “QWERTY” is a fun word to say; it sounds like an evil race of Star Trek aliens)
I know I’m not revealing anything new when I point out the fact that the QWERTY keyboard was designed to be inefficient. When the typewriter was first invented, if two keys that were next to each other were hit in quick succession, the keyboard would jam. To solve this, keys that were used frequently together were placed far apart from each other.
The typewriter was invented in around the 1870’s. So the keyboard you (and most of us) are still using is based on a model that solves a 150 year old problem that no longer exists.
That would be like keeping a large supply of oil on hand to lubricate the sticking hand-crank on your phonograph so you could listen to your records
Ridiculous.
There are now other, more efficient keyboards, including the Dvorak, which is designed to be as efficient and ergonomic as it can be:
Weird, but awesome
However, even though the Dvorak is a better keyboard, it has not found widespread acceptance. The QWERTY keyboard is just too ingrained to be easily replaced.
I’m not saying you should run out and throw away your current keyboard and switch to Dvorak (though it’s worth considering). Just realize that some things persist because they have always been done the same way, they started for specific reason, and, even though that reason no longer exists, it’s easier to keep doing things the same way than to change.
This may not be a major problem, and I suppose when it comes to keyboards, it’s not. The world seems to operate just fine even with inefficient keyboards. However, you see this same problem all the time in life, in many situations where it can be a major problem:
- Jobs – People stay with the same job or career track, even if they are unhappy with it, simply because that’s what they started with.
- Goals – It’s not uncommon to get so obsessed with pursuing a goal that you forget whether why you wanted the goal in the first place.
- Tactics – Make a plan once, and then stick to it for weeks, months, or even years, just because “that’s the way you’ve always done it.”
- Relationships – Sometimes it’s you stay with a relationship (friend, business, romantic) just because you’ve always had it, and not because it brings you any joy or happiness.
The QWERTY keyboard is such a standard that changing to a more efficient system will be a tough sell. However, you are master and commander of your own life. Just because you are saddled with an inefficient keyboard doesn’t mean that you need to be saddled with life decisions that no longer serve you.
You can let go of the past and create a newer, better way of doing things. Rather than unquestioningly following a fixed path, take a moment to think about what you really want, where you honestly are, and what truly is and is not working for you.
When you plan on letting go of the past and taking on a new, better approach, you may meet some resistance. Here are three tips to help you overcome the resistance you’ll feel when you let go and try something better:
Accept That You Might Seem Weird
Not everyone cares about looking and being weird, and if that’s you’ great! Skip to the next point.
Many people, however, don’t like being singled out and repeatedly asked “hey, that’s different! What is that? What are you doing? Why are you doing that?”
So when you take your computer to the local coffee shop to let other people watch you write your screenplay, you may be a bit self conscious when they point out, gawk at, and ask you all about your weird keyboard.
That may not seem like that big of an embarrassment, but when it comes to making life decisions, fear of looking weird can be a much more destructive thing:
- Career Changes – Someone will come out of the woodwork and ask why you are throwing away years of education and work experience (and probably call you crazy)
- Ending a Relationship – You might feel like a failure because you “couldn’t make it work.” Or you’ll have to deal with lots of well meaning people asking lots of annoying questions.
- Goals – I know that when I consider switching or abandoning a long term goal I have had, one that I have talked about with family and friends for a while, I am afraid of the perception that I am “flaky,” or “lacking commitment.” Avoiding those labels can make you stick with something long beyond the point you should…
- Trying Something New – Whether you want to pick up a new hobby, try a new activity, take on a personal challenge, join an association, or start a new business, some people are going to look at you like you have lost your mind. To be fair, many people will say, “That’s awesome!” (Find those people, and keep them close by. They know how to support you). Others will say things like, “Why would you do that?” or, “But you’ve never written anything before,” or, “a marathon? You??”” These are the people you must ignore and potentially distance yourself from (or reason with and explain how their negativity is affecting you).
When you make a change in your life, there may very well be a ripple effect that reverberates throughout your network. Some people will think you are weird, crazy, stupid, or a failure.
When this happens, realize that the embarrassment is in your head, most people won’t think you’re weird, many will support you, and the ones who think you’re weird probably have their own issues to deal with, so don’t worry about them.
Be Willing to Suck, at Least for a While
Change is hard. If you’ve got something that works ok for you, it can be tough to put in the time and effort to learn a new, better way of doing things.
Regardless of whether the QWERTY keyboard is more or less efficient than the Dvorak, I can guarantee you that right now, if you have been using a keyboard for any length of time, you are more efficient with a QWERTY than with a Dvorak. You would have to retrain your mind and hands to use the new keyboard.
Eventually you would be faster, but for a while you would be slower. Much, much slower.
This is called a learning curve. To be honest, it kind of sucks.
This is the case when it comes to learning anything new. You usually have to take a few steps back and be willing to be worse and less efficient. You have to do this for a while, so that you can eventually get much, much better.
However, it can be hard to commit to pushing through that learning period.
Being single and heartbroken can seem worse than being in a bad relationship, but in the long run, it’s much better.
Switching careers can be a pain, require an investment in education, or demand that you take a pay cut. That sucks in the short term, but if you’re willing to push through it you will be happier and more successful in the long term.
Consider the long term impact of your decisions. Are you missing out on years of gains by trying to avoid a few days, weeks, or months of discomfort?
Prepare and Plan for the World to Not Support You
The world likes thing to stay in the status quo.
You can walk into pretty much any store anywhere and pick up a QWERTY keyboard. Dvorak keyboards are much harder to find. Also, if you share a keyboard with others and you use Dvorak and they don’t, well, they may get more than a little annoyed at you…
It’s generally much easier to do what the masses do, because businesses and services cater to the masses.
It’s a lot easier to eat fast food than to be a vegan. Your dream job may not be the type that has a straight up listing on Monster.com. The business you want to start may not have an obvious distribution channel. Your bills and utilities may not make it easy for you to live a “three month work/three month travel” schedule.
However, just because some things are easier to do, doesn’t make them better.
(Conversely, just because something is harder doesn’t mean it’s better either. The trick is to figure out what you want and what’s going to work best for you.)
Sometimes walking the path less traveled may make your life a bigger pain in the ass. Sadly, lack of convenience is something that often keeps people trapped in the status quo.
The real problem comes, however, when you don’t expect the world to not support you. That is, when you’re walking your own path and then get surprised or set back because things aren’t easy.
Picture two people trying to live a vegan lifestyle. They both travel to a conference. The first attends every meal and gets pissed and frustrated when she has no vegan options. The other takes her own food with her and eats in her room. She still attends the meals and networks, but doesn’t rely on the conference for her success or happiness. Who do you think is going to get farther in life? Who is happier?
This is a simplistic example, but the lesson is there: Don’t shy away from doing what you want because it is different and hard, but don’t expect the world to bend to conform to you. Take charge of your own success and happiness.
Change is hard, even when you are changing to something that you know is better for you and will make you happier. Use the three ideas above to shed antiquated beliefs, behaviors, and plans that no longer serve you and start getting what you truly want and deserve from life.
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