The cult of innovation returns to haunt us every decade. In the stock
market, such occurrences lead to disproportionately high valuations of
technology companies. In colleges and universities, the demand for
biotechnology and computer-science courses grows. In the job market,
companies hire less accountants and more engineers.
Ignore foolish fashions and focus on real human needs
At those
times, newspapers report the creation of novel businesses and
professions. Radio talk shows announce that the world has changed and
that nothing will remain the same. Television commentators ask viewers
to forget traditional ideas about the economy and invest their savings
on technology.
Periods of foolish exaggeration end badly without
exception. Shares experience a momentous rise before a collapse in their
price. Companies cut down on research and salaries for scientists
return to reasonable levels. Biotechnology graduates cannot find jobs in
high-technology companies and opt for less glamorous positions in the
food industry.
The misconception behind worthless innovation
The misconception behind those fads is that
technology can multiply essential human needs. That idea is false. Every
time that investors have fuelled immoderate expenditures on technology,
it has proved a disaster. Every time that journalists have predicted an
era of unlimited growth, it has led to economic catastrophe.
Technology
developments that are unconnected to fundamental human necessities
require a long-term view that few companies can afford. Original
research is a narrow path fraught with difficulties. Ground-breaking
innovation demands extraordinary knowledge and dedication.
Are you moving in the right direction?
For
these reasons, before you begin to walk such narrow paths, you should
ask where they are going to lead you. Will your efforts take you to a
crowded or lonely place? Is there a market on the other side of the
desert that will reward you in case of success? In any case, you want to
avoid working for years on a dead-end project.
For more information about rational living and personal development, I
refer you to my book The
10 Principles of Rational
Living
Text:
http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com
Image by NCinDC under Creative Commons Attribution License. See the license
terms under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
The best blogs about psychology
The best blogs about psychology
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- The Lazaroff Center
- Psych Central
- Living Rationally
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- Research Digest on Brain and Behaviour
- Rationally Speaking
- Ramble. Focus. Ramble.
- The Rule of Reason
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