The Secret to Mastering Technology After 50

By Susan “Honey” Good

I love to look at my Mac. I love her sleek look and her window that opens up the world. I love to use her keyboard that allows me to rattle off emails and write my musings to all of you, dear readers. BUT, there is another side to my Mac. It is called the ‘back end’ where all her technology is stored; in other words, what makes her work properly. It’s important I have an understanding of technology to run HoneyGood.com. Every day of my life I have a run in with her ‘back end.’ At times my frustrations runs deep; I actually feel bitter anger until I come back to Earth and recognize that life is not always Camelot. After a time of maddening frustration, I revitalize and feel relevant. Remember, everyone’s life is filled with a variety of entanglements. Mine is with technology.

The Secret to Mastering Technology After 50

I am going to share my latest tech saga with you. But first, I am going to give you a little background of my life as a non-tech grandmother.

I am going to explain what I go through on a daily basis with technology. For a woman over 50 and a grandmother, no less, there are days I do not think I will survive the torture.  I become embroiled in technological entanglements, frustrating me to the point of no return. Fortunately, I have Andrew, a 30-year-old computer specialist to help me solve my problems.

ANDREW SAYS:

“There is only ONE certain guarantee with computers; something will go wrong! I would not have a job if my statement was not 100% factual.”

HONEY SAYS:

“I have several email addresses. It is my responsibility to remember what correspondence belongs to what email address. I can receive over 100+ emails a day. I have 43 account names with different passwords. I have a Dropbox aside from all my email addresses that drops important information, contracts, photos, all my stories, trademarks, contributor names, etc. And, I am a grandmother with dozens of grands.

As someone who constantly continues to learn, and I can tell you this: for a woman my age, I can talk the talk.  I can sit down with a developer (a person who designs a website) or a Social Media specialist (a person who runs FB, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn) and carry on an intelligent conversation.  I can discuss Domains, Google Analytics, wire frames, and Search Engine Optimization, better known as SEO. I also know links, Affiliate Marketing, and key words. I know how a site is built on Word Press, Square Space, and Wix. And I know what they cost to build. I have done Facebook Live videos and Podcasts, and I know how to read and understand the numbers in my analytics. “ 

ANDREW AND THE LATEST DRAMA RAMA IN HIS WORDS IN AN EMAIL TO HONEY

“One of the girls, out of ignorance of the facts and some form of problem with her ‘personal Dropbox’ or computer, is low on storage. She suggests that honeygood.com switch to the ‘business form’ of Dropbox which allows multiple people to share one Dropbox.

Another of the girls, out of ignorance of facts and details, upgraded to a 30- day trial ‘business account’ because according to another one of the girls at HG said, “ it works perfectly well.”

Unknown to the two of them they did not know when you upgrade to a business Dropbox account ALL OF YOUR CURRENT FILES AND FOLDERS IN YOUR PRIVATE DROPBOX GET MOVED INTO AN UNLISTED PRIVATE FOLDER AND NOBODY CAN VIEW THEM ANYMORE.

Therefore, when one of the girls initiated the trial upgrade, the other could not find the story for the day to put up on HG.

The girl who was doing the transfer texted me with an SOS.

I learned of the problem late that night and spent two of the hours I planned on sleeping with a constant headache.

In the middle of the night they woke up to write and went into their Dropbox to see if the story was  found and saw the Dropbox was totaled and wondered what happened!

We were in disaster recovery mode from an accidental situation nobody would have knowingly caused. THAT IS COMPUTERS.

They texted me:

“All 1000 stories written over the last 5 years have vanished! My Dropbox is unrecognizable. All my files are lost! What am I going to do?”

I texted them:

“I have a medical condition that converts stress to PAIN. I have already had to double down on my reflux medicine from the SOS I received. Please relax. I will figure it out. Sincerely, Andrew”

Now back to me and my Technology Secret

And so, I went back to sleep in tears. I was so frustrated and worried. And then my ultimate concierge leaned over to me and said, “Honey, this will all work out. Computer equipment is not your expertise. Your team has the expertise, and they care. They will work it all out.”

I started to smile. Despite being upset about my problem, I realized how fortunate I am to have Andrew and my honey bees by my side.

So what’s my secret for mastering technology after 50? Know what you know and what you don’t. Try not to get frustrated. Call for help when needed and above all, remember that the people in your life are more valuable than any screen on a desktop or in hand. I am grateful that technology allows me to connect with all of you, but I am also grateful that I know the importance of disconnecting. That is the secret.

Susan “Honey” Good is the founder of HoneyGood.com where this blog originally appeared. The site is a collection of lessons learned, life advice and insights from not only her, but from a fantastic group of contributing writers, each adding their own spice to the recipe. Honey Good.com representing “a family tree of women” — wives, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters, aunts, cousins and girlfriends — coming together to talk about what makes them tick as well as what they have in common. Honey Good discusses life experiences with wisdom, humor and intellect, enabling all to attain a “Honey Good Style of Life.”