My Unpopular Opinion: Don’t Switch Your Tech
Description
“Don't switch your tech,” advises Dr. Lara Salyer. In this episode, she shares a childhood memory of playing board games to illustrate the importance of sticking with technology that works for you, rather than constantly switching to new tools. She addresses “shiny object syndrome,” where new tech can disrupt workflows and cause inefficiencies.
Dr. Salyer emphasizes stability over novelty in choosing tech tools and resources. While new solutions may seem promising, they often come with steep learning curves. Instead, she advocates for using a tech stack that works about 80% of the time, fostering efficiency and familiarity. Staying with a technology long-term also brings benefits like grandfathered pricing and beta testing opportunities.
For evaluating new tech tools, consider cost, usability, and cross-platform availability. Understanding one’s “user manual”—the unique ways individuals work best—is crucial. This episode provides valuable insights into the strategic use of technology in healthcare, advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes efficiency, familiarity, and long-term stability.
Tune in to this episode of The Catalyst to discover Dr. Salyer’s favorite tech stack, learn how she chose it, and find methods to evaluate new tech tools for your processes.
Quotes
• “When you sign on to learn a new technology, you’re delaying time in your current efficiency and workflows. You’re also gambling on the hope that this new tech will solve all your problems. It’s that shiny object syndrome: you get a little hit of dopamine, but is it really going to be life-changing?” (02:57 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “As a clinician and mentor, I don’t want to spend my precious learning time on just a new version of technology when the other one works just fine. Everything evens out, just like in the game of Sorry. When designing your own tech stack for your brain, you need to understand how you work internally. I call it the user manual for our body and brain, which we aren’t born with.” (06:37 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “The more you understand your own flow cadence, the more you understand the user manual of your own mind-body-spirit, and if you work with a mentor who can pull those out of you to create your beautiful self-expressive healing style, you’ll be able to transform patient lives without burnout and enjoy the career that you’ve built. Make sure this tech works for you. Make sure it really hits that personalization that you’re looking for. And keep that long-term view in mind. Technology is always going to improve.” (20:38 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
Links
Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype
Use coupon code PODCAST for free Brainstorming session: https://drlarasalyer.as.me/discovery
Connect with Lara:
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor