I recently got a new mouse for my home office, the Logitech MX Master 2S. And I think it’s the best mouse I’ve ever owned. The ergonomics are just perfect. It can hop between devices easily. It has this amazing scroll wheel that I can’t believe hasn’t been ripped off by every other mouse maker. It’s the perfect tool.
It’s always amazing to me how much using the right tools can make a world of difference to how I get work done. Whether it’s a mouse, or a favorite pen, or the right applications. When we use the right toolset for years, we take it for granted. But the moment we’re without our needed tools, we immediately notice their absence. And if we change too many things at once, it’s like our whole system is turned upside down.
These are dependencies in your work – and it’s worth clearly identifying where those dependencies lie. Is it in the technology you use in your job? The physical tools you need? The environments you like to work in? You should know where you’re most vulnerable to change. And where possible, figure out a back up plan. Try out the alternatives. Consider the what-if scenario that everything does change. How do you keep moving forward?
You can still have your favorite tools. Just recognize nothing is permanent.