I was apprehensive when I heard our agency was getting a Macintosh computer for the creative department! I had many sleepless nights. So many unknowns: Is this thing going to take my place and send my career down the drain? How will I ever learn to operatje it? When it came to computers, clueless was an understatement. A chipmunk probably knew more about them than I did! Besides, weren’t they meant for spreadsheets and bookkeeping? How could they possibly be creative and generate great marketing concepts, designs, or illustrations? And if they could, I didn’t want to think about it.

Soon, the rumor became a reality. The Mac arrived and was parked on an office desk among the many drawing desks at the far end of the creative department. It taunted me, daring me to crank it up and give it a spin. Up to this point in my career, everything was analog, and things were about to change.

And I wasn’t alone in my fear—many of us wondered if our skills would still matter in a world run by machines. I had two choices: resist and risk becoming obsolete, or adapt and grow. So I decided to conquer my fear and do what I had to do. I squeezed in as much time as I possibly could on the computer during the day, stayed late, and even went in on weekends. Learning multiple apps was overwhelming, but I had no choice; my job depended on it.

As I became more acquainted with it, I realized the computer wasn’t creating ideas; I was. Instead of replacing creativity, it elevated it, letting me execute ideas faster and more precisely than ever before.

Before long, I fell in love with it and was enjoying every minute of my time on the keyboard. Soon I was thriving and became the go-to guy for help. The designer who once feared the Mac now can’t imagine working without it.

It's hard to believe this was ever a source of fear or a struggle. The Apple Macintosh is just another tool. Now, desktop computers are slowly becoming antiquated. Case in point: I built this website in the palm of my hand on my iPhone, even though I have an iMac desktop computer which barely gets used. Technology keeps evolving. Who knows what’s next? But back then, the Mac felt like a revolution—and those who didn’t adapt risked being left behind. ❦

✽ COMPUTER TIP OF THE DAY ✽

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