Written by Dong, 2021 Cohort
Last week, I intended to write something but I failed. I was caught in a vicious circle again: reading articles – staring at the screenwriting keywords – reading articles – being afraid of not completing on time – in a daze with the computer. This is a common phenomenon caused by an Internet information explosion, making it quite easy for us to get lost in such an “information swamp” when trying to collect valuable content. It annoys me a lot, but I feel free when I can manage to navigate it.
There are at least two reasons for that. First, the speed of information production is much faster than people looking for it, understanding and using that information. As a result, it is unrealistic to try to break these barriers. Especially nowadays Internet data distribution using algorithms is leading to the so-called cocoon rooms, rendering people stuck in their own information circles. In too many cases, people sit together but think about different things. If we want to figure out one thing, asking too much and reading too much may not exert a positive part in our judgment and output.
Second, information is priceless. Stock speculation, job hunting, studying, or traveling, dining, medical treatments, or getting resources for the article I am writing, all need information. Indeed, we live and get rich depending on it, and most people finally want to join the upper class, get a better status in society. But just because of the hierarchy and human nature, information flow will be hindered. No one wants to give their hard-earned information away for nothing, as it will threaten their interests and status.
So, never try to break the information gap with others. But it doesn’t mean that we cannot learn or create value in the process. We should admit that independence is a subliminal proposition, instead. Since we can’t narrow the gap with others, we just need to focus on our growth in the digital age.
Specifically, there are two ways to choose from:
On the one hand, improve retrieval options and, rather, improve data delivery. Following the KISS rule (keep it simple and stupid), everything should have a simple idea to implement. Therefore, focus on your own true needs, and use the simplest way to obtain key information. For example, it is difficult to select an essay topic because people always want to innovate. In fact, only a few people (not all experts and scholars) will have breakthroughs in a certain field while most people are perfecting and demonstrating the ideas of their predecessors, so you can read the review literature first, followed by innovative articles.
On the other hand, select regular reviews. Reviews are summaries of behavior and mind patterns. Using the STAR law to review your work, interviewing, and life lets others know about your past contributions, predicts your ability but also summarizes general conclusions for yourself so that you can respond to similar situations more efficiently in the future. This saves more time and effort and also avoids complicating the problem.
To sum up, for Internet enterprises, the cooperation within and between teams is becoming more and more frequent, and understanding the existence of information barriers correctly is beneficial to improve efficiency and self-growth.