Nate's Tumble Log

Baggage

I’m inspired watching my dog constantly. 

One thing that’s never stopped being amazing is how little baggage she carries with her. 

It’s very noticeable on walks. When it’s time to take her for a walk, we’ll just say the word walk, and in a blink she’s at the door ready to go. She could have been sleeping, but as soon as something is going on, she’s ready. She doesn’t need to pack anything, put any shoes on. No doggy sweater necessary. 

Contrast that to my wife and I. It’s time for a walk, and I’ve got to get shoes on. I’ll check the temperature on my iPhone. 

Dammit Siri. I said “weather”. Not “call Steve”. 

Coat. Hat. Gloves. Even if it’s gorgeous out, there’s still minutes worth of baggage that I need to obtain in order just to go for a quick walk with the dog. 

I wish I could be ready as fast as the dog.

This behavior inspires me to look at products through a similar lense. What kind of baggage do these products put on me?

Because it’s very rare that I wish to have even more baggage added to a routine or function I want to achieve. 

I’ve started bringing an iPad with me to outside functions when I need a computer. Not because the iPad is awesome. I actually find the device pretty frustrating compared to an actual computer or printed out piece of paper.  

But I can just grab the damn thing and go. I leave my back pack behind along with all the other cruft it contains (charging cord, monitor adapter, loose change). 

The iPad has eliminated so much baggage for me when I need to go somewhere; it’s won a spot in my life. 

I love books. I love book stores. Reading paper books is a superior experience than anything electronic. And yet, I haven’t bought a paper book for years. Paper books become too much baggage. I have book shelves and book shelves that take up way too much space. Those books become impossible to locate when I do need them again after their initial read. 

eBooks have removed so much baggage again. So they’ve won.

I’m not telling you something you don’t know. You’ve heard “keep it simple” a million times. But still people create things like my cable set top box or some forms I just filled out to get into some SAP billing system. Clearly some folks need to be reminded that stuff would be better if there was just so much less baggage involved.