segmentation of people by work habits

I previously wrote about how marketing is really the study of stereotypes and I wanted to explore that idea a little further. Another thing I learned in my marketing class was about market segmentation and that can be applied to just about anything. Specifically, I was thinking about the dynamics of working in a group. Whether it be a group project for school or at work, choosing group members who are in the same segment as you will reduce tension and improve your working relationships.

From what I've observed, there are four segments of students/workers.

The Idiot Slacker - This type of person is both lazy and dumb. They don't try very hard but it's almost irrelevant because they simply don't have the mental capacity to perform at the level required. They are by far the worst type of people to have in your group because they provide no value.

The "A for Effort" Person - This person isn't too bright but they sure do work hard. They are willing to dedicate time and effort to a project but their intellectual contributions to the group are low. These people aren't bad to have in your group because you can help get them up to speed and they're willing to learn.

The Brainiac Slacker - This person is smart, but they are also somewhat lazy. (I tend worry that I'm in this group.) These people are typically characterized by their desire to be very efficient in their work and only put in the minimum effort to get a good result. The always look for the easiest solutions. Luckily, since they're smart they can use this to their advantage and they usually don't need to put in too much effort. These folks don't have a lot of patience for those who slow down the group if they don't understand or can't do things as quickly.

The Overachievers - These people are both smart and hard working. They make up the majority of the people in MBA programs or at top employers. Since they're bright, they understand complex topics quickly and are willing to go the extra mile to produce stellar work even if that means working 80 hour weeks or meeting with a school project group 7 days a week. Their standards are exceptionally high and they push others in the group to meet those same high standards.

Problems arise when you have different segments working together. For example, the brainiac slackers don't like to work with the idiots or the "A for efforts" because they don't have the patience for them. But they also don't like to work with the overachievers because they don't want to put in all the extra work. The overachievers are frustrated by the both the brainiac and idiot slackers because they feel like they aren't trying very hard. But they are typically aligned with the "A for efforts" because both types are willing to put in a lot of time on the project. The "A for efforts" typically get frustrated because they're trying so hard but are often being disregarded by the smarter people in the group. And nobody really likes working with the idiot slackers but they don't really care because they're happy to coast by on everyone else's work.

That's my simplistic view of the different types of people you might encounter when working on a group project. My recommendation is to try to find people similar to yourself.

my neighbor - the library

I live very close to the local library. In fact, I'm right across the street. But I've never really paid much attention to this. With all the information available on the internet it seems weird to walk into a library for a physical book. But back when I was studying for a statistics waiver exam, I did just that. The fact that I taught myself statistics well enough to pass the exam was a lesson in the power of the information held in our libraries.

And if I could teach myself statistics from a book I found at the library, what else could I learn?

Then I started thinking about just how much information is contained in that building across the street. I don't think I can quantify it. The information is so convenient. It's almost as convenient as the internet (due to my close proximity) and there is something very rewarding about finding information in a physical book. Information written in books has a sort of credibility that's hard to replicate on the internet. And the best part is that this information is free! There are no subscriptions, dues, or internet service provider monthly fees. Anyone can walk into a library and learn (provided they know how to read) about any subject they want.

I should use the library more often when I want to learn about a new subject.

passive versus active computer usage

I typically classify my computer usage into two categories. Either it's "active" or "passive." One isn't necessarily better than the other but I find active computer use more rewarding. But unfortunately I've been doing a lot more passive use lately.

Passive computer use - There are a lot of activities that fall into this category and I'd argue that it's how the majority of people who use computers outside of work actually use them. (I'm excluding work here because presumably people do something useful when they use a computer at work!) Some examples of passive computer use are: watching videos, reading blogs, reading news, researching a topic you're interested in, chatting with your friends, looking at photos, playing video games, listening to music, checking your friend's facebook status, well..you get the idea. For the most part, it's a one way flow of information from the computer (or internet) to you. In many ways, it's similar to sitting down in front of the TV, browsing a magazine, or reading a book. For most people, it's an enjoyable activity. When people talk about "surfing the web" I usually think of this type of passive computer use. As I mentioned, I've been doing a lot of this lately which is why my blog hasn't been updated much.

There isn't anything wrong with passive computer use just like there isn't anything wrong with watching TV or reading books/magazines. It's a great way to learn new skills or get exposed to new ideas. I often feel like a sponge when I'm in this mode, soaking up information as quickly as possible.

Active computer use - The key characteristic of active computer use is the creation of something. No longer is the information travelling in only one direction (from the internet/book/tv to your brain). With active computer use you are transmitting information out of your head and to others. Some examples are: writing a blog post, uploading pictures to Flickr, creating a website, contributing your expertise to a wikipedia article, or even leaving a comment on a forum, blog, or news article. But they don't have to be strictly related to the internet (although that is probably the most common way of sharing information.) It could be using your computer to write a report, design a building, or make a music playlist. I categorize all of the activities that involve "doing" or "creating" into this active computer use category. There is something you can point to at the end and say "I made that" no matter how minor.

For some reason, I tend to get enjoyment from active computer use. (Well, I enjoy both but creating something is more rewarding.) The trouble is that it's more time consuming. It takes time and thought to sit down and write a blog post, edit and share photography, or upload a homemade video. But the satisfaction comes from interacting with others and seeing their reaction to your work. Even if it's as simple as seeing that your YouTube video had 1,000 views. I also think the active use helps you grow. Instead of just taking in information, you are combining and mixing all of your knowledge and experience to produce something unique. This forces you to think for yourself rather than simply consume to what's already out there.