By Jenni Hammitt

July 9, 2008

I used to think I was a minimalist. I used to think I didn’t need the latest high end gadget. I figured if what I had was working and did the job, what more could I ask for?  I’m the girl who was content to have the basic free phone because why would I want to text?  My desktop computer wasn’t flashy, but it worked. I mean I was about blogging and online bill pay.

I like my social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. I loved photobucket, my I-pod and my digital camera, but that is as far as it went.  A couple years ago I really began on focusing  getting my life on track. It was time to put the past to rest and focus on what I wanted. That brought two factors into my life: New Friend and Launching my freelance company.

First my friends came into the picture. Suddenly I went from never texting to texting more than I was talking on my phone. At first, I still really resisted. I worked hard not to cave, but before long texting and picture mail became common place. Of course then I was kicking myself for not buying the  texting package with my phone plan when the bill came to my inbox. I was hooked.

As I began to launch my business, I started to see how my desktop just wasn’t getting the job done. I needed something portable, with more bells and whistles, and that was more conducive to my needs as a writer. When my desktop started to die, it seemed like the perfect excuse to get a laptop. The old unit was going to die out any day, and it was a good cost choice. Pretty soon though it became apparent that my motives weren’t as basic as I had thought they were. I just couldn’t imagine my life before my laptop, or how I managed to make my business work at all before it was in my life. It cut down on the hassle and the stress tremendously.

Soon my business was growing. I found myself texting more and more. I started using more and more social networking sites, and I began taking on more and more jobs. My full time job, teaching, karaokeing and writing schedules were starting to get hectic. I wanted to be able to keep track of my schedule, text, check my e-mail, get online, and even micro blog on Twitter while on the go. I upgraded to the unlimited everything plan, but my bare bones basic phone just wasn’t working for me. Pretty soon, I was considering crossing to the darkside and getting a smartphone. Yes, and not just any smartphone…but a Blackberry.

When I upgraded my plan, I looked at the Pearl. I wasn’t eligible for an upgrade another four months, so buying on from the Sprint store was totally unreasonable. As I left the store, I was appalled with myself. How on earth could I even consider buying one of those totally overrated wastes of money? It was just a status symbol that killed people’s social skills right? I was over it, until a few days later. I made the mistake of looking on craigslist…and there it was: A posting for a new Pearl for $100. I e-mailed the guy, and I was sure someone had already snatched it up. I was wrong. Next thing I know, I own a Blackberry.  I had it activated, my contacts transferred over, and the next think I know I am on www.crackberry.com downloading ring tones.  A week later, I am totally addicted.

The question remains: Have I totally sold out, or am I really just doing what is best for my business? Right now, I’m still in the honeymoon period and I don’t really care. I get to run your own business, you have to have the tools, but will I regret taking the plunge?

© 2008, Jenni Hammitt. All rights reserved.

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