Thriving in a Pandemic and Through a Tornado

Recently, I was approached by someone that wanted to guest post on our website. The topic was not really yoga-related –as it was technology-based, but I thought it would actually work because Thrive, a small Yoga and Pilates studio was able to pivot quickly this year thanks in large part to Technology.

Now, I will be 100% honest. I am not a techie. I can’t wait for my kids to get a little older so they can manage all my social media accounts and website. (ugh, which hasn’t been updated in MONTHS) However, when push comes to shove, I can definitely learn enough to be “competent” definitely not fluent, but competent with learning new technologies. (I am still trying to figure out the driver that will help us put live streamed classes on our wall at the studio, but I digress.)

On March 19th, Thrive Yoga and Wellness was forced to close down because of a mayoral executive order closing all gyms. We weren’t the only studios closing. All gyms had to close. The only difference? Ours was the only study (or gym) that never missed a class. 

Why?

How could a small suburban yoga studio seamlessly go from in studio classes to online with a flip of a switch? New (ish) technology.

Believe it or not, I used to be a part of “Corporate America.” I was an Energy Trader and I was laid off just after returning to work from maternity leave as an Energy Developer. This role had me basically managing projects all over the north east. You can’t be in all places at one time (only God can do that) so technology was required to save on travel. That was when i was introduced to zoom.

When the pandemic hit and it became apparent that we would have to pivot our teaching style, I started researching ways to keep classes going. I remembered zoom meetings from my “yesteryear” and signed us up. With a little training, all the teachers in the studio learned Zoom and we were 100% virtual for 3 months.

It’s because of Technology, that we, as a studio are still in business. Had it not been for new Technologies like Zoom, Thrive wouldn’t be here anymore. It goes without saying, therefore, I am incredibly thankful for these New Technologies, and although it’s not an ideal way to practice, I am looking forward to how we can incorporate more technology into our yoga and Pilates practices well into the future.

Now, with no further ado, guest post on :

How New Technologies Are Disrupting Incumbent Industries

Covid-19 has slowed the world down. Weddings, graduations, and other milestones have been canceled or happened over video calls. Promotions and job creation are slowing down as companies fear revenue loss. People who once believed their company was a place to advance their careers have doubts as opportunities dry up. These doubts aren’t misplaced; automation and outsourcing have been in the front of their minds in the past few years. Covid-19 has accelerated these concerns. The lost roles now belong to tech workers who have innovated traditionally non-tech industries. 

One way to avoid replacement by the outsourcing of automation is to retool your abilities. Current trends indicate that tech jobs have a lower likelihood of going away. Nearly every industry has been interrupted by a tech company: Hotels by Airbnb, home insurance by Lemonade, gyms by Peloton and Mirror. These innovative companies haven’t made their counterparts obsolete, but they have taken a substantial chunk from their market share. 

These innovations don’t happen by themselves. Behind the scenes, people are writing code, creating websites, and protecting software. Tech jobs aren’t all ones and zeros. There are outlets for all manner of people.

Web Designer

We often equate tech jobs with software engineers who are in the weeds with coding, bugs, and updates, but there is a creative aspect to creating a website. Just as an interior designer creates an appealing room, a web designer adds their touch to a website. Web designers use a variety of tactics to design a site suitable for its users. They are problem solvers dedicated to testing their products. Many industry-disrupting tech companies make the antiquated process of filing a claim or applying for a mortgage more accessible; quality design is part of that reason. 

A web designer might spend their day testing different color schemes to determine an appealing feel. Font, which may seem trivial, might be part of a focus group. There are a lot of aspects of a webpage that may encourage or discourage potential customers. We have all been on a website that makes our brain hurt. Poor looking websites will drive users to a competitor with a more appealing website. 

Web designing is a field that companies, both large and small, will continue to pursue. You can learn all you need to know about web designing at a UX/UI bootcamp.

Cybersecurity

A user-friendly website is essential, but it poses a danger to a company and its customers if it is vulnerable to hackers. The Internet has allowed us to support businesses in faraway countries. It has also become a vessel for criminals to prey on unsafe websites, stealing not only money but also private information from vendors and customers.

Like a web page that is too busy, customers are wary of data breaches and lose confidence in companies after they suffer an infiltration. 

As industries incorporate tech aspects to their products, companies need to employ teams of cybersecurity experts. These professionals spend their days testing for vulnerabilities, learning new hacking trends, and building secure firewalls to keep unauthorized individuals from accessing sensitive data. 

No Industry Is Safe

As more entrepreneurs find ways to change centuries-old businesses, the demand for tech workers will only increase. Innovations will happen more than once. Uber and Lyft decimated the taxi industry, but with both companies working to develop autonomous vehicles, there might be a future where the drivers for these apps have to find new jobs. 

You can be part of the movement too. No matter your current situation, you can learn the skills to be part of the disruption. By attending a bootcamp, you can build your coding skills and land a job at a unicorn startup. Maybe you’ll be the one to disrupt a new industry. 

Find A Bootcamp Near You

One fallacy about tech jobs is that you need to live in Silicon Valley or the West Coast. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The companies you have heard of, Google and Facebook, have satellite offices all over the country and world. This means you don’t have to worry about relocating to attend a bootcamp or get your dream tech job. There are many great Chicago coding bootcamps, for example.

Don’t Get Beat By Automation, Join It

There is no getting around automation. Companies are looking to hire fewer manual workers and more coders. Tech jobs are rising as more companies move toward automated processes like driving, warehousing, and order. You can switch from a career that might not be around in fifteen years to a growing tech career.