BREAKIN’ UP 2.0

Technology has taken “Dear John” to a new level. I parted ways with my mobile carrier yesterday and fell into the arms of another. The beauty of the potentially cataclysmic event was that I didn’t even have to see my old carrier face-to-face. My ex-service provider had no leverage either. They couldn’t have retained my phone number and our bill was current. They didn’t have an opportunity to provide us incentives or re-win our business. It’s almost a sad convenience that you can discontinue a business relationship remotely.

When you change cell phone companies, technology allows you to port everything from your old phone that’s of any significance. This is courtship 2.0. But it speaks to something in us that hates awkward confrontation. Truth be told, some smart girl or guy probably had a bad experience trying to leave a mobile service provider. He or she said, “I’d like to discontinue my service with you.” In response they got something on the order of, “May I ask you why?” The refugee then stumbles over his or her words trying not to hurt feelings, as if this is a personal dialogue. The business minds used to have the advantage of evoking emotion in an effort to manipulate.

Ah but no longer. Now it’s consumer who appears to have the advantage in the shark tank. No more bleeding in the water as phone vendors aggressively solicit your business. You need only to do your homework online, show up with a budget and you’re unstoppable. Mobile providers have to earn a face-to-face nowadays and I’m impressed with this advent. On the contrary, if you translate the ethos of quitting without correspondence to sports, it loses its luster.

Trace the big decisions athletes make from high school to professional and there’s an unmistakable money trail. There’s the scent of lucre that fills the nostrils of athletes, just to pick on them for a second, and it drives switch-carrier philosophy. Soundbites at press conferences for transient athletes in mid-migration usually use “best for my family” as if it were an axiom. That quote means that you can be left alone if you are pursuing what everyone supposedly wants – MONEY. It’s the universal caveat that works great for your 2-year phone contract but could be a dangerous governor for more significant decisions.

Case-in-point: I’m a coach. I hate non-communication by my players. You can’t just not show up for practice, thinking coach would understand your reason later. By the same token, sending a text to explain a lame excuse is even worse. But that is the glitch in Breakin’ Up 2.0 – it’s an application for selfish interest. It’s not compatible with the team construct that requires character.  It’s been “downloaded” by a great majority of us. Stay tuned for the upgrade.