Automation Is Not The Enemy; It's The Path To Creative Growth

Post written by

Haseeb Tariq



What do Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington and Paul McCartney all have in common? It’s not their stardom, not their seemingly boundless wealth. It has nothing to do with paparazzi. No -- don’t Google it!

Give up?

The answer may not surprise you: These indisputably famous personalities all reportedly have a meditation practice. This means that for some time every day, they sit with themselves and the total silence of their minds in an attempt to find inner peace.

Gone are the days of such practices having a reputation for being a woo-woo waste of time. Today, some of society’s most prosperous CEOs and celebrities meditate on a regular basis, serving as zealous and loyal advocates to the mindfulness movement. So often, in fact, I believe it has almost become a prerequisite for fame.

So, what is it about meditation? Why does it evidently turn us all into superhumans? And what does that have to do with automation?

Doing Nothing Is Actually Everything

In a society that praises working overtime, it’s no wonder we’ve developed harmful habits that echo a similar sentiment. We’ve started stuffing every awkward pause in our life with swiping, scrolling and sharing on social media. We seem to have developed an incessant need to be moving, contributing and learning. And many of us have totally forgotten what it’s like to just be bored. Some of us have likely even demonized it to a point of feverishly avoiding it.

But the empty space of boredom is actually necessary to humans, and profound. Those of us who were shoved out the back door to go “play outside” in our childhood were once intimately acquainted with the idea of having “nothing to do.” And we learned how to engage with our imagination, make friends and begin navigating our first sense of self.

Sometimes, boredom was a reason to forge a human connection (subscription required) -- “Hey, you’re bored? Me too. Wanna ride bikes?” It was why we had conversations with ourselves -- “How do I feel about this? Do I want to climb a tree or go swimming?” We don’t do that much anymore, do we?

If we’re not checking in with what our “inner voice” is saying on a regular basis, we’re letting it go. I believe this is how most of us sabotage our own success. We spend so much time bouncing from thing to thing that we totally forget to nurture the person who matters the most: ourselves.

And this is why Oprah meditates. “Doing nothing” is a mental house-keeping habit that’s absolutely crucial if we want personal growth and success. Most importantly, I believe it’s also crucial to our happiness.

Automation Creates Room For Meditative Space

Back in March, New York congressional representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke publicly about automation, offering a creative perspective to combat the typical attitude of fear that most people feel in its wake. She offered:


These are just a few of the ways automation liberates us to reconnect with ourselves and others in the future. So much of our time has been eaten up by work that occupies the mind without stimulating any growth, and automation is finally creating an opportunity to leave that work behind.

Imagine being able to maximize our time so efficiently that we can actually culturally reprioritize taking the time to rest, stop and be bored. Imagine automated technology doing the jobs that rob us of the space and time to actively work on the relationships we have with ourselves and others. Imagine every human in the world having an equal opportunity to express their creativity, contributing their best and brightest ideas for the good of humanity.

Finding Balance In Your Business

Marketing automation is just one example of an area where leaders can utilize the benefits of automation. Scheduling social media posts ahead of time on a topic your audience is passionate about can lead to quality engagement. We have the opportunity to simply “forget” about this responsibility, and instead, immerse ourselves entirely in the present moment. Wouldn’t we rather be enjoying dinner around the table with our families, rather than remembering the need to post on LinkedIn or Instagram?  

There is a balance to be struck, however. There’s no need to automate absolutely everything; the point is to become more connected to ourselves and each other. If automation begins creating impersonal experiences for clients, buyers and customers, leaders may begin to see a decline in satisfaction. Ergo, it’s important to be discerning about where we choose to use automation and where a more personal approach is necessary.  

While marketing automation saves time, for example, it may behoove certain companies to begin moving away from automated customer service practices. Honestly, nobody likes explaining their frustrations about a product to a robot with a number menu prompt. 

To find this balance, it’s crucial for marketers to study their company’s buyer personas and actively research what their demographic may need in terms of attention. Whereas millennials may be used to automation, baby boomers may not take so kindly. It’s being sensitive to the needs of the customer that will allow leaders to strike a balance that is unique to the company they represent.  

We know that creativity takes energy. For marketers specifically working in creative industries, freeing up time in the appropriate areas of their companies by using automation is an incredible opportunity to conserve energy for more creative pursuits. And being mindful about where we’re using automation allows us to still engage our critical thinking, challenge ourselves and grow personally and professionally. 

This is all a big dream -- that’s undeniable. But the opportunity for all humans to collectively grow and succeed? That’s one I feel is worth fighting for.

