As always, I’ve been listening to an audio book to keep my mind sharp while I trudge along at work. The book is called “The World Is Flat” by Thomas L. Friedman. It’s a brief history of the 21st century, and has a lot of really good snippets between a lot of really dry information. Not riveting, by any means, but interesting and educational. I love the library!
Anyway, the book’s general premise is about the different ways in which the world is “flattening,” or in other words, the different ways in which the world’s economic, technological, informational, and entrepreneurial playing fields are being leveled as time goes on. It discusses 8 “Levelers” that have either transpired or are currently transpiring to level these playing fields to the advantage of the every-man. Each of these levelers has, or is, contributing to what the author has labeled a “flat world” – a world in which everyone has an equal opportunity at success and prosperity. These are the 8 “Levelers;”
1 - The PC and Windows Leveler – enabling, speeding up and the facilitating of personal computation and productivity
2 - The Internet Leveler – The shrinking of the world by connecting every one to everyone else
3 - The Workflow Software Leveler – Applications talking to other applications & standardization of programs and processes
4 - The Open-Source Leveler – challenging proprietary technology and big business with the synergizing of knowledge and talent through shareware
5 - The Out-Source Leveler – Enabling small business to look big without big costs
6 - The Supply Chain Leveler – Making non-local specialties, customs, and opportunities local and more accessible (e.g. UPS)
7 - The In-Source Leveler – The absorption of specialized tasks of other businesses to increase the productivity and efficiency of both parties
8 - The Informing Leveler – The facilitating of constant access to knowledge and information (i.e. Google & Wikipedia)
The book also mentions 5 “steroids” that enhance, magnify and intensify these levelers… These are digitalization, mobility, personalization, virtualization, wirelessness. What a profound realization!
Here’s a really great quote from the book, “…When I was growing up my parents used to say to me, ‘Tom, finish your dinner - people in China and India are starving!’ My advice to you is, ‘finish your homework – people in China and India are starving for your jobs!’”
The author’s plan for safe-guarding one’s self against being eventually out-sourced in a highly competitive world is to become, what he calls, an “Untouchable.” According to him, there are 4 types of untouchables;
1 - Special - Especially talented, skilled or unique (e.g. Michael Jordan)
2 - Specialized – Becoming so specifically trained and capable that your skill are a necessity and therefore non-fungible
3 - Anchored – being tied to a location (doctors, construction worker, waiter, etc…)
4 - Adaptable – constantly acquiring new skills, knowledge and expertise to always create value and relevancy… in short, learn how to learn.
It really is amazing the way everything is becoming so accessible to everyone. This is extremely obvious when you look at the number of self-made millionaires and even more self-made business-owners. Folks nowadays are able to perform their own due-diligence instead of paying a “professional.” They’re starting, managing and legalizing their own businesses without accountants or attorneys. It really is amazing! I’m not sure if all of this leveling is a good thing or a bad thing!
1 - The PC and Windows Leveler – enabling, speeding up and the facilitating of personal computation and productivity
2 - The Internet Leveler – The shrinking of the world by connecting every one to everyone else
3 - The Workflow Software Leveler – Applications talking to other applications & standardization of programs and processes
4 - The Open-Source Leveler – challenging proprietary technology and big business with the synergizing of knowledge and talent through shareware
5 - The Out-Source Leveler – Enabling small business to look big without big costs
6 - The Supply Chain Leveler – Making non-local specialties, customs, and opportunities local and more accessible (e.g. UPS)
7 - The In-Source Leveler – The absorption of specialized tasks of other businesses to increase the productivity and efficiency of both parties
8 - The Informing Leveler – The facilitating of constant access to knowledge and information (i.e. Google & Wikipedia)
The book also mentions 5 “steroids” that enhance, magnify and intensify these levelers… These are digitalization, mobility, personalization, virtualization, wirelessness. What a profound realization!
Here’s a really great quote from the book, “…When I was growing up my parents used to say to me, ‘Tom, finish your dinner - people in China and India are starving!’ My advice to you is, ‘finish your homework – people in China and India are starving for your jobs!’”
The author’s plan for safe-guarding one’s self against being eventually out-sourced in a highly competitive world is to become, what he calls, an “Untouchable.” According to him, there are 4 types of untouchables;
1 - Special - Especially talented, skilled or unique (e.g. Michael Jordan)
2 - Specialized – Becoming so specifically trained and capable that your skill are a necessity and therefore non-fungible
3 - Anchored – being tied to a location (doctors, construction worker, waiter, etc…)
4 - Adaptable – constantly acquiring new skills, knowledge and expertise to always create value and relevancy… in short, learn how to learn.
It really is amazing the way everything is becoming so accessible to everyone. This is extremely obvious when you look at the number of self-made millionaires and even more self-made business-owners. Folks nowadays are able to perform their own due-diligence instead of paying a “professional.” They’re starting, managing and legalizing their own businesses without accountants or attorneys. It really is amazing! I’m not sure if all of this leveling is a good thing or a bad thing!
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