Don't Wait to Be Obsolete!
12/02/02
Peter Drucker has a way of highlighting important insights for today's change agents: "From the point of view of the economy, the Internet is just another distribution channel. ... There is no new economy. The Internet greatly extends the old economy."
That extended economy is changing how we do business. That changing economy is eating up jobs in the developed countries and transporting those jobs to developing countries across the Internet at a growing rate. The exodus of jobs started with low low-tech, unwanted manufacturing jobs, but with the nonstop, pervasive Internet, service jobs are being moved overseas, too. For years now, India and the Philippines have been receiving subcontracts for data entry, medical and legal transcription. Now, several Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) are being shifted to these countries. For instance, if you call an 800 number for service on an appliance you bought at a store in California, the person at the other end of the phone could well be sitting in India. She has been trained to speak with an American accent; her computer flashes information about the weather in your city so she can make small talk with you. India Today estimates that more than a quarter of Fortune 500 companies-including GE, American Express, Citibank and AT&T-have shifted their back-office operations to India. The economics are simple: For each call-center employee in India, the corporation saves $30,000 annually. Currently, 110,000 call-center employees are employed in India; the number is expected to go up to 2 million in six years! Ford and Daimler Chrysler are now setting up centers to provide engineering and design support to its companies. This expanded outsourcing could mean big savings for companies, but that means more jobs are disappearing at home.
It used to be that people could have a job and have it for life. Today, there are few safe jobs! The transfer of jobs cannot be stopped, and should not be stopped. Caring enough to help developing countries share in the capitalistic dream means loss of some jobs here but results in the benefit of creating new customers and an advancing standard of living around the world. What does this mean to your own workers and leaders? Lifelong learning can no longer be just a nice thing to do. Today, lifelong learning is your best insurance policy for a life in the fast lane. Take time this week, as you begin to look forward to a new year, to sell you and your people on investing 5% of your time in your next career. Instead of waiting to become obsolete or sending around resumes for outdated skills, assume you will become obsolete unless you continue to find new ways to add value. Old jobs will be moving, but new jobs will be created. That is the way of capitalism. Work to do your part in inventing the future instead of falling victim to it.
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
Dr. Loren Ekroth sent me this week's mirth. We tickle your fancy by going again to the Washington Post "Style" section where readers were asked to coin "portmanteau words" by combining two words that overlap by two letters or more. Enjoy the result:
Estrogeniality: The attribute that compels women to go to the restroom in pairs.
Anapestimate: In auto repair, two small approximations followed by a much larger bill.
Coleslawsui: Legal action taken without a shred of evidence.
Communiqueserasera: An unimportant message.
Foxymoron: A perfect 10 in looks and IQ.
Leotarp: Plus-size workout wear.
Punditto: Talking heads who keep agreeing with each other.
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...