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I’ve been doing a lot of traveling recently (here’s the map) and it’s given me the opportunity to think about economics and globalization.
It’s also given me cause for concern because I genuinely believe and fear that most of America has no real idea of the dramatic changes that are coming as a result of technology and networks.
My friend, Dave Sobel, was kind enough to send me a copy of Tom Peters’ book Re-Imagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age.
It’s one of those books where I started reading it and said, “Idiot! Why didn’t I read this 7 years ago when it was published?!”
What Peters passionately argues and what I’ve been thinking/saying/writing for the past few years is just HOW BIG the impact of all of these events are on every single nook and cranny of the economy.
He’s arguing for a sense of urgency and a recognition that now, each of us, is more responsible than ever for innovation and entrepreneurship around our own careers.
In synagogue the other day, I overheard a conversation between 3 people (none of whom I knew).
One said to the other: “well, they are renegotiating our contract now.”
The other: “So, is your job in jeopardy?”
The first: “Well, of course, I guess it could be.”
“It could be?”
I’m of the mindset that your job, my job, EVERYONE’S job is in jeopardy…every single day.
At a national level, America’s job, as it were, is in jeopardy every single day.
So, if you don’t get up and get started with that mentality, eventually that’s exactly what is going to happen.
Dare to Be Great
I was teaching a class to some Microsoft folks the other day and I decided to go a bit off-script.
That morning, I had read an article from IDC about a significant drop in PC shipments and I said to the class,
“look, we all know the post-PC era is coming. The Windows/Office gravy train is coming to an end. NOW is the time to take the chances to keep Microsoft relevant.”
It’s not easy. It is scary.
It requires risk.
But, every day, we all are facing greater and unknown competition than ever before.
J.W. Marriott said that “complacency is the first step on the road to mediocrity.”
And I’ll add that “mediocrity is the first step on the road to irrelevance.”
We must view every marketing interaction as one of strategic importance that will, ultimately, determine the fate of our companies and our careers.
Because it is.
