Module 6: Ch. 5-9

            As Friedman wraps up all the ways that the world is flattening and what a flat world looks like, he is now curious how the global markets will change and what jobs will be available. 200 years ago, David Ricardo purposed that countries will specialize in an industry and trade for specializations of other countries, but now it seems like other countries are specializing in taking work away from the United States. More countries are opening up their doors to trade with others in the world and it is allowing for more trade of goods and services including the jobs that go with them. Free trade is what allows transactions to go back and forth so fluidly. It is free because instead of strict taxes and restrictions on products, rules are loosened on the exports and imports making it easier for companies to be free to buy and sell to whoever they want.

            Free trade is important for how the world works today. The markets to sell new products are limitless because when everybody buys the latest thing an even newer one is just coming out, ready to bring in the next round of profits. The openness of free trade allows ideas to spread further around the world which will benefit more people. Something made in America could be sold in China that will inspire someone there to create a new product and sell it in America. If we were stuck with customers in the same area, new ideas would not be on such high demand. This cycle that includes more people inspires more innovation and creates new opportunities where we did not know they existed.

            In this new market, it takes more than just a strong back to survive. There is more demand for a strong mind and personality. Machines are replacing people in the workplace all the time, whether it is a robot that can work faster or a computer that can “think” faster. With globalization 3.0 the individual has to prove why they are valuable rather than just holding a job at a company that is valuable. A company that designs a product can hire someone to make it, but now they can choose who and where is the cheapest to get the work done. A middler is someone trying to find a way to stay valuable. They are untouchable because they are unique in a way no one else can copy. The way middlers survive is their ability to adapt quickly in a fast changing market and work with others well. They need to always be improving their skills and upgrading their education in order to keep up with the markets. They also have to be well rounded with more than one skill so they not only can adapt to changes quickly but also apply more than one way of thinking to solve an issue. With so much power in the hands of the individual, the other opportunity middlers are taking advantage of is helping other people get in on the globalization. They are explaining how to use the technology or finding ways to connect a new small business to the rest of the world. It’s the face to face personality that machines cannot replace. At least, not yet.

            Middlers are creating value by breaking out of the box of being just a laborer. They have found that passion and creativity are more valuable than just book smarts. Friedman suggests the formula: PQ+CQ>IQ, passion quotient plus curiosity quotient is greater than intelligence quotient. Why has the economy made this shift? Tangible goods and services that take brains are being shipped off to the lowest bidder. The one thing that creates value, and in turn more jobs, is an idea. The best ideas come from taking what we already do to the next level. Employers are looking for people that are passionate about their job and curious enough to investigate further for innovation. Innovation is what drives the market. So, be ready to put more imagination and effort into earning a paycheck.