Friedman starts out chapter 9, “This is Not a Test” with a quote from Lyndon B. Johnson, “We have the power to shape the civilization that we want. But we need your will, your labor, your hearts, if we are to build that kind of society”. Civilization has truly changed and we all have the power to help in the shaping of the changes taking place. The leaders in America have helped guide the thinking and some of the changes. It seems like in the 60’s the leaders were more forward thinking than today. It used to be when you got a job and did well you could stay in the same job, doing the same thing for many years without having to change. In today's world we must be able to change and adapt to new things and find a niche to be able to keep our jobs. To stay employed, individuals have to take responsibility for managing their careers. Finding new, efficient ways to achieve goals and be creative doing it. Some of the ideas he touches on regarding employment insurance, something to help if you loose your job. It is a very interesting concept.
The title “Virgin of Guadalupe” brings all kinds of visions to mind. This is the title of chapter 10; I guess it is not a stretch to imagine it deals with Mexico. Friedman brings up interesting points about how some work used to be outsourced to Mexico and now it goes to China. There are many problems with getting businesses up and running in Mexico that it is more cost effective in many cases to use China, despite the fact that Mexico is closer. This is because China made a conscious effort to be “user friendly” to foreign businesses. Friedman uses many different examples, not just China, to show how changes in policy and the way things are done can be very profitable.
“How Companies Cope”, the title of Chapter eleven makes you want to continue reading. By quoting Einstein, “Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” This really got my attention. Friedman has a list of 9 rules to explain what he means, using examples to illustrate his views. The examples of different companies making changes to survive and prosper make you think about all the possibilities.
This book continues to amaze me and make me look at all the possibilities for improvement in so many things. It has really made me think about how the world has changed and give you a feel for the direction.
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3 comments:
One thing we have all learned in this class is how much we all must continue to learn new things to be successful in our own careers. New ideas and discipline will be introduced every day and it is up to each one of us to understand and implement them into our everyday lives
I think that it is safe to say that Americans don't know eveything. But that is ok. A person that always excels at something is constantly open to learning new things to be able to adapt. In our country we need to be more like that. I enjoyed reading your blog.
Good work on this blog. Full credit. I love the photos. - KJ
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