GlobalizationGet with the Program

Al Walsh

Walsh Enterprises Business & Financial AdvisorsHuntington Beach, California USAhttp://www.awalsh.uswalshal1@aol.com (714) 465-2749

• Globalization: The interconnectivity of all human activities around the world – people, businesses, institutions, and governments.

• What dos it mean to you? A lot! In case you haven’t noticed, the world is globalizing at a break-neck pace. In the internet age, people are connecting from all over the world with the ease of visiting a next-door neighbor. Businesses are interconnecting globally. Universities are sharing resources in real-time. Events are forcing all but the most backward rogue governments to work together more and more. The list goes on & on, and grows daily.

• So, if you’re wondering about globalizing - you already have to one extent or another; whether you want to or not. It’s all around you. If you’re a “head in the sand” type, you’re going to wake up one day and not recognize the world around you. It’s time to join the program before it rolls over you and you miss out on the opportunities.

• The world has changed so much in my lifetime; and I’m not that old. When I started out in business, companies were only doing limited offshore business and were operating under “dark age” conditions. Companies portrayed themselves along nationalistic lines. Communications were slow & difficult. Distrust was high. International finance & banking were slow and cumbersome. I remember when one early employer went to massive expense to put in satellite antennas at their facilities and lease satellite time so their international offices could communicate with each other reliably.

• Now, cross-nation business is routine. People communicate around the globe via email, skype, and other tools. Purchases are made with credit cards, or company purchasing cards, or online payments. Large corporations have gone “global”; no longer clinging to vestiges of nationalism. Little companies now have the same opportunities as big ones to reach out internationally. Anyone with internet access can do it. You don’t even need a computer. Many people do business with their internet-capable cell phones. Mobility is the new order.

• You don’t even have to reach out. If you do social networking, people are probably already reaching out to you. All you have to do is accept their invitations. If you’re not doing social networking, join the show.

• If you’ve found this article, then you already know that I write presentations and post articles on business, economy, and career. Readership is large and growing. The most active “click” time is at night, when distant foreigners are up and about. They’re hungry to learn, and they access my resources often. They contact me about business propositions, and share knowledge. Many have opportunities now that their parents could have only dreamed of. I have a global network of professionals who I collaborate with as needed to meet client needs. That would have been virtually impossible when I started my career. These are all nice people; just trying to make a buck and have a life like the rest of us.

• It used to be a big deal to communicate and do business overseas. I had Rolodex files filled with dog-eared business cards of offshore contacts that were sent to me by snail-mail. Now I just have my email contact list.

• Even companies that only do business domestically are probably selling products that originated offshore; and those products were probably shipped via a rapid shipper.

• Frankly, I think many past big-business models are going to fade away. Individuals can now routinely do things that it used to take the resources of a major corporation to do.

• Whether you’re an entrepreneur, or a business executive, or just “Joe Blow” - you need to get on the “train” before it leaves town.

• So, if you’re a business owner looking to grow, or a corporate employee looking to develop your career, or one of the many unemployed sitting at home wondering what to do next – perhaps this presentation will spur your thoughts as to how you can improve your prospects.

• It doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out what to do. The basic tools are already in place, and are easily accessible to just about everyone. All it takes is the drive to go use them; coupled with a minimum of creative thought. If you’re just not the creative type, learn internet & computer skills that you can apply as an employee of someone who is. Most of the how-to knowledge is available on the internet; a lot of it for free. If you’re uncomfortable because it’s all new to you, don’t worry. Chances are, the guy on the other end is learning too. It’s been my experience on the internet that people are generally very nice about helping each other. You can also go ask your kid. They probably know a lot more than you.

• This isn’t your Dad’s world. The comparison of your world to the world he knew as a young man is in many respects more stark than his was to the horse & buggy days of your grandparents’ youth. Don’t use Dad’s methods.

Al Walsh