Whats Going On- Perceptions, Realities or Somewhere Inbetween

Whats Going On- Perceptions, Realities or Somewhere Inbetween We spend numerous hours a day working for our employer.   Sometimes we forget to dig our heads out of the sand and see what is really going on in the world around us.   If you understand whats going on and why, you will be able to make adaptations and adjusts.   These adjustments might prevent you from being perceived as a dinosaur. This week I spoke with several people who hadnt had to look for a job in awhile.   They were frustrated that this search stuff was so difficult and different.   I wondered if they knew why it was different.   But instead of asking that question, I asked if they had read The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman.   None had. Perhaps there are many others who havent read this either.   It is a look at our current history.   Things are changing so fast and I am not sure we understand why that is.   Friedman has had to update his book since it was first published, due of course, to even more changes in recent history. This is how Wikisummaries introduces Friedmans book: Thomas Friedman’s examination of the influences shaping business and competition in a technology-fueled global environment is a call to action for governments, businesses and individuals who must stay ahead of these trends in order to remain competitive. In a narrative punctuated by case studies, interviews and sometimes surprising statistics, Friedman’s message is clear: be prepared, because this phenomenon waits for no one. Without rhetoric or scare tactics, he paints a picture of a world moving faster than most can keep up. As we explore America’s place in the fast-evolving world economic platform, Friedman presents not only the problems we face, but preventative measures and possible solutions. Some, in fact many, may not be rushing out the door or to Amazon to buy the book after reading this.   It should be, however, required reading if you really want to understand how we got here. I came across an eBook that helps take Friedmans concept one step closer to your lives.   Fans, Friends and Followers by Scott Kirsner is free for a limited time. We are all artists managing our careers and there are many parallels here that I hope you can see. Fans, Friends Followers is divided into three sections: an opening essay that lays out some of the “new rules” for using digital tools to build a fan base and an economically-viable creative career; a set of 30 interviews with filmmakers, musicians, writers, visual artists, and others who have been in the forefront of this revolution; and a “toolbox” at the end that explores the business models, sites, and services artists are using to build a solid foundation for their work. I admit, I have a different way of looking at things, as a matter of fact, I was given a kaleidoscope by co-workers once who said just that. How do you view things? My challenge to readers is to ask how these world and cultural changes are impacting our lives and what can we do about it. Image credit: OstrichHeadInSand