In Chapters 15-17 Friedman talks about motivation. He explains how if you want to achieve at something then you have to take the initiative to do so. If you want to survive in the flat world then you have to stay abreast to what is going on. What exactly is going on? Well as we have learned in previous chapters America is outsourcing it's companies to other countries around the world. New technology is being created by other countries to help develop a more enhanced connection with each other--including America. Other countries are educating their children at a much higher level to prepare them for the flat world that is to come. Yes, as Friedman admitted in this chapter the world is not fully flat but soon it will be.
So what are we as Americans going to do about it? Should we sit back and act as if this flat world conversion has nothing to do with us as civilians but rather has more to do with CEO's and their companies and the government? No. I beg to differ. It has so much to do with us as it does with them. Look at how Dell operates. We order a computer with them and as Friedman showed us in Chapter 16 over 400 suppliers have made some sort of contribution in us receiving our PC, in putting the PC together, and gathering the parts for the PC. All of this happens outside of America except the last part;shipping the PC. WOW! How does that make you feel? I know that I feel as if I would like a big part in this type of transaction; and not the part were I the customer make the phone call to purchase a computer.
We can't just sit back and let every other country do the work for us. If they can educate their children and their workers then so can we. As Friedman showed us in Chapter 17 we see how they used technology and outsourcing against us and 9/11 was created. Just that simple. What can we learn from this event? Instead of weeping each year around this date, we need to take this as motivation in using our intelligence and putting a hand into the flat world. Learn about other countries the way they have learned about ours. Teach our children many different languages. Explore technology on a higher level besides the regular computer, cell phone, MP3 and many other things. If we can believe it then we certainly can achieve it. As I have stated before a great learner never stops learning.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Chapters 12-14
Over the course of these three chapters, Friedman talks about how the culture of the World is flattening. If you have ever watched MTV or any Reality Live Show, they may every now and then have were people can send in video to the Show for a contest or expressions of opinions about a particular topic. We all know that it is very simple to upload anything. Pictures and Videos. Anyone with a camera, camera phone, web cam and camcorder can upload things and put them on the web for people to see. It is not only in America that people upload but in other cultures as well. And what do you know guys, here is proof in the pudding of how the world is flat. Not only are companies connecting through outsourcing; we the people are connecting all over the world.
You hear so many people at work or in social conversations say, "Oh I don't know how to do all that fancy stuff on computers, I just do the basics." Well if you don't get on board now with what everyone else is doing then you will be left behind. Here and again whether people realize it or not; it is not just corporate people that are advanced in technology but common folk as well. To take an approach to new technology in a negative way as if you don't need to learn that stuff is just ignorant. The good learners are the ones that realize that their is always more that you can learn. The okay learners are the ones who feel that all they need to know are the basics.
Is it to much connection to other cultures and to people close to you? How would you feel if someone was always watching you. You see how now it is so easy to see peoples personal parts of their lives on the Internet. I have a MySpace page but I was very careful not to put a picture of myself or anyone else in my family or immediate circle of friends. I didn't want people to know all of those things about me. But will I have any control over this in the near future? Anyone could take pictures of you and you not be made aware of it. So many people have access to our personal information. We think oh its so cute! I can put pictures of my kids, the dog, or vacations and everything on my web page. Unknowingly you are giving people easy access.
There is light at the end of the tunnel! America is flatter than I thought it was. It is a good thing when we can go to other countries that are struggling economically and provide them with job opportunities. We are still dictating what is going on in the world. Why not allow other cultures in on the trade? Instead of countries being against each other, we need to come together and communicate on a positive level. Great minds think alike! When you combine all the technology of people throughout the world and create a broadband of flatteners then it is a small world after all!
You hear so many people at work or in social conversations say, "Oh I don't know how to do all that fancy stuff on computers, I just do the basics." Well if you don't get on board now with what everyone else is doing then you will be left behind. Here and again whether people realize it or not; it is not just corporate people that are advanced in technology but common folk as well. To take an approach to new technology in a negative way as if you don't need to learn that stuff is just ignorant. The good learners are the ones that realize that their is always more that you can learn. The okay learners are the ones who feel that all they need to know are the basics.
Is it to much connection to other cultures and to people close to you? How would you feel if someone was always watching you. You see how now it is so easy to see peoples personal parts of their lives on the Internet. I have a MySpace page but I was very careful not to put a picture of myself or anyone else in my family or immediate circle of friends. I didn't want people to know all of those things about me. But will I have any control over this in the near future? Anyone could take pictures of you and you not be made aware of it. So many people have access to our personal information. We think oh its so cute! I can put pictures of my kids, the dog, or vacations and everything on my web page. Unknowingly you are giving people easy access.
There is light at the end of the tunnel! America is flatter than I thought it was. It is a good thing when we can go to other countries that are struggling economically and provide them with job opportunities. We are still dictating what is going on in the world. Why not allow other cultures in on the trade? Instead of countries being against each other, we need to come together and communicate on a positive level. Great minds think alike! When you combine all the technology of people throughout the world and create a broadband of flatteners then it is a small world after all!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
"To Be Or Not To Be"
In Chapter 9, Friedman informs us on the issue of the Flat World being a reality. For those of us who thinks that it is a game or a trial basis, you need to think again. If you could meditate for just one moment on this excerpt from page 375 of "The World Is Flat". It reads "Our ability to get by doing things the way we've been doing them-which is to say, not always tending to our secret sauce and enriching it-will not suffice anymore." We the people of America can not take the approach as if every other country is following us. They don't want to be in the same category with us, they want to get ahead. It won't be hard for them to do this because they are incorporating strategies into their everyday lives to boost them into the front.
In Chapter 10, I thought it was pretty interesting to get a history lesson on how China has contributed a lot to the flat world. When I was younger I use to wonder why everything said "Made In China." I use to question my parents, Does America make anything for themselves? Look at how they took an Egyptian tradition the Ramadan lanterns and industrialized it. It can't get any worse than that. That is like for example, your grandmother use to knit you a special blanket as a tradition in the family for newborns with their names engraved in it. Now you can order these knitted blankets and get it faster and more quantity.
In Chapter 11, Friedman gives a breakdown on how Companies began to cope with the flat world and globalization. Over the years, many Leaders of companies in America have sat back and graveled at their success. It appears that American companies are on top and they will stay that way. What if suddenly other worlds that have been watching you for many years have been figuring out away to as Friedman says, "level the playing field." What do you do then? Do you play at their level or do you aim to advance pass? I would have my company advance pass. Even if it appears to be difficult, just accept the challenge and do what is necessary to keep your company linked to the flat world.
Through reading Chapters 9 through 11, I realize that their is no getting out of the way the world is flattening. Either you put your game face on and take on the challenge or you will get left in the dust. Nothing in this world is going to come easy anymore. This is a new era that needs it's own name. Maybe something like "The Flat War." Do you get my drift? We can't live in the past and base our advancement off of it, this is the future of the world and America needs to take charge or surrender.
Posted by carebear05 at 10:49 AM 1 comments
"To Be Or Not To Be"
In Chapter 9, Friedman informs us on the issue of the Flat World being a reality. For those of us who thinks that it is a game or a trial basis, you need to think again. If you could meditate for just one moment on this excerpt from page 375 of "The World Is Flat". It reads "Our ability to get by doing things the way we've been doing them-which is to say, not always tending to our secret sauce and enriching it-will not suffice anymore." We the people of America can not take the approach as if every other country is following us. They don't want to be in the same category with us, they want to get ahead. It won't be hard for them to do this because they are incorporating strategies into their everyday lives to boost them into the front.
In Chapter 10, I thought it was pretty interesting to get a history lesson on how China has contributed a lot to the flat world. When I was younger I use to wonder why everything said "Made In China." I use to question my parents, Does America make anything for themselves? Look at how they took an Egyptian tradition the Ramadan lanterns and industrialized it. It can't get any worse than that. That is like for example, your grandmother use to knit you a special blanket as a tradition in the family for newborns with their names engraved in it. Now you can order these knitted blankets and get it faster and more quantity.
In Chapter 11, Friedman gives a breakdown on how Companies began to cope with the flat world and globalization. Over the years, many Leaders of companies in America have sat back and graveled at their success. It appears that American companies are on top and they will stay that way. What if suddenly other worlds that have been watching you for many years have been figuring out away to as Friedman says, "level the playing field." What do you do then? Do you play at their level or do you aim to advance pass? I would have my company advance pass. Even if it appears to be difficult, just accept the challenge and do what is necessary to keep your company linked to the flat world.
Through reading Chapters 9 through 11, I realize that their is no getting out of the way the world is flattening. Either you put your game face on and take on the challenge or you will get left in the dust. Nothing in this world is going to come easy anymore. This is a new era that needs it's own name. Maybe something like "The Flat War." Do you get my drift? We can't live in the past and base our advancement off of it, this is the future of the world and America needs to take charge or surrender.
Posted by carebear05 at 10:49 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Chapters 6-8
It is funny how these next three chapters have a been a topic of discussion in the break room at work. We have been having a heated discussion about how it is hard for Teachers to communicate with parents on the issue that "Parents are Teachers to."
I always think outside of the box when I create my lesson plan for each week for my students. In the section that says, "Creative Activity," I always include an activity were the children can use the computer. They are usually very anxious to get to that part of the day because a lot of the students parents do not allow their children to what they call, "Mess up their computer" because they don't have time to purchase another one or pay a Tech to fix it. I realized even before reading "The World is Flat" that you have to expose children to different things. Their brains are like sponges which allows them to receive so much information when it comes to being educated on technology and many other things.
If I taught the same thing day in a day out over the next 10 years or so, how will that help to prepare the children for the next level?At the pace that other countries children learn. I think that it is safe to say that America is already behind. And do you think that other countries already think this about us? Yes, they do. We are not untouchable as is stated in Chapter 6.
But what we need to do is touch up our schools curriculum and mold them to what is going on in the World Today. If the school systems allow the children to be more hands on and take a more technological approach to education, then you would probably have less, drop outs, tardiness, violence, and low test scores. When children on any level see "new things", it immediately catches their attention. Look at how they responded quickly to the MP3, I-Phone. Wii, Pocket Nintendo, and etc. It is apparent that they are attracted to this tech stuff so show them how it is used in the Corporate Flat World.
Until things change, parents need to take the initiative to open the doors of technology to their children in different ways. For example weekend computer classes, taking a tour of a job that deals closely with computer work, show them how we communicate on the computer everyday. If we start our children early enough on these things, by the time they are our age, they will be untouchable, have the right stuff and their will be no such thing as a crisis when it comes to our children and the flat world.
Posted by carebear05 at 1:54 PM 0 comments
Chapters 6-8
It is funny how these next three chapters have a been a topic of discussion in the break room at work. We have been having a heated discussion about how it is hard for Teachers to communicate with parents on the issue that "Parents are Teachers to."
I always think outside of the box when I create my lesson plan for each week for my students. In the section that says, "Creative Activity," I always include an activity were the children can use the computer. They are usually very anxious to get to that part of the day because a lot of the students parents do not allow their children to what they call, "Mess up their computer" because they don't have time to purchase another one or pay a Tech to fix it. I realized even before reading "The World is Flat" that you have to expose children to different things. Their brains are like sponges which allows them to receive so much information when it comes to being educated on technology and many other things.
If I taught the same thing day in a day out over the next 10 years or so, how will that help to prepare the children for the next level?At the pace that other countries children learn. I think that it is safe to say that America is already behind. And do you think that other countries already think this about us? Yes, they do. We are not untouchable as is stated in Chapter 6.
But what we need to do is touch up our schools curriculum and mold them to what is going on in the World Today. If the school systems allow the children to be more hands on and take a more technological approach to education, then you would probably have less, drop outs, tardiness, violence, and low test scores. When children on any level see "new things", it immediately catches their attention. Look at how they responded quickly to the MP3, I-Phone. Wii, Pocket Nintendo, and etc. It is apparent that they are attracted to this tech stuff so show them how it is used in the Corporate Flat World.
Until things change, parents need to take the initiative to open the doors of technology to their children in different ways. For example weekend computer classes, taking a tour of a job that deals closely with computer work, show them how we communicate on the computer everyday. If we start our children early enough on these things, by the time they are our age, they will be untouchable, have the right stuff and their will be no such thing as a crisis when it comes to our children and the flat world.
Posted by carebear05 at 1:54 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
WILL AMERICANS BE THE LEADERS OF TECHNOLOGY FOREVER?
It's amazing how Americans seem to at times take things for granted. We feel that because we have access to so many things via, land line phones, cell phones, work phones, beepers, fax machines computers, Internet, and so many other forms of technology. But are we getting the bulk of the good stuff? I check my e-mail maybe every other day depending upon if I am expecting something or looking for a response from someone. But I don't get a thrill out of it because I now feel that it is "old news" (I mean everyone has e-mail right?) It is the same thing for the cell phone. It use to be a time were their were a select few who had cell phones that were mainly for the purpose of business use. Now everyone has cell phones, from adolescents to adults! Is that really the good stuff?
A couple of months ago I went to visit my parents and saw another phone that appeared to be a regular land line phone. I could hear my grandmother and my father debating in the other room about something (as usual.) As I entered the room, my grandmother requested that I chime in to the conversation. It was about this "new phone" that could cost you only a couple of bucks a month that would equal out to less than $100.00 a year, according to my father. My grandmother just couldn't believe that their was a phone service that was that cheap in America. At the time I just said interesting and didn't think anything else of it. But is the phone service originally from Americans? No. According to Friedman, the Chinese originated this phone service called Skype. Doesn't this sound like some good stuff?
Through Globalization 3.0, the world is even flatter. Once you understand the flat world, adjust yourself accordingly to the new technology that is offered, you can be connected to the world. Here we are as Americans living our everyday lives as if we are in control and preparing our children for the technology that is at hand. But by the time they get older the children from India and China will be so far advanced in technology than our children. We need to realize the flattening of the world and configure a way to incorporate this "liberazation" into our schools. Creating a generation of "flatteners"will continue Americas Globalization.
A couple of months ago I went to visit my parents and saw another phone that appeared to be a regular land line phone. I could hear my grandmother and my father debating in the other room about something (as usual.) As I entered the room, my grandmother requested that I chime in to the conversation. It was about this "new phone" that could cost you only a couple of bucks a month that would equal out to less than $100.00 a year, according to my father. My grandmother just couldn't believe that their was a phone service that was that cheap in America. At the time I just said interesting and didn't think anything else of it. But is the phone service originally from Americans? No. According to Friedman, the Chinese originated this phone service called Skype. Doesn't this sound like some good stuff?
Through Globalization 3.0, the world is even flatter. Once you understand the flat world, adjust yourself accordingly to the new technology that is offered, you can be connected to the world. Here we are as Americans living our everyday lives as if we are in control and preparing our children for the technology that is at hand. But by the time they get older the children from India and China will be so far advanced in technology than our children. We need to realize the flattening of the world and configure a way to incorporate this "liberazation" into our schools. Creating a generation of "flatteners"will continue Americas Globalization.
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