Your folks went to school, correct? They got their college degrees, and now they are living comfortably, correct?
Newsflash: We kids growing up in the 21st century do not and will not have it so easy. With fiber optics and advanced telecommunications, the world is flattening at unprecedented rates and America is no longer guaranteed its position as a major player in the leveled battlefield that is the 21st-century global economy. With China, India and Russia emerging as innovative competitors, the United States is fast approaching a pivotal turning point that its citizens are completely ignorant of. As Thomas L. Friedman calls it in his book "The World Is Flat," this currently "quiet" crisis is attributed to our deficit in science and engineering, and it has already begun to affect the economy in ways that are detrimental to average American citizens.
Yep, you may have heard of the cleverly coined term "outsourcing."
Now, while your initial emotions of nationalism and compassion may cause you to connote the term negatively, I would argue that outsourcing is one of the most beneficial processes this century has to offer.
To be brutally honest, Americans who lose their jobs due to outsourcing do not understand the flattening world and the expectations that companies have for workers who expect to keep up with the rapidly changing and unpredictable 21st century. Worry not! The fact that you are reading this article right now shows that you care about your future employment and financial situation, and the first key to success is awareness.
In order to avoid losing your job to someone halfway across the globe who is more efficient and less costly that you are, you must first be cognizant that this is a very realistic possibility in the world we live in today. If you are in denial, feel free to emerge yourself in research regarding the plethora of call centers, Nighthawks and software engineers situated in Bangalore, India.
Essentially, the question you need to ask yourself is as follows:
"What do I have to offer? What makes me special?"
If you're just an average Joe who was planning to work behind a computer from 9-5, fear not. You have time to develop the skills that will guarantee you a much more rewarding and stable job in this century.
The Three Keys
1. Special
Unless you are Miley Cyrus or Kobe Bryant, you probably are not very special. But it's okay, very few people are.
2. Specialized
(e.g. specialized lawyer, doctor, etc with arcane knowledge)
3. Adaptable
Pay attention to the trends around you! Adapt to new ways!
So yeah, it will definitely take more hard work and more creativity to prosper in the 21st century, but the increase in demand for higher skilled labor will inevitably improve the world, advancing our global economy toward new innovations and efficiencies. If Americans have the resiliency to specialize or adapt to emerging niches, lifetime employment won't have to be desirable. Mastering the art of lifetime employability, on another hand, will ensure a better future for all.
