The Globalization of White Collar Work

Imagine the year is 1988.

You are part of a small group of business owners who knows with high certainty that manufacturing is about to meet globalization.

You see it all perfectly - how a global economy for the production of goods is going to impact every sector, create trillions in wealth, launch new industries, and be the business opportunity of a lifetime.

In your mind's eye, you can envision the future unfolding before you.

Entire cities in China, Japan, Korea, and worldwide will spring up to service the ever-expanding desires of the global middle class.

Ports will be filled to the sky with shipping containers, while swarms of cranes and trucks work tirelessly, loading and unloading goods 24/7.

The world is on the cusp of an economic revolution, and you stand poised to capitalize on it.

But few people see it as clearly as you do.

Many dismiss your vision as a pipe dream, failing to grasp the enormous potential that lies ahead.

Undeterred, you press forward, determined to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

What do you do?

What bets do you make?

How do you build your empire?

You look to companies like Nike and Apple, who were early to recognize the potential of global manufacturing.

Nike began moving production to Japan in the 1960s and later to China and other Asian countries, helping to drive down costs and increase profits.

Apple, under the leadership of Steve Jobs, formed a strategic partnership with Foxconn in the late 1980s to manufacture its computers in China, a move that would revolutionize the company's supply chain and contribute to its massive success in the coming decades.

Fast forward to today, and a similar opportunity presents itself, but with a twist.

Instead of the globalization of manufacturing, we are witnessing the globalization of white collar work.

The advent of the internet and advancements in communication technology have made it possible for knowledge workers to collaborate seamlessly across borders, time zones, and cultures.

Unlike the challenges faced in the 1980s, this new era of globalization comes with fewer obstacles.

There are no tariffs to navigate, no pirates off the coast of Somalia to contend with, and no massive capital expenditures required to get started.

The barriers to entry are lower than ever, and the potential for growth is limitless.

As we stand on the precipice of this new frontier, the question remains: what will you do?

The seeds of global talent juggernauts are being planted today, and those who act decisively will reap the rewards.

It's time to embrace the globalization of white collar work and build the empires of tomorrow.

What do I think?

There are numerous ways to ride this wave.

I’ve written extensive about my thoughts on directly monetization this wave.

But what about the indirect methods, that are probably more applicable to you, dear reader?

Indirectly, the globalization of white collar work can fuel new competitive advantages in almost every industry.

• A franchisor including a global talent operations manager in their FDD to help new franchisees.

• A home service company building a team of high quality low cost customer concierge’s who offer 24/7 support to customers

• A law firm - who can provide better quality work, at better prices, by having a global team create first drafts of materials overnight.

The opportunities are vast, and the possibilities are endless…in every industry.

As you embark on this journey, remember the lessons of the past.

Those who saw the potential of globalized manufacturing in the 1980s and ACTED on it built some of the most successful companies in history.

Today, the same opportunity knocks, but in a new form.

Will you answer the call, in your industry?

The globalization of white collar work is not a distant vision; it's a reality unfolding… RIGHT NOW.

Game on.

Yallah Habibi,

Jon