“To learn how to learn, you have to love learning—or you have to at least enjoy it—because so much learning is about being motivated to teach yourself.”
― Thomas L. Friedman, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century
On a beautiful spring Sunday evening, my friend and I took a stroll through the garden to admire the sunset. She is a highly successful, well-educated tax professional from India, currently on a job assignment with a prominent tax firm. While we walked and talked, I jokingly asked her where she was when she discovered that the world was flat.She glanced at me and jokingly asked, "You're not one of those people who believe the world is flat, right?" I replied, "What if I am?" as we continued our stroll through the garden. We all found ourselves in the land of the Flat World known as Minnesota.
"The World Is Flat" by Thomas Loren Friedman who was born July 20 in Minneapolis Minnesota, 1953 an American political commentator and author. He is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner who is a weekly columnist for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs, global trade, the Middle East, globalization, and environmental issues. Friedman began his career as a reporter and won two Pulitzer Prizes in the 1980s for his coverage on conflict in Lebanon and politics in Israel, followed by a further prize in 2002 for commentary on the war on terror.
"The World Is Flat" is a thought-provoking exploration of globalization and its impacts on the world's economy, culture, and society.
I enjoyed reading it and here are five key takeaways from this influential book:
1. Flattening of the World: Friedman argues that advancements in technology, particularly in communication and information technology, have led to the flattening of the world. This flattening refers to the leveling of the playing field, where individuals and businesses from all corners of the globe can now compete on an equal footing. The barriers to entry have been lowered, allowing for greater access to markets, resources, and talent. This phenomenon has profound implications for industries, economies, and individuals alike.
2. Globalization 3.0 Friedman introduces the concept of Globalization 3.0, characterized by the rise of individuals as significant players in global affairs. Unlike previous phases of globalization driven by governments and multinational corporations (Globalizations 1.0 and 2.0, respectively), Globalization 3.0 is empowered by individuals who can now connect, collaborate, and compete globally thanks to advancements in technology. This democratization of globalization has led to a more interconnected and interdependent world, where the actions of one individual or organization can have far-reaching consequences.
3. The Rise of Outsourcing and Offshoring:One of the central themes of the book is the outsourcing and offshoring of jobs to countries with lower labor costs. Friedman argues that technological advancements, particularly in communication and transportation, have made it possible for companies to relocate their operations to countries where they can benefit from cheaper labor and resources. While this has led to increased efficiency and cost savings for businesses, it has also raised concerns about job displacement and income inequality in the developed world.
4. The Importance of Education and Adaptability:In a flattened world where competition is fierce and change is constant, Friedman emphasizes the importance of education and adaptability. He argues that individuals and societies must continuously learn and evolve to thrive in the new global economy. This requires investments in education and training to equip people with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Additionally, it requires a willingness to embrace change and innovation, rather than resist it.
5. The Need for Collaboration and Cooperation:Despite the competitive nature of the global economy, Friedman emphasizes the importance of collaboration and cooperation on a global scale. He argues that in order to address the challenges and opportunities of globalization—from climate change to terrorism to economic instability—nations and individuals must work together towards common goals. This requires building bridges across cultures, fostering mutual understanding, and finding shared solutions to shared problems. In a flattened world, the ability to collaborate effectively across borders is essential for progress and prosperity.
While walking and engaging in a pleasant conversation, and snapping photos of my friend ,she mentioned that only male trees were planted when the city of Plymouth was established. Consequently, due to the absence of female trees, there is an overwhelming amount of pollen in the air each spring, causing severe allergies for many people.
More diversity in city trees would probably be a good thing.
Residents, quite fittingly, called it a “pollenpocalypse.”
The dioecious species affected by botanical sexism include willows, poplars, aspens, ashes, silver maples, pistache, mulberry, pepper tree and other woody plants such as junipers, yew pines, fern pines, wax myrtles, alpine currants, plum yews, and yews.
Not everyone possesses the skill to make people feel beautiful just as they are. It's a true art,and it's what I genuinely love doing. The photos you're viewing are unedited—purely natural. At an event in Hollywood, being the inquisitive person I am, I asked one of the most remarkable photographers which program he uses to edit his photos. His response? "A program? I don't use one; I just take great shots. Who has time for edits?" And he's right. If you do something correctly the first time, what's the point of doing it over?
“The ideal country in a flat world is the one with no natural resources, because countries with no natural resources tend to dig inside themselves. They try to tap the energy, entrepreneurship, creativity, and intelligence of their own people-men and women-rather than drill an oil well.”
― Thomas L. Friedman, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
“Culture is nested in context, not genes.”
― Thomas L. Friedman, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
“Some would ask what country am I from? We are supposed to tell the truth, [so] we tell them India. Some thought it was Indiana, not India! Some did not know where India is. I said the country next to Pakistan.”
― Thomas L. Friedman, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
“A Mexican newspaper recently ran a story about how the Converse shoe company was making tennis shoes in China using Mexican glue. “The whole article was about why are we giving them our glue,” said Zedillo, “when the right attitude would be, How much more glue can we sell them? We still need to break some mental barriers.”
― Thomas L. Friedman, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century
I would like to know where you were when you learned that the world was flat. Please comment below. I was in Minnesota wearing my flip flops and purple rain dress.
If you've enjoyed my photography and would like to schedule your next memorable photo shoot, I'm eager to capture the most authentic moments of you, your family, events, and more. Here is the link: Colorado Royal photography | Genuine Beauty Net
P.S. We ventured into downtown Minneapolis this Friday to explore the suburbs with my dear friends as part of our May baby's-month long birthday celebration. They surprised us with tickets to First Avenue, the venue where Prince used to perform. As we walked, we admired the beautiful paintings, and everything was bathed in purple once again. Enjoy the raw video.
Comments