America is in a transition of sorts.
Things have changed drastically over the last 100 years.
We are not who we once were.
But where are we headed? First, let's take a look at where we've been.
Industrialization.
It's what brought people out of their farms and built urban areas.
Factory jobs were abundant.
It was the beginning of our vast network of commerce.
Simplifying processes led to more efficiency and therefore greater profits.
Standardization began and the effect was felt across the nation.
For example, back in the late 1800′s, our education system began to develop.
How and why? What made people decide that it was important for everyone to be educated - to read, write and do arithmetic? It was mass production-factories that made products in large quantities.
In order to be efficient, their workers needed to all be on the same page.
They needed to be able to count, read, and tell time so they could arrive for work when expected and perform the tasks required.
Hence, the need for standardized education.
Everyone was taught the same things, the same way, for the purpose of being able to function in the new industrialized economy.
This concept became the norm-standardization.
Factories were popping up everywhere.
Everything that could be mass produced to increase profit was-cars, televisions, planes, clothing, textiles, gadgets, you name it.
Over the past 50 years, as technology began to reign, factory workers began to be replaced by machines.
The post-industrial age began.
Computers took over.
Millions of workers began to be displaced.
The following stats reflect the recent impact of living in a post-industrial country.
--The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001.
--The United States has lost a total of about 5.
5 million manufacturing jobs since October 2000.
--In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of U.
S.
economic output.
In 2008, it represented 11.
5 percent.
--As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in manufacturing.
The last time less than 12 million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941.
--The United States has lost a whopping 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.
Resource: http://www.
businessinsider.
com/deindustrialization-factory-closing-2010-9?op=1#ixzz2fA8gXZcr So when industrial jobs disappear from America, what will happen to the economy? I believe the future of the American economy lies within small businesses.
Individualization instead of standardization.
This is the new norm.
In the example of the public school system, children need to have more individualized (customized) education because not all children learn the same way.
While some children learn by reading, others may learn best using a hands-on approach.
Their system of education needs to appeal to their strengths in order to push them to excellence.
Likewise, in the business world, we all have individual strengths and giftings.
I am a graphic/web designer.
I am NOT a plumber (thank God my husband IS).
Your strength may be in technology, music, automobiles, customer service, child care...
the list is infinite.
USE your strengths.
Not everyone is an entrepreneur but those that are need workers.
The days of assembly line employment are coming to an end.
The day of SMALL BUSINESS is just beginning.
If you want to be successful in post-industrial America, get educated.
Find your niche and rock it!