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How to Win in the Technological Revolution and Globalization

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Summary

To stay relevant in this day and age, one needs to be ahead of the technology curve.  With all the advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and spread of Globalization, one needs to strategically focus on competitive advantages unique to human beings which are the following:

  • Einstein Quotient.  The ability to think through complex issues and provide solutions.
  • Goople Effect.  The ability to simplify complex things.
  • Instinct and Emotional IQ.  The ability to listen to the inner self.  Machines do not have these.
  • Leadership.  The ability to look to the future or exercise faith.  Machines do not have imagination like humans do.
  • Ethics.  The ability to judge what is right or wrong.  Humans have conscience.

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Related Topic

I read this article in Forbes a few years ago saying that the days of lifetime employment are gone because of globalization/tech advancement and changing expectations (people driven).  I believe the article is spot on.  A year and a half ago, I was talking to an acquaintance who received his PhD in Biological Science at Cornell University 35 years ago.  He showed me his dissertation, and I saw a ton of matrices and regression analyses (statistical calculations).

I asked him, “How in the world did you do these calculations without a computer?”  His answer, “Lots of help from peers and lots of hours.  Today, I can run these statistical calculations in minutes.”

In fact, he even said that he no longer does the technical part of it, he delegates the calculations to his assistants and interns.

This conversation made me realize that no one is safe from the effects of globalization and technology revolution.  I remember when I was in middle school that we used typewriters.  Back then, I could finish two copies of a 12 page research paper in one day.  Today, I can print as many as I want as long as I have ink and reams of paper.  So, what used to take many people to perform can now be done by just one person.

Not only is technology displacing human beings from their iterative jobs but technology is also continually improving and hence creeping into high end value work.  Think of Artificial Intelligence.  It is a computer design where it is self learning, meaning that it is becoming more like a human being.  It learns from its mistakes and improves upon its last actions (if you have watched the Iron Man movies, the Artificial Intelligence there is Jarvis).

Although I believe it will be very hard for computers to fully compete with human beings, technology will, in no doubt, replace so many activities human beings do.

So, it is very important that we as humans understand our competitive advantages.  Hence, the thesis of this topic:  How can I be ahead of Mr. Globalization, PhD?

The list below are competitive advantages we as humans could compete against technology.

The Einstein Quotient

Nothing beats having a sharp mind.  But I believe that being intelligent is more of a product of flexing the brain muscles than just being gifted with it.  I believe that the more you study, read books, write, and get further education that you increase the capability and ability of your brain to process information and analyze things.

There are definitely so many ways to get education.  But for the purpose of this article, I would like to focus on formal education – a formal college and/or a graduate degree.

Fifty years ago, having a college degree was unique.  It was considered a quality personal investment.  Not everyone had it.  Many only had high school diplomas.  Hence, a college degree was a differentiator!  Nowadays, a college degree is no longer seen as a unique qualification.  Almost everyone has it.  In fact, it is now the minimum requirement for any corporate entry level job.

It’s the advance degrees (Masters and PhD degrees) now that differentiate you.  It’s the new college.   Having an advanced degree gives you a tremendous leg up in this globalized world.  However, as you dig deeper into this advanced degree segment, you will find that it still does not ensure complete differentiation as not all masters or doctorate degrees are created equal.

A person with a PhD in Computer Science will have a different employment and salary opportunities than those with PhD in Sociology.  The more science oriented, the more likely the better the reward in the form of higher compensation as STEM is perceived to be always moving us closer to the technological frontiers.

Now, even in the world of advanced degrees, there’s still a lot of rivalry because of globalization.  Consider our very own supply of US scientists.  What Americans with masters or PhD degrees could do back then can now be done by their Chinese and Indian PhDs counterparts at a fraction of the cost.  So, now, you not only have to be the best at your game, you also have to be priced competitively.

While I am not advocating that everyone should have an advanced degree as there are many others who do not have become very successful, having one, however, provides good barriers to competition.

The Goopple Effect

Being technical is great, but the ability to break complex things to simple blocks of information is a differentiator in and of itself.  I call this skill the “Goopple” effect.  It is the characteristics of both Google and Apple.  They apply this skill to the average person.

I love Google.  The Google website is simple and clean.  You type the words on that small box and you get your results.  Now, this does not mean that Google is very simple.  Behind that simple box are complicated coding languages and algorithms.  Google has so many workers with computer sciences degrees (the two founders of google have PhDs in computer science from Stanford University), yet, despite their technical leanings, they manage to make hard and complex things simple.

Steve Jobs, the founder and legendary CEO of Apple, was famously known for saying this:

“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”   What is great about Apple is that it is one of the best companies that has really smart and highly educated people, yet, it makes its products so simple “even a cave man can understand.”

I sat at an MBA class and one of the students asked the professor what a credit derivative was.  The professor went: “It is a financial instrument in which one party enters into an agreement with another entity to buy protection in case of  a default…”  I was a little bothered by the professor’s explanation.   Feeling the pressure to answer it in simple terms, I raised my hand and said:  “It’s an insurance on a stocks and bonds just like your insurance on cars, except that it is on stocks and bonds.”

The student nodded his head and told me thanks.

As I have mentioned in my other articles that human nature tends to follow the easy path.  So, when smart people create a product or service that makes their lives easier and simpler, these smart people become invaluable to their customers.

Simplifying/personalizing topics or issues is an art that I believe machines will struggle to replicate.  Add cultural nuances and other qualitative aspects to the mix, you will find that even technology will have a hard time copying this skill.

Instinct/Emotional IQ (or the Force)

I really like the Star Wars movies and episodes.  I love how the Jedis use the “force” to guide them.  The force is what I call our instinct.

Source:  Star Wars Episode III

If you remember the 4th episode of Star Wars where Luke was tasked to destroy the Death Star, Obi Wan told him to, “Use the Force Luke.”  Luke then removed the bomb/laser guide attached to his spaceship and trusted his instinct to destroy the Death Star by dropping the bomb into that tiny hole that leads to the power generator of the monster weapon.

We all have this instinct.  Some have it more developed than others.  The key is to develop it in the right manner and use it at the appropriate times.  I read a biography of a billionaire investor.  He said there were plenty of moments where he and his team were past data collection and analytics.   At that point, he had to make decisions based on instinct and gut.  Looking back, he said that those moments were the best times of his life because he had to follow his heart.  He said it was like seeing beyond the fog and feeling comforted that he is on the right track.  He applied this instinct every time he was in an uncharted territory.

Just like anything else, instinct is developed.  If you do not exercise the use of it, it won’t reach the stature of where it should be.

Notes:  The reason why I chose Star War’s Luke Skywalker as an example instead of Star Trek’s Captain Kirk and Spock duo is because you have to combine the two to get to Luke Skywalker.  Captain Kirk who is so obviously instinctive can’t be whole without Spock who is very scientific and too analytical.   Luke Skywalker is the embodiment of the two.  He is well balanced.  He uses data when it is appropriate and uses the force when it’s time to “let go” of using data.

I also meditate, but not the same way as the one mentioned in the article.  I usually go to a mountain, beach, or a secluded place where I could just listen to nature and ponder.  I also bring a journal where I just write down the feelings of my heart.  I connect with my inner self.  

Leadership

Leadership is about character development.  Between developing technical skills and leadership skills, the latter takes more time and effort to nurture. Leadership is the training of the natural human tendencies to anchor to ideals.  It is about being fair, not partial.

It is about listening and not talking too much.  It is about leading from the front and not from the back.  It is about proactively doing something vs. reacting to what has already happened in the past.  It’s about being rational and just.  It’s about seeing the forest but not ignoring the trees.

The more listening you exert, the more influence you wield.  The more you clarify, the more you understand.  As you can see, the things I mentioned here are all related to the changing of behavior which is very hard to change.  One needs to have a lot of self-mastery to subdue human nature.

Leadership is about feeling secure and forthright and resolute.  It is standing firm in the midst of criticism and doing what is right.  It is also about being good with people, in other words, having people skills.

People skills is the art of getting along with people in a manner that you can stand on your own values and beliefs without alienating others and being able to influence others in a good way.  It means understanding people’s needs and making them also see your point of view.

Computers are not people.  End of story. Although they can be making decisions multi-linearly, their decisions are based on pre-programmed steps.   There something about human beings that totally differentiates us from machines.

Ethics

Warren Buffet is famously known for making this statement: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”  It is the daily acts of honesty that leads to a life of integrity.  You certainly don’t want to be lying Pinocchio.

Source:  Disney

He talks about ethics which stems from overcoming one’s ego or pride first.  He said that even if the person has high IQ and is hard working, yet does not have a “locus of control,” that person eventually will fail.

At the heart of any business transactions is ethics.  No business or any contract agreement will last if no one is held to a high standard.  If there is no trust in the system, businesses will fail or if it does continue, the cost of doing business would be very high because one will have to pay for enforcing agreements.

How do you develop ethics?  You start with principles and ideals.  It starts with the golden rule of “do not do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you”.   It is about mutual cooperation, respecting each other, and being honest even if the short term consequences are grave.  It is about being true to oneself when no one is looking.

Conclusion

To better reflect my thoughts in simple schematic, I have provided the matrix below so my readers retain the thoughts I have written.  Bottom line is if you combine Leadership, Ethics, and People skills with Technical Skills and Intelligence, you will be very hard to replace and you will be remembered, a Rockstar –  someone who is technically competent but also a leader.   You become sticky!  You beat Mr. Globalization, PhD.

See the schematic below.

Source:  A friend who shared this chart with me.  He may have gotten it from someone.

Explanations:

  • Rockstar are both highly skilled and have good people skills.  (Desire)
  • Primadonnas are very technical people.  They only think that techies are the best.  Lacks people skills and finesse.
  • Lovey doveys are people with high leaderships skills but lacks technical talent.
  • To boot are people you just want to fire.

 

 

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