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The_Macro_View
| The Macro View
If you're reading this article chances are excellent that you
are looking at, or participating in the opportunity side of the
WWW. The web is still in it's infancy (OK maybe it's a Toddler
by now), and who ever can stake their claim right now will
continue to flourish well into the next millennium. The
successful cyber entrepreneur of today could be the equivalent
to the Rockefeller's, Vanderbilt's, Kennedy's, Getty's, Ford's,
(etc.) of yesteryear.
Lets step out of the micro view for a moment and consider the
macro view. This Internet revolution has been compared to the
impact that Edison's light bulb or Fords Model T had on the
world. Some have even said that the Internet is bigger than the
invention of TV or radio. From each of these discoveries have
come fantastic opportunities. Complete Industries have sprung up
from them. Mammoth fortunes have been made as a result of them.
But you really can't compare the Internet to them. These
inventions fall far short of the impact that the Internet (as we
know it today) will have on mankind.
A closer comparison would be that of Gutenburg's printing press
or the Industrial revolution. You could even compare the
computer age and the Internet (as we know it today) to the
transformation of early man from a hunter/gatherer to a
sower/reaper. Face it, we are living in a pivotal point in human
history. We are the privileged few who have the opportunity to
capitalize on the greatest technological revolution that this
world has ever seen.
We can observe that historically these revolutions happened over
the course of decades and in some cases centuries. As we all
know, the Internet revolution is evolving at a dizzying pace.
What we see today can be history next year or even next week.
Five years from now the Internet will be quite different than
most of us can imagine. Where it eventually leads is probably
not even clear to the brightest minds of today. However, we are
seeing the results of this change in our lifetimes.
Certainly nobody realized that they were in the midst of a
dramatic historical shift when man discovered the flint and
steel, but change they did. We, today have the advantage of all
of mans previous experiences and hopefully are much better able
to predict the consequences of this next transition. We do
understand that it is a significant change, but it may not be
apparent how significant until the historians have interpreted
it decades or possibly centuries from now.
OK, back to our micro view again. What should we do? Wait it out
and see what happens? Not very wise. When combustion engine farm
machinery came along the land owner who didn't have it, couldn't
compete and usually lost everything. He may have owned huge
tracts of land but he could no longer afford to pay workers to
farm it when his neighbor used a tractor. Likewise many of
todays business's (and their employees) stand to be bowled over
by this digital tidal wave. We need to position ourselves as a
surfer who is equipped to ride the wave. We must embrace, it and
like the surfing enthusiast that is always looking for the
'really big one', be ready to jump in the water at a moments
notice. As they say 'He who hesitates, waits...'
Whenever major new innovations came along they were generally
available only to the elite and not to the common person. When
Gutenburg's printing presses started up the average Joe on the
street had no access to the end product. When the first few cars
rolled off of Fords assembly lines they were not initially
attainable to the masses (although that was his dream and
mission). But the Internet today is available to more people
than were alive at the time of the first printed book. The
Internet today is touching more people than had lived up to and
including the time of Christ. The Internet today has affected
the lives of future generations to come in a profound way that
we will only be able to understand after the fact.
Friend, we have available to us today the power to reach out and
influence more people than have existed throughout all of mans
combined history. Let us not waste this precious opportunity. If
you are reading this, you have the same ability and opportunity
as everyone else on this medium. There are no limitations other
than your imagination. What will you do with it? Will you use it
to create an empire for yourself and your future generations (as
many are doing) or will you fail to recognize the potential of a
few strategically placed bits and bytes on the computer screens
of millions and millions of computer users worldwide.
Most people are looking for leaders and innovators. Men and
women who aren't afraid to take chances. People who will follow
you if they sense that you are firm in your convictions and
willing to stand up for them. Did you know that Marconi (the
fellow who discovered radio waves) was committed to an insane
asylum by his friends before they took him seriously. Today it
is cool to be on the cutting edge of change and if you are
willing to embrace this rapidly evolving technological beast and
tame it to your own purposes... well the world really could be
your oyster.
If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and work, you have
already jumped ahead of most people. The challenge is that most
people aren't willing to put in the necessary effort, but then
again, that's why it is such a fantastic opportunity for the
enlightened few. Consider Thomas Edison and his light bulb. He
documented 10,000 experiments before success found him. Was his
effort worth it? Without it you wouldn't be reading these words.
Don't wait, the water temperature has never been better, there's
still room for you to make a splash... jump in with both feet,
just be prepared to start paddling. This new medium of
communication is no respecter of persons. Age, sex, color,
religion, size, family background, past history, etc.; it makes
no difference to the bits and bytes, they respond as well to you
as anybody else. There is only one rule... "Just do it." What
you do today could repay you a hundred fold tomorrow.
Here's what you need to do to get started:
1) Learn as much as you possibly can. But don't let this slow
down your involvement
2) Create or find a product or service that you can promote
wholeheartedly.
3) Jump in. Get yourself a solid Internet presence.
4) Get busy! Market that product.
Sounds rather simple doesn't it. In fact it requires a lot of
effort, but the steps are simple enough and the rewards are
certainly worth it.
About the author:
Chris Small is a cyber entrepreneur and host of the very
successful 'World Deal Center'. His main website is
http//www.WorldDealCenter.com/
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