Tell me your billion dollar idea!

As I am back to reading my book, Thomas L Friedman, The World is Flat 3:0 A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century (Further Updated and Expanded, 2007) I was able to really grasp the true meaning of globalization and how it has made this world flat. What has really enhanced this new age is the Triple Convergence. The Triple Convergence is the process that combines all ten of the flattening forces in which Friedman has discussed thus far. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of the PC, Netscape, work flow, outsourcing, offshoring, uploading, insourcing, supply chaining and in-forming, are the drivers behind this phenomena that all just so happen top work together perfectly. This is what allows us to connect to anyone, anywhere and collaborate ideas at anytime of the day, and receive an answer within minutes if not seconds. The Triple Convergence is so important to me because it allows us to receive the things we want for a lesser price due to outsourcing and offshoring. However, as well all know, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. As we strive to want the finest things in life for the cheapest possible price, we are driving jobs and business right from our own back yards. The most eager young minds from India, China, Russia and essentially all corners of the earth are vying to get out and study in America, and they seem to want it more than we do.

I was intrigued to read about the Indiana versus India conflict because it really puts into perspective how easy it is to outsource, and just how much money you can save by doing so. With India being able to outbid the next closest local competitor by over eight million dollars, as a company, you would be dumb to turn down such an offer. I did not like that the government canceled this bid contract, paid them for the time they were there, and spread out the job so more local companies could have a piece of the pie. I understand that some things needed to change moving forward, but Tata deserved this contract, and they should have been able to completely update Indiana’s computer system. I feel as if Indiana exploited them by promising them jobs and a contract, and then backing out after they had already started.

Do you have a great idea, especially a lucrative one that could make you rich beyond your wildest dreams? Well if so, come sit next to me! Even if you don’t, there is a very good chance that once you put your idea out into the public domain, that it will be copied, pirated, and replicated, all without you earning a cent. Intellectual property used to be easy to follow and very hard to duplicate. Once you had a patent, no one could ever duplicate your work and reap the rewards for doing so. Long gone are those days of being protected. Almost everything that has ever been made has at some point been replicated without the original owners consent. We need new laws to regulate how ideas are created, and how they are to be protected. I know that if I came up with a billion dollar idea I would want to know that I am protected in some way and will always be able to reap my rewards, because that’s part of the ‘American dream!’