When Opportunity Knocks In the 21st Century - Seize It


by John Alquist - Date: 2006-11-28 - Word Count: 655 Share This!

Incredible possibilities for business people exist worldwide, not just in the USA, now in the 21st Century-a totally unique time in history.

Fling open the doors of opportunity globally, march right in, and reap the harvest.

Don't be held back by self-limiting beliefs, based on your 20th Century accomplishments. What happened back then has little relevance to 21st Century market realities now.

Jesus Christ is quoted in the Bible (Revelation 3:20) saying, "I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and sup (dine) with him, and he with me."

We must have that very same global, gracious, door-knocking, go-getter approach to our businesses. When 21st Century opportunities knock on our doors, we need to open them and seize the opportunity.

What caused the markets to go global early in the 21st Century?

There are 9 factors:

1. Trade barriers between nations have fallen and flattened. The world is pretty much open to free trade. For example, people buy Chinese-made clothes and household appliances in Wal-Mart.

A few years back, there were many "Made In America" signs there. Not any more! Now in Wal-Mart, people buy lots of merchandise made in China, which saves the average American family $500 per year.

2. The Internet and inexpensive telephony have made it easy and affordable to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time.

3. Economies of Asian nations are growing very quickly. China's economy has been growing at 10 to 11% annually. At the same time, European and American nations are experiencing modest, even sluggish, growth.

America's slow growth is due, in part, to our huge budget deficit, trade deficit, and a negative savings rate.

4. Communism collapsed late in the last century. Right after that, the entrepreneurial genius of people in many nations was reignited.

5. Many American corporations have suffered from icon-toppling, either ceasing to exist or hanging on for dear life. These corporate icons toppled themselves by their own arrogance, incompetent management, and failure to adapt to changing times.

Employees can no longer count on employers for secure, stable employment. As a result, self-employment now is preferable to, and far less risky than, employment.

But many jettisoned employees have no knowledge about how to start up, expand and manage a business.

Business training is sorely needed. That provides a great opportunity to those who have business skills to teach them to others.

The demise or downsizing of icon-toppled companies often means that pension plans-the hope of retirement income-seldom exist. And so a secure retirement with paternalistic benefits, rapidly is becoming a thing of the past.

Icon-toppling requires ex-former employees continue working indefinitely. Workers can take the words "pension" and "retirement" out of their vocabularies.

6. America's budget-busting, dysfunctional "healthcare" system, including Big Pharma and the factory-fresh food companies, focuses mostly on expensive means of treating people who are already sick and diseased-with very little emphasis on prevention.

This provides opportunities for everyone selling preventative and wellness products and services, an industry which, author Paul Zane Pilzer claims, will top $ 1.0 trillion within a few years.

7. America has been too dependent on petroleum products, imported mostly from nations who despise us.

Fortunately, this challenge has led to increased emphasis on other forms energy-nuclear, solar, and wind-not to mention discoveries of new oil fields in North America.

8. Rapidly-changing technology has not always been accompanied by adaptation by employees and ex-employees, who often cling to outdated skills. Many displaced employees have strong skills, but these skills are outmoded.

Employers aren't looking for accountants using slide rules and comptometers or secretaries using IBM Selectric typewritters.

f you're not computer savvy and proficient with digital technology, you're becoming a dinosaur in the marketplace.

9. Unfortunately, most Americans are in denial or unaware of these new 21st Century business realities.

It's a whole new business world now. Don't dither or hesitate!

Let's meet the challenge, help to change lives, make even better money, and help employees and ex-employees become dynamic entrepreneurs.

So, when opportunity knocks, go for it. Welcome to the 21st Century.


Related Tags: employment, jesus christ, 21st century, self-employment

John J. Alquist owns and operates Alquist Enterprises. He is a professional speaker, author and business consultant. He champions the 21st Century. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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