Power, money and sex – globalisation, capitalism, stock exchange assets flow, corporate strategy
Power, money and sex – globalisation, capitalism, stock exchange assets flow, corporate strategy
“Globalisation, capitalism, stock exchange assets flow, corporate strategy” are the words to describe current business environment. That is where the real money is and who sets the rules of competitiveness on the market. We can argue about positives and negatives of this situation. Where there are strong arguments towards both ends in economical and sociological terms. This is what allowed us to open to other countries, other economies. Like India, China for example.
But I want to focus here on rather questionable impact of global capitalism on individuals.
I would dare to put the blame on failure of some of the strategies of even medium business.
It is maybe not define explanation of why we have such huge economic crash in western economies, but it is an idea that might bring you to some unexpected conclusions.
Idea standing that “cheap is expensive”. That in business we are missing few important chains. That capitalism doesn’t include some factors, which have huge impact on us in long term. Long term meaning longer the average strategic plan.
I am involved in IT sector for past 10 years. I’ve witnessed all the processes starting from basic level of manufacturing computers up to planning and implementing products/services for international client base.
And not only in IT, but generally speaking there is strong trend for last couple of years in business to outsource, outsource, outsource.
Watching some of leading Irish businessman’s last night in “Dragon’s Den” there was one sentence that brought my attention. One of them said “do you want to do this product on your own, or you want to be reach”. Story was, very hard workingman developed very “accurate” product and from day 1 he made huge sale. Filling the demand on the market. It was very simple, but smart solution for very common problem. He manufactured it himself in his shed in huge numbers. From my understanding it took him a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. He wanted “Dragon’s” to invest in him so he can hire some help and buy some machines for the manufacturing process. I would say “bingo”. Those are the people every western economy needs. This is how china made world biggest brand “made in china”. By making everything “in-house”. What is the difference? Well if our guy would outsource the production (it would be probably to china, as everything else) product would be 10-15 euro cheaper and he would have to just sit down and watch cash coming into his account.
And this is the easy way we all felled into. As history show, easy way is not always good way.
I just wanted to give a little slap on the “Dragon’s” chicks so they will wake up from that dream about quick money in business. This trend that kills our economy with mass cheap products.
Focusing for example on US. Where during the economic boom they were manufacturing everything in states. With time they moved to outsource production to countries where labour was cheaper. Running around in suits and ties, making fortunes they were all happy. We all were so proud, we were all “managers” and “directors” of paper businesses. Leaving on “paper” incomes and “paper” profits.
We were the reach one taking a long-term loan from the poor. They were working in conditions which human rights could barely call “acceptable”. To make our lives easier and more comfortable. Where they had to cycle 20km to work, work 14h a day for minimum wage, and by minimum wage I mean money, which you can buy food and that’s it. Where we were coming to offices at 10am in comfortable cars and complaining about our life’s and struggles. Visiting psychologists, just because it was trendy. Forgetting about other people. World became very self-centralized, where term “it is just business, nothing personal” is commonly acceptable excuse for any behaviour (not acceptable elsewhere). There is not talk about business ethics anymore. There are plenty of talks about profits. Magic word that dominated everything else.
Power, money and sex – magic formula. But where you think about it. We are so primitive. Where it all coming from? Going chain by chain we would discover it all comes from our prime animal instincts.
Something we can see in animal world every single day – to be number one male in the horde, to be number one female. It is nothing else but “upgraded” version of animal world. We are so blinded by this game that we don’t know when enough is enough, when to stop. So we keep going and going in eventually self-destructive path. There is no bigger pleasure; there is not greater power. But there is always something bigger of “better” you can buy. But stop here for a minute. Do you really think “stuff” and things you bought are the most important in life? Or is it people? Family, friends?
We all will come to the end of our journey, and when you will be laying down as old man or women, believe me you will look back on your life. What you would like to see? “Bold” harsh money-orientated “hunter” or happy person that can easily say – I gave my best to this world.
Just few lines about IT sector. There was huge trend back 3-5 years ago where everybody was outsourcing call centre services to India. We all know this. Whatever company you’ve rang, there was big chance you will hear Indian accent. Nothing against Indian people, they are more then great and hard working. But what difference does it make to the people where very same person is helpdesk technician for 3 different manufacturing brands? How does it make you feel?
Sell, Sell, Sell strategy. This is it, nobody cares about end user, and everybody cares about profits. And it all comes up to the surface with time. Even though it seems it is not that important in small scale of time, after 10 years of global capitalism we finding that eastern hard working economies learned how to use that global capitalism to gain assets. The same way as we slowly forgetting it in our cosy lives.
As I was mentioning it coupe of times, when I was talking about “Company Man” movie in the post Profitability will destroy Facebook. Why “corporate capitalism” kills its own creations?, or post about “Where the money are….. big brands 2011”.
Bringing Psychological and sociological aspects of manufacturing “in-house”. All outsourcing has huge impact on our society and us. Starting from fact that we not eye-witnessing hard working people anymore, loosing motivation and sense on creating something by our own hands. We struggle to motivate ourselves, graphs from psychologists shows spike of depression and related issues.
I like the sentence from the movie “Bruce Almighty” “man do not appreciate benefit of hard work”. We are all in that sense felling so “almighty” that we forgetting that we are just human beings. We need each other’s, we need to work, and we need to be passionate. The same things that drives us – power, money and sex – also allows us to awake our passions. Whatever it is painting, being accountant or builder. If you love what you are doing that is all that matters. But where we went wrong, we allowed couple of completely lost personalities to gain too much power. To fulfil their own desires. Wrong desires, empty desires, self-cantered and destructive desires. It is not criticism towards them, but everyone makes mistakes, and if higher it goes then more difficult it becomes as all environment up there is like that.
As old Polish saying goes: “If you have to go between the crows caw as they”.
But if you a lion, you cane make your own rules, don’t you? And it is time to be wise and carefull in making those rules.
Don’t get me wrong, I am strongly towards globalisation, but not in the shape it goes currently. Not the globalisation which takes from poor and gives to rich. Which economicaly enslaves working class. Yes to globalisation which enrich each others, mutual understanding, benefits to both sides, healty “equal-rules” based competition.
For now I would say start making things happen “In-house”. Stop developing businesses that outsource productions. Bring that feeling of accomplishment to people. Give jobs. Buy local rather then in supermarket. That is the way I would like to see globalisation going. At the same time open for small businesses from abroad. Learn from them. Build valuable relationships with people (from other countries as well) not profits. I know it is like going back in time. But maybe this is exactly what we need right now? We all have right tool and abilities. Don’t be afraid to use them. Start new trend in business of “in-house” development.
Related post: Quo Vadis (written by mankind)
