Change is part and parcel of life.
Change of one form or another, is a normal part and parcel of life on earth. It begins to take place from the time we are born, and continues throughout our lives until death. Change is also part of human growth, development and progress. Parents constantly watch and monitor changes in their newly born babies as they continue to grow. And they normally get concerned if the baby does not change or make any progress. It does not do what babies of that age normally do. Something must be wrong. It is not normal.
The world, in general and its economic systems are also constantly changing.
We live and earn our living in a very rapidly changing or volatile world, in which the only certainty is Change. Almost anything else is transient and fluid. These economic changes, when they do occur, can impact our lives for better or for worse, whether or not we like it. Change can render our old skills and businesses (large and small) obsolete. Hence the need to be always up-to-date with the latest economic and social trends. This not a matter of choice, but an absolute necessity, if we are going to keep working and earning.
The Industrial Revolution
The greatest and most dramatic Change in our world was the Industrial Revolution. This drastic economic transformation took off in the United Kingdom just over two centuries ago. From there it spread to the rest of the world. To that end, it was facilitated by the vast, global British empire, in which the sun never set, trade, foreign investment and education. This economic transformation changed the way people earned their living, how they lived and where they lived. In the process, it created an alternative, diverse and complex, dynamic economic system, based mainly in, but not exclusively to urban areas. This was a man-made change. Its effects are still with us to this day. The feature of this relatively modern system is constant change. Nothing remains the same.
The Industrial Revolution rendered some old hand craft skills and businesses out of date, as new machines took over some skilled hand tasks. However, on the other hand, these changes also created new jobs and business opportunities for the change-agents (those who initiated the changes) and those individuals who were willing to embrace the changes, learn new occupational skills and adapt. Those adversely affected by the changes were very angry because the changes were making them unskilled and unemployable. They even threatened the inventors of the new technologies and smashed their machines. However, in spite of all that, the Revolution marched on and even gathered momentum. Its effects are still with us to this day.
The computer and the Internet very powerful agents
Because of the invention of the computer and the Internet, more and more businesses are now trading online. This gave birth of Electronic Commerce.
All progress involves making some changes.
Some changes are man-made while others are the result of natural catastrophes.
Change can be either positive or negative. It can either create opportunities or pose a threat to existing skills and businesses.
We can either create change or it can be imposed on us. We can become either Change-agents or victims of Change.
Any change involves some learning process, adaptation and making some adjustments.
People, communities and countries which create change or embrace it when it occurs are generally more progressive, developed, prosperous and powerful. The contrary is also true. Those which are static, conservative and resistant to change, are generally weaker, poorer and easily exploited.
If you are already in business or thinking of starting a new business, you need to watch economic trends. Monitor change and embrace whatever new opportunities that change creates or update your business to be in line with the changes.
Since our world is constantly changing, we also need to change with changing times, whether good or bad. We have to learn new occupational and coping, up to date skills. Which failing, we could be left trailing behind while the rest of the world moves on. Without the latest occupational skills, we can become virtually unemployable.