Author: Jim Ulvog

Introduction to The Price of Everything

I’m going to have a series of posts discussing a fiction book that teaches economics.  I just finished reading it for the second time.  Enjoyed it more the second time than the first!

In the last few years I’ve thoroughly enjoyed books that are called “didactic fiction.” These are teaching tools written in the form of a novel.  This gives the author the opportunity to teach in an entertaining format.

Russell Roberts offers an explanation of the price mechanism in his book The Price of Everything – A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity.  As a bonus, the author explains how we developed into a rich economy.

Continue reading “Introduction to The Price of Everything”

Brain stretching books

A few weeks ago I attended the Dave Ramsey Live! event in Long Beach.  Here is just one of the many great comments he had:

If you are in business, you should be reading these three authors:

  • Jim Collins
  • Seth Godin
  • Malcolm Gladwell

I wholeheartedly agree.

At my other blog, Attestation Update, I’ve posted a list of some great books from these authors that can help you stretch your brain.

Continue reading “Brain stretching books”

Downside to the radical change around us

Previously discussed Seth Godin’s idea that we are in two overlapping recessions. One is cyclical and will end. The other is systemic and permanent.

I don’t know what we are going to call the new work world.  Doesn’t seem to be a description in use that has caught on.

Whatever it’s called, the transition to this new set of rules is going to be horribly painful.

Continue reading “Downside to the radical change around us”

Two overlapping recessions? One cyclical and temporary. The other systemic and permanent.

Seth Godin has generated discussion from his post, The forever recession (and the coming revolution).

He suggests that we are currently in two recessions:

The first is the cyclical one, the one that inevitably comes and then inevitably goes.  There’s plenty of evidence that intervention can shorten it, and also indications that overdoing a response to it is a waste or even harmful.

The other recession, though, the one with the loss of “good factory jobs” and systemic unemployment–I fear that this recession is here forever.

The first one will end.  Continue reading “Two overlapping recessions? One cyclical and temporary. The other systemic and permanent.”

What is reshoring?

Reshoring = Unwinding offshoring.

Or, bringing jobs back to the US that previously had been moved overseas.

There isn’t much reshoring taking place, yet it is happening.  It goes against conventional wisdom of what is happening in the U.S. economy so it is something we ought to ponder.

I’ve been reading for some time that China has lost its place as the low-cost producer.  Manufacturers seeking the lowest cost are going to Vietnam and other places in Asia.

This has changed the economics of offshoring.

Continue reading “What is reshoring?”

Some change management ideas

A few weeks ago I attended the Dave Ramsey Live! event in Long Beach.

He had some cool things to say about change.  I will give loose quotes and then expand his ideas.

Some people stay in jobs they hate because they hate change more than they hate their jobs.

The fear of change can be so great that you’re locked into a horrible situation. Continue reading “Some change management ideas”

Radical changes in the work world are painful. Don’t laugh too hard at people who don’t understand what is happening.

Transitions from changes in the new world of work are going to hurt.  A lot.

Some people are in serious denial.  That does not prevent the changes or reduce the pain.

Continue reading “Radical changes in the work world are painful. Don’t laugh too hard at people who don’t understand what is happening.”

Welcome to my new blog!

Why am I starting a new blog, Outrun Change?

The amount of change taking place today is staggering.  The rate of change is going to increase.  That change is making our knowledge and skills obsolete.  To keep up, we need to be learning and growing and stretching to keep up with all that change.  We need to, shall we say, outrun all that change.

At the Christian Leadership Conference in April, Dr. Richard Swenson said that there will be 1,000 times more change in the next century than in the 20th century.  He also pointed out there was more change in the 20th century than the previous 5,000 years.  That is staggering.

My focus in the new blog will be on: Continue reading “Welcome to my new blog!”

Many posts on this blog have been copied from my other blogs

There are a lot of posts on my other blogs (Nonprofit Update and Attestation Update) that deal with the rapid change taking place around us. I have copied those posts into this blog to have them together. Posts before October 2011 were copied from those blogs to this one.  Enjoy reading!

Simple illustration of how work is changing

Previous post gave a big-word description of how work is changing.  Megan McArdle extends Mr Kling’s concepts in her post, The New New New Economy.

She paints two alternative paths as a choice between risk and being an assembly line drone when she says: Continue reading “Simple illustration of how work is changing”

A big-word description of how work is changing

The nature of work is changing. Radically.

Here are two fancy ways of describing the change that is taking place all around us along with my simple explanation.

Arnold Kling says this in his post, The Job-Seeker’s Paradox: Continue reading “A big-word description of how work is changing”

Constant skill upgrade

The radical changes in the work world, which are very real today, are going to require constant upgrades to our skills.

The 9-10-11 edition of The Economist had a series of articles on the changing work environment. One article in particular, My big fat career, discusses the changes already underway.

One particular author, Lynda Gratton from the London Business School, suggests you will need to acquire a new skill or expertise every few years.  Continuous learning in other words.

Continue reading “Constant skill upgrade”

Locked in time or Continuous learning? Your choice.

If we are going to adapt to this rapidly changing world, we are going to have to be constantly learning.  Always picking up new ideas.  Continuously gaining new skills and knowledge.

The alternative is to get locked in time.

Continue reading “Locked in time or Continuous learning? Your choice.”