Image Credit: unclesondThis brave new world is also ushering in a new age of geographical unimportance. Given a minimum of connectivity a human being can interact, do work and create income without borders or without regard to geography, political affiliation, country or national borders. This is an economy of mind, ideas and bits that seek to circumvent censorship, damage and firewalling. The faster countries realize this, the better. People can work wherever they like.

Photo Credit: eoleWe live in a Work 2.0 "post-employment world" according to Jeff Jarvis. Those lucky enough to find themselves in a developed countries are participating in a key inflection point in history: the death of an assembly line economy. Executives ensnared in cubicle life are witnessing illusory promises of security crumble as students obediently sitting in mass production lecture halls question the true value (and expense) of their monolithic University education.

Alternate systems of communication and "getting things done" are challenging our industrial-age perception of work and learning. Much of our current educational system, modeled after last centuries' mass production perspective, is languishing in a sea of mediocrity. Workplaces struggle with creating satisfaction and value.

Somewhere along the line, we traded efficiency for effectiveness as we attempted to apply a one-size-fits-all mentality (better suited to the industrial age) to the information age. But this was a mistake.

The future holds a new renaissance of sorts. One-to-many lecture and leadership styles will be largely replaced by an old-world (think middle ages) collegiate mentor model. This is due in no small part to the emergence of technologies that allow us to connect individually at great distance. Such conveniences have already spurned baby-steps in telecommuting and distance-learning that are fueling a wholesale departure from the "way it is" as we abandon our old-world control prejudices and realize that people really are more efficient when left to learn and work in the way that works best for them.

Some argue that the University is dead. Others point to the "right sizing" of corporate America.

Whatever the opinion, it is clear that we are moving from a linear, assembly line thinking model to a hyperthinking model - a way of visualizing relationships, learning, patterns and even streams of income that reflects personal empowerment and responsibility as opposed to dependence upon a centralized generic system or caretaker. It is a painful transition filled with change and involves outsourcing, globalization and long tail economics.

If you're an entrepreneur looking for opportunity, provide value to individuals and organizations looking to free themselves from the shackles of dependence upon the assembly line.

Photo Credit: jimmyroqThere are many advantages to having a guide or intermediary in life. A good guide will help direct your inquiry, point you in the right direction, help you avoid pitfalls and negotiate in good faith on your behalf. Brokers, wholesalers, consultants--all useful. But there is a difference between a middleman relationship that delivers true value and one that seeks to take advantage of the information gap or confusion that exists when a new technology or paradigm is introduced. During any period in history in which there is great change, doubt and uncertainty create an environment in and self-appointed experts jump to fill the void--often with less than desired outcomes, until the market can right itself. Most recently throngs of "gurus" touting the latest in social networking and SEO expertise have provided ample evidence of the phenomenon. The timetable for correction is becoming shorter and shorter as savvy businesses and individuals seek increasing transparency and consult with word-of-mouth recommendation engines that can help lessen the confusion gap and allow clients to be better informed. It's not just information businesses that are being affected by this trend. The recent rise of Word of Mouth, reputation management and geo-location services has given birth to an entirely different level and need for customer satisfaction among brick-and-mortar businesses, whether wired or not. The ultimate effect? The rise of value. Everyone is a critic. Everyone is a content creator. Everyone has the capacity to become an "expert." Those entrepreneurs who wish to establish themselves as experts must provide true value to the marketplace - not just a "guru" label. If you're an entrepreneur with a solution, make sure it's REALLY valuable. Listen to your market.