Thursday, December 18, 2008
in 2008 I work in Technology; in 1898, I'd work in meat packing
I work in the technology industry which is very different than the auto industry but the same. Here's what I mean:
I'm not really central to the creation or innovation of any technology, my job is necessary but was created by someone else who had an actual passion for software, or money, neither of which I really have.
I don't even really like using technology all that much. I go to Best Buy and I see assignments:
"I'll need to get a flat screen to have a serious TV experience." "I better play that new game if I consider myself a gamer." "I should research that new camera so that my wallpaper looks respectable." "Maybe my iPod is too old? Where do you get cheap MP3s again?"
All that being said, I am an excellent USER of technology. I built my own DVR, share files all around my wireless network from my 'Home Office' PC, have built or rebuilt every computer in my house (I think we've got at least 6), take advantage of the 'discounts' the internet has to offer, play Wii and 360, keep my iPod loaded, and take advantage of the various communication and social networking opportunities on the web.
In short, technology is my friend and it makes my life better, but I am not really an 'insider' to the tech scene.
I got my job at a major US software developer because I was in the right place at the right time. I learned what they needed me to learn and am a really good fit for my job. However, I don't have ambitions to innovate or create the next great business software solution. I just think what I do is interesting and it lets me live my life.
I think that the auto industry was probably able to support tons of people just like me 50/60 years ago. They were the growth industry in this country and because of them tons of other businesses were able to thrive. However all their "Right Place, Right Time" workers have cost them. It seems that at least one cause of their now seemingly imminent collapse is that they've overpaid their workers. The abundance of fat times has made the now lean times unbearable. Will the US tech industry be in the same position in 50 years? I dunno but if I had been out job hunting in 1965 instead of 2005, I probably would have headed to some sort of job related to the auto industry to help me live my life.
And if it had been 1895, I probably would have found some job related to meat packing and food transportation. This is actually still really big business in our country (food transport) and meat packing companies were once included amoung the fortune 500. They helped establish communication and transportation lines all over our country and introduced lots of towns to technology that drastically improved people's lives.
Meat packing companies are either transformed or are long gone. Thus too shall (probably) pass for the auto industry. I personally think that if these companies were worth saving then some Asian automaker would make an offer to buy them, but that isn't happening which means their debts must really be out of control. Maybe we should do something to save them, but even if we do I only think its a matter of time before they go the way of the meat packers.
If you worked for the auto industry in 1965 then you were doing what you needed to do to live well. If you worked for it in 1995 then you were in an industry with no future. If you work for it now then I hope your retirement is sured-up. If not then you should switch jobs and do something else. I hope someone will warn me about my own industry when it is time to go.
I'm not really central to the creation or innovation of any technology, my job is necessary but was created by someone else who had an actual passion for software, or money, neither of which I really have.
I don't even really like using technology all that much. I go to Best Buy and I see assignments:
"I'll need to get a flat screen to have a serious TV experience." "I better play that new game if I consider myself a gamer." "I should research that new camera so that my wallpaper looks respectable." "Maybe my iPod is too old? Where do you get cheap MP3s again?"
All that being said, I am an excellent USER of technology. I built my own DVR, share files all around my wireless network from my 'Home Office' PC, have built or rebuilt every computer in my house (I think we've got at least 6), take advantage of the 'discounts' the internet has to offer, play Wii and 360, keep my iPod loaded, and take advantage of the various communication and social networking opportunities on the web.
In short, technology is my friend and it makes my life better, but I am not really an 'insider' to the tech scene.
I got my job at a major US software developer because I was in the right place at the right time. I learned what they needed me to learn and am a really good fit for my job. However, I don't have ambitions to innovate or create the next great business software solution. I just think what I do is interesting and it lets me live my life.
I think that the auto industry was probably able to support tons of people just like me 50/60 years ago. They were the growth industry in this country and because of them tons of other businesses were able to thrive. However all their "Right Place, Right Time" workers have cost them. It seems that at least one cause of their now seemingly imminent collapse is that they've overpaid their workers. The abundance of fat times has made the now lean times unbearable. Will the US tech industry be in the same position in 50 years? I dunno but if I had been out job hunting in 1965 instead of 2005, I probably would have headed to some sort of job related to the auto industry to help me live my life.
And if it had been 1895, I probably would have found some job related to meat packing and food transportation. This is actually still really big business in our country (food transport) and meat packing companies were once included amoung the fortune 500. They helped establish communication and transportation lines all over our country and introduced lots of towns to technology that drastically improved people's lives.
Meat packing companies are either transformed or are long gone. Thus too shall (probably) pass for the auto industry. I personally think that if these companies were worth saving then some Asian automaker would make an offer to buy them, but that isn't happening which means their debts must really be out of control. Maybe we should do something to save them, but even if we do I only think its a matter of time before they go the way of the meat packers.
If you worked for the auto industry in 1965 then you were doing what you needed to do to live well. If you worked for it in 1995 then you were in an industry with no future. If you work for it now then I hope your retirement is sured-up. If not then you should switch jobs and do something else. I hope someone will warn me about my own industry when it is time to go.
