Thomas L. Friedman Says "Uploading" Contributing to Flat Earth

Those of us who live in the United States sometimes forget that the majority of the world's population lives beyond our borders. I am one of them. So, now that I am part of a global firm, I am committed to broadening my worldview to, well, the world. My first order of business is to start reading Thomas L. Friedman's book, The World Is Flat. My timing is excellent since a new expanded and updated version recently hit the stores.

In case you're not familiar with the book, Friedman's thesis is that technology and social changes are putting globalization into warp drive, flattening the playing field. The book is an engaging read (or listen). It's filled with fascinating stories that bring the author's arguments to life. The World is Flat is definitely getting me thinking in a whole new way, which is what I still turn to books to do even in this very digital world. (Confession: I often listen to books on my iPod rather than read them. It fills lots of "unusable" time. In some cases I end up buying the hard-bound too for reference.)

The new updated and expanded version breaks out the ten forces that are creating a flat world. New to the list at number four is "Uploading." Friedman describes Uploading as "the power of individuals to send, up, out and around, their own products and ideas, often for free, rather than downloading them from commercial enterprises or traditional hierarchies." He goes on to add, "More than ever we can all now be producers, not just consumers." I love the term uploading. It's simple and describes why the two-way web (or Web 2.0) is indeed a big change from Web 1.0.

Although it's hefty (600 pages or about 25 hrs unabridged on an iPod), I highly recommend the book if you're interested in taking a broad view of the world and why we're at the beginning of a unique era that will change business. Friedman does a good job of covering off social software, Wikipedia, podcasting and blogs, putting them into a bigger context.

He ends the Uploading section with this: "In short, the number of uploaders is still relatively small. But as the tools for individual uploading and collaboration become more diffused, and as more people get positive feedback from their uploading experiences, I am certain that every big institution or hierarchal structure will feel the effects. You have been warned."

Now that's a statement. I am sure there will be subsequent posts on the flat earth as I worm my way through the book.

Technorati Tags: Uploading, Thomas Friedman, World is Flat