Homework #4

1.Based on Friedman’s explanation of the “untouchables”. What are some of the key points to make yourself Untouchable.

According to Friedman, the « untouchables » are the people who will succeed in this new world. Their jobs cannot be outsourced. Friedman splits the «untouchables » in 4 broad categories. Workers who are :

– Special : They have a talent which is unfungible. For example a singer with an incredible voice or Jordan’s jump shot.

– Specialized : They have skills in a very specific domain such as specialized lawyers. These skills are always in high demand and are not fungible.

– Anchored : They have a job which is done in a specific location involving face-to-face contact with a client, a customer or a patient such as a dentist, a barber, a waitress.

– Really adaptable : they are fast in learning and work on tasks they are not used to.

To summarize, in order to be an « untouchable » and survive in this flat world, you have to constantly acquire new competence, knowledge and expertise that allow you constantly to be able to create value. You have to know how to « learn how to learn ». This will be one of the most important asset, trying to figure out what you can do, how, and put in all the experience and knowledge you have. Because today, the world changes every second and people need to be adaptable.

2. Summarize in your own words the following :

Great Collaborators

These are all the jobs involving collaboration with others and organized collaboration between and within companies. This particullary in companies which employ diverse international and multicultural workforces. Nowadays, this is really important especially in companies with global supply chains.

Great Explainers

These are jobs that involve seeing the complexity of things and understand it, and then being able to explain it with simplicity. It allows to see opportunities better.

Great Adapters

These are jobs involving adaptation and versatility. People are capable not only of constantly adapting but also of constantly learning and growing. It allows them to respond or act reasonably quickly and often aren’t trusted by the stakeholders.

Passionate Personalizes

These are jobs that involve adding something personnal, something special and put a real passion in it. Those people don’t limit theirs jobs as a simple task. They add a creative touch to that that no one esle thought of adding.

3. What are some ways to find your CQ and PQ in whatever job you find yourself in?

Friedman’s proposed formula is Curiosity quotient plus Passion quotient is greater than Intelligent Quotient. According to Friedman, curiosity and passion are the most important elements for education in this flat world, where information is available to everyone and where global markets reward those who have learned how to learn and are self-motivated to learn. He proposed this formula:

I think this is really important to be passionate and curious in a job. Rather than being submissive by the job, you make it enjoyable and successfull. I think that nobody should limit themselves at just doing a task as a simple task. You need to add your personal touch.

If you take the example of a creative thinker, the most you are curious about the world (discovering cultures, visit museums, read articles from all over the world, listen to different styles of music) the most you would be able to create original ads.