If you think COVID-19 defaced the idea of work as we know it, buckle up for the next 10-20 years– it’s gonna get crazy.
The world has been dominated by left-brained people: think lawyers, accountants, and engineers. In the last 40 years, parents have encouraged children to get good grades, go to college, and get a “good” job.
I.E, go to law school, med school, or now, code– All processes that require strict logic and analytic skills.
And for the love of God, don’t become an artist, a writer, or painter.
But the worker’s pool is changing, and much of that change is due to left-brainers picking away what they see as unnecessary costs from company’s balance sheets.
Company’s used to pick employees based on location. If that worker pool was terrible, then you’re out of luck.
But now, employees could be strewn across the nation, or even across the world.
And you can pay coders or accountants much less who are in India for relatively the same product.
This isn’t a new concept, but just a new application of the division of labor.
Companies can cut to the bone, thanks to a more competitive worker pool.
Before, workers just had to edge out others who lived in their state. An attorney could tout an award for “2019 Michigan Super Lawyers” and expect clients to flock.
But in the future, you’re competing against lawyers from all 50 states (assuming) they’re licensed.
And soon, they will be.
Typically, red tape constraints otherwise free motion.
An attorney abstains from moving states because they would have to study and pass the bar while working and caring for family, and trying to sell a house.
What a drag.
Meet the Uniform Bar Exam: the key unlocking the ability to practice law in 37 states.
The exam will fling open the gate corralling wanna-be-attorneys in a broken system formulated by money-hungry lobbying groups who care about profit over consumer pleasure.
The same concept is happening to left-brained labor on a global scale.
Instead of getting beaten by a competitor in Montana, an Australian attorney may snag your highest-dollar client.
Or even an app.
Outsourced labor doesn’t even mention automated options. Having a marriage from hell? Divorce attorneys aren’t cheap, but the top two advertised google slots for “cheap divorce” are for DIY divorce filings websites for $139 and $137- “Ready to File in 15 Minutes.”
What a world to live in, that you can file for a divorce faster than getting an oil change.
Competing toe-to-toe with international workers paid cheaper wages (because this is the comparatively best option) plus mindless automation will make right-brained work, such as storytelling, creativity, and entrepreneurs that much more valuable.
Remember, artificial intelligence can beat the best chess players globally, but it still can’t differentiate a cat and a table.
If you’re $200,000 in law school debt cursing about the future I just described that will lower your wages, don’t fret. Your most valuable asset will always be creativity and adaptation to what markets value.
You are the product of your work, but one must hone marketable skills useful beyond a given job title– transferable skills.
No matter how bad a situation, you can always bet on yourself.