There’s a movement happening around you that you may not see. Every day, people are leaving their jobs, not because they got laid off but because they’re tired of working under the economic model they’ve been given. More and more people are seeing that we’ve reached a point in history at which we as individuals can prosper without being a cog in the corporate, academic, or government machines.
Many of us have rediscovered entrepreneurialism and are returning business to what it has been throughout human history. And we’re finding that business as usual is not business as usual.
Back to Business
I’ve been discussing this idea with some pioneers of this movement for some time now. The particular pioneers in question have been the type of people who not only pave their own way, but also take the time to turn around and show others how to follow their own path. This conversation has included Jonathan Mead, the brilliant people on the Beyond Productivity calls, Naomi Dunford, Mark Silver, Steve Spalding, Jonathan Fields, Chris Guillebeau, Pam Slim, and Clay Collins. It started before Tim Ferris became well known, but he made the discussion a national meme.
Each of these pioneers is looking at the phenomenon from a different perspective and is helping people in different ways. But what most of us are saying is that the economic options available through the Internet are allowing one person or smallish teams of people to create products and sell them, one at a time, to potentially millions of people (one person at a time). We don’t need Wal-Mart’s help, and frankly, we shouldn’t want to be Wal-Mart.
Think about what this means for a second. Rather than buying unremarkable products from faceless corporations, you can buy products made by individuals for individuals. Every purchase you make helps a particular family put food on the table, and the products you get aren’t made for everybody; they’re made for you.
This type of economic interchange is much closer to the type of interchange that has been a part of the human experience for millennia. The town baker had a vested interest in making good bread (and the right type of bread) because if he made crappy bread, he had to live with the sneers of his neighbors. But his neighbors had to support him because if they didn’t, somebody else would have to bake bread, and they might not do it as well as Baker John did. The relationship was reciprocal.
You’ll be familiar with this type of thinking, though you’ve seen it in a different form. The “Made in America” stickers affixed to products harken back to this primal urge to support the people in your tribe; unfortunately, the way in which it’s commonly used is mostly a marketing ploy. All too often, these purchases support American corporations, and we’ve seen how well American corporations support Americans en masse. If you aren’t a) the owner(s) of the corporation, b) a high-level manager or executive of the corporation, or c) a shareholder in the corporation, your interests are served to the smallest degree possible to keep you either employed at the corporation or buying from the corporation.
In other words, the relationship is reciprocal only inasmuch as they have to keep you happy enough to work for them or buy from them. And happiness is relative to options; when your options are limited, it’s easy to keep you happy or scared enough to maintain the status quo. The status quo, in our society, benefits a very, very small minority of people. The rest of us are just players in the corporations’ risk-reward game – we shoulder the risk in severe disproportion to the rewards we might attain for doing so. And we continue to do so because of two things: 1) we believe this is the way the world is, and 2) we hold out hope that we are one of the .1% of people who find ourselves living “the American Dream.”
Of course, the last two paragraphs are the results of the Industrial Revolution, in which a few people own and control the means to production, and everybody else works for them or buys from them. It takes a lot of capital to start and maintain those types of enterprises, and the people who do so assume a lot of risk, whereas the people who work at the factory assume very little. Since the entrepreneurs and people with money on the table are shouldering the risk, they should get the reward. So the story goes.
(Which really should make you think about why we’re now bailing them out. They “assumed the risk” — by which I mean were subsidized by our tax dollars and sweat and tears — and failed. We pay. When they don’t fail, we pay. But I bought four lottery tickets this week and am feeling lucky…)
The Promise of the Information Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a turning point in history and has led to unprecedented advances in science and medicine. But the business practices of the Industrial Revolution are an incredible departure from the historic business practices that focus on people. The baker sold bread to people; corporations sell products to numbers. It’s all about the numbers.
The Industrial Revolution didn’t just change business, though. It changed the way we think about ourselves and the human experience. We now relate to time and money in ways that we didn’t before. We see dollar signs on trees where we once saw living things. We think in terms in which some people lose and others win, rather than seeing that we’re all interconnected in very important ways. We value quantity instead of quality.
It’s this change in the way we view ourselves that is the most pernicious and lasting, for we are now at the point in history in which you can start a business for zero capital. If you’re especially ambitious, you can pay $8 for your own domain name and run everything through Google.
Furthermore, there’s no king, tyrant, or other figure with power that’s explicitly telling us how we are going to live our lives. Our governments still limit what we can and can’t sell, but for all practical purposes, we can do pretty much what we want. We are no longer forced into serfdom, despite the fact that many people play the role of serfs.
It turns out that, thus far, there really hasn’t been a revolution – the techniques of the Information Age have been applied to the society of the Industrial Revolution. Yet the underlying economic realities that (perhaps) justified the social changes of the Industrial Revolution are no longer the only ones in play. Individuals and very small teams can create and distribute products at almost no cost. Furthermore, individuals now have access to a market of at least 4 billion people, growing by thousands every day.
The promise of the Information Revolution, then, is not really a revolution, but a renaissance. That renaissance is allowing people to reclaim their dreams and create remarkable products, and not only that, but to deliver those products to people one at a time. Like the baker, the creators have to answer to the consumers of their products, and the consumers, like their counterparts, have to support the creators. The reciprocal relationship has returned.
What we’ll start to understand in this rebirth is that business doesn’t have to be dirty. The baker took pride in what he made and cherished the people who bought his bread; we online entrepreneurs should, and do, feel the same pride. When you buy something from us, you are exchanging value for value. Selling doesn’t have to get in the way of sharing because selling is sharing. Sometimes we share freely; sometimes we share by exchange – but both are instances of sharing.
Insert Marxist Communist Dystopia Here
I’m not advocating communism here, although if the extension of these ideas lead to a workable communism, so be it. (Think long and hard about why you’re scared of communism in principle. Note: Russia and China are not examples of principled communism.) What I’m urging you to consider is a capitalism that’s divorced from industrialism. I think people should be rewarded for the value they create; in most cases, though, the people who are doing the creating are not the ones who are being rewarded under industrial capitalism. The days when capitalism and industrialism are necessarily linked are over.
And then there’s the reality that few people are actually going to buck the system. Books on lifestyle design sell because people like the ideas and they like to dream, but few people are willing to “risk” everything to go out on their own. The thought of leaving the system is epic for most people, and most people are not willing to rise to the task to do epic shit.
The people that I’ve had this discussion with are ordinary people; I myself am incredibly ordinary in most ways. What makes us extraordinary is not some particular talent; furthermore, the desire to live life on our own terms and to help others do the same is not particularly uncommon. What’s uncommon about us is that we’re actually doing it. No more, no less.
The world is full of talented, beautiful people who have so much value to give. Sometimes people find organizations within the current model that gives them an outlet for their value; life is grand for them. But many people know that there’s more to life than the work they’re doing. If you’re in the latter camp, all I have to say is … there is another way.
Before we can discuss that other way, we’ll need to turn our attention to The Changes in Creative Work & Entrepreneurship.
“The baker sold bread to people; corporations sell products to numbers”
That really sums it up right there, doesn’t it?
I think there are certain advantages to corporations selling to numbers, when it comes to thing like say… automobiles. But highly tailored, niche products are where the individual entrepreneur has such an advantage is ridiculously unfair. More and more people are starting to realize that there is another way, but I think they also need to realize what an insane advantage they have.
We’re not just playing on a different field with different rules anymore. We’re transcending (and including) the game in a marvelous way.
Jonathan Meads last blog post..Non-Conformity, My Ass; or Why We’re All a Bunch of Posers
I was about to warn you about your dangerous lefty tendencies there but then you came out. American industrial and financial capitalism as an unholy mess in a lot of ways. And what is surprising to me, looking from outside that country, is how many people are stepping out of the corporate and government jobs to start their own thing DESPITE the huge disincentives to do so (chief among them privatised medical care and the concomitant insurance racket). But I guess getting on that bandwagon would be even scarier politically.
JoVEs last blog post..What is a doctoral candidate to do?
Well written and insightful. 😉
I couldn’t agree more.
Marc and Angel Hack Lifes last blog post..The Blissful Art of Being and Breathing
Thought-provoking. Inspirational. Will re-teet. Thanks.
Ha! I might even re-tweet, also!
Oh my God, you are SO HOT right now.
Naomi Dunfords last blog post..How To Be Selectively Unreasonable
Great stuff, Charlie. I appreciate the mention and I will certainly help with bringing more like-minded people your way. Keep it up!
Chris Guillebeaus last blog post..Welcome to the Real World
Charlie, this was so beautiful I wanted to cry. I can’t wait to read it to my wife after the children are sleeping. This exactly the future we are building for ourselves.
“What I’m urging you to consider is a capitalism that’s divorced from industrialism.”
This is what got me online 7 months ago and what’s kept me there every day since. I believe in this future.
Thanks.
Bravo, Charlie! ; ) The distinction about industrial capitalism is particularly spot-on.
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WOW
Charlie I have been looking for a way to sum up the good events that I am seeing evolve in the economic world at the moment.
“capitalism that’s divorced from industrialism” this phrase will slowly become the rope that the world can use to climb out of the abyss that it is in at the moment.
I look forward to the next part of the series!
Luke
Luke – ConfusionMGMTs last blog post..Travel or Buy? The New Home owners dilemma
I’ve had many of these thoughts myself, after reading the book How to Make a Living Without a Job. The concept of that book is that we don’t need to fit into the model of the industrial revolution, where we go out & work for “the man”. We can instead find different ways, both online and offline, to do things for people.
I’ve been having some great results with my service based business these past few weeks. I love seeing my client’s eyes light up when they see results! 🙂
Nathalie Lussiers last blog post..How To Find The Opportunities Among The Possibilities
It is good to start a internet marketing as part time job. When you get full success upon your first thing, you can move to next marketing one and so on. No need to quit your job anymore.
I’ve been thinking about some of these ideas for a while and I love to read this. When I was a teenager, I was involved in a sort of underground community of craftsmanship and artists in Madrid, Spain. We used to sell the products that we would do with our hands to our customers, there was no middle people. We also used to trade each other all the time, it was something really beautiful!
Since our recent moving to the US from Europe, my wife and I have an empty home to decorate from scratch and we’ve been talking about it. We don’t feel like filling our home with useless and impersonal crap made in China or Taiwan that we will end up replacing in a few months or piling up in the store. We would rather acquire things made by real people that we can track were they come from. Things with a soul so they add some beautiful energy to our home. Things that allow us know beautiful people. And if they’re traded by other things or services we can provide, then much better!
Today, with the Internet, there’s a lot of possibilities on view. I think it’s time to start using it and getting the best out of this wonderful tool!
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Kudos for this post, Charlie! As part of that movement (and I think it is a movement, not just a curious side effect of the economic train wreck), I can vouch for the fact that it’s absolutely worth getting out of that sick, insane system.
Sonia Simones last blog post..Compassionate Selfishness
To me it’s sad that you feel the need to apologise for what amounts to a humanist view of work and the workplace. Is America so small-minded that any departure from swallowing the capitalist line hook, line and sinker is somehow regarded as suspicious?
Corporations generally use their weight and momentum to steamroller business regardless. They are, almost by definition, dehumanising. Individuals use their skills and energy to win business. It’s not just another way, it’s a better way.
But wait, there’s more. Corporations are economically efficient on some levels, but incredibly wasteful on other levels. Only a corporation could deliver an iPod or a wireless phone service. But when it comes to skilled knowledge work, business is often more economically efficient on the individual level.
I can’t speak for the American experience, but here in Auckland local cafes can deliver better and cheaper lattes than the giant Starbucks corporation.
What does this mean for us as individual micro-business knowledge workers?
Well, for example, I’m a writer in New Zealand. If I write for a public relations corporation, my time is charged out to clients at NZ$200 to $300 an hour, but I may only be paid NZ$80 an hour. If I work directly for a client, I can charge $100 an hour, which is a win for me and for the client.
Bill Bennetts last blog post..Australia’s immigrant tech workers feel the squeeze as slowdown hits
I like this article so much, I read it twice and am going to save it to my bookmarks.
One of the things I especially like about this movement is that if you offer a service or product, you don’t have any excuse to put crap work out. Or, at least the people who do that get weeded out by a kind of natural selection (hopefully!!).
I make some mistakes and I could always improve my work. But, I have to keep my skills up to date and work every day to have what I offer be considered valuable to others. I have to move off my butt to advance, which is good for me and in turn, clients get the best I have to offer. Everyone wins!
Naomi Niless last blog post..Crowdsourcing and Spec Work – My Thoughts
You make some great points, Charlie. I think we’re living in the most exciting era ever. More and more of the “rules” about how, where, when and with whom we should work in order to be happy and successful are being blown out of the water. And the internet has made the world incredibly flat, making it possible for anyone with some ideas of value to easily get their ideas out to the world – and make a good living doing so. For many people this agility is incredibly liberating and for others it’s incredibly scary – the rules offered them some comfort, some sense of stability in knowing what to expect. For those who are able to embrace the rapid pace of change and tolerate the uncertainty that comes with it, the world is their oyster!
Cath
CathDs last blog post..Agile Living Strategies for Turbulent Times
As someone who walked away from a university teaching job to raise basset hounds, write and translate in my pyjamas this really struck a chord.
There are stresses being involved in this movement (I agree @sonia, it is a movement) but the freedom and time to breathe makes up for the occasional economic insecurity.
Jon Buscalls last blog post..Keep Web Writing Short (or Not)
I couldn’t agree more Charley! The crazy things is that I am seeing this new breed of entrepreneurs in teenagers. For example one of my twitter friends is a 15 yr old web developer with over 15,000 follows. The next generation is going to take this revolution one step further. Thanks for the insight as always!:)
Ambers last blog post..How To Ween Yourself Off Coffee
We live in interesting times. Be the wave…move with it and thrive.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Fascinating Rhythms
Wonderful, incisive post – and it’s thrilling that so many commenters here ‘get it.’
This post-industrial capitalism you describe is the same idea as what I’ve called cooperative capitalism. Tho at first it seems an oxymoron, combining a focus on humanitarian and sustainable endeavors with an ambition to be the best is surely what will work for our troubled times.
This is exactly why me and my partner started XtremeCreator – to teach more creative people how to reach out and become entrepreneurs. To start their own projects, businesses and connect with their fans and followers. We’re building a new future, one where the personal is paramount.
Andreas Rönnqvists last blog post..Idea2Launch
I think you are aware that this post will become a sort of manifesto!
Well done. Great. I agree with every single word. This is one of those things that could have been written by me if only I was able to systematize and express them like you did. Thank you Chris.
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I’m arriving a little late, but wanted to tell you that this is an eloquent, powerful post. You are right to point out that the ‘revolution’ has not happened, but that this is a movement so full of possibility.
Heading over to read part 2!
Zoes last blog post..Mind Mapping Your Blog (or Project)
Oh Charlie — well said. As one of those who gets to make a nice living doing what I’d do for free anyway, it’s a good reminder of the natural inclinations that an entrepreneur may have — and how I can lend my brain to help those who aren’t wired this way, so they can take those steps toward “another way.” Keep up the good works ~
~GirlPie
U break it all down so beautifully my man! Especially when u say “A bad step “is better than “no step at all”(para=phrased)., and the “Burning Y”, and “Showing up” day n day out…I’m a 2nd generational,family owned hair care manufacturer in Cincinnati, my mom all ways said u don’t have to be smart to go into business,, because if u start out dumb, and work dumb long enough chances are u’ll smartin up quite a bit! They key is sticking with it long enough to get smart at it… Thanks for the inspiration, ur dead on it…. Kelvin
Charlie this is so awesome! It’s exactly what I’ve been trying to say and couldn’t. Remember about two months ago when I said writing wasn’t what you do best? I totally take that back now…
How did I not know about this post before Charlie? Had to find out about it over at Naomi’s blog. 🙂
Simply beautiful.
Of course you know I agree with your thoughts, but you say things so much more eloquently than I ever could.
From a fellow damn hippie pinko commie and proud of it,
Your friend Pam
Pamela Slims last blog post..Personal branding insight from young expert Dan Schwabel
It’s interesting to look at entrepreneurialism as a movement. Jim Collins talks about that in this month’s Inc. magazine, that every 20-30 years there is a major movement that changes the state of business. I’m going to tweet this article – thanks!
Danelle Ice / Homemaker Barbi
Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice)s last blog post..13 Ways to Let Spring Into Your Home Today!
I hopped over here from IttyBiz, and after reading your post, I’m here to stay. Definitely food for thought, and fuel for the fire. Thanks!
Charlie,
I definitely think there are many ways to look at the same exact thing, but looking at China and the USSR as not examples of communism is probably a terrible way to look at those examples.
What you’re describing here, like you accurately state, is capitalism where smaller, lithe groups win. This niche capitalism is viable not because it’s reflective of communism (it has absolutely nothing to do with communism, as far as I can tell, other than that you consider both ideal) and more to do with a flexibility that gives small groups a legitimate advantage over corporate behemoths.
We’re seeing huge failures in real-world capitalism right now (I think everyone on both extreme ends of the discussion agrees the bailouts are are egregious); this is a success of it.
David Dittells last blog post..The Hip-Hop Dictionary.com Word Of The Day: Imbroglio
I could not agree with you more.
I come from the affiliate marketing/private franchising world and the reality is that anyone who’s willing to learn, and put in the effort to do so can be totally free from a job in corporate America. The internet has given rise to some many opportunities in so many different ways that it is absolutely astounding. The amazing thing about them is that you don’t have to quit your job to do them. All you have to do is put in the effort after hours, and in proper time, you’ll have replaced your full time income, and gotten all the advantages of having all that extra income in the mean time.
Gerardo Ritcheys last blog post..Incentivized Consumerism
it’s just great when great minds come together and talk about something.
This is why I like going into the archives…to uncover all the gold that’s hidden under there.
Dude you’re great with words and I have to agree with the point you’re making.
Awesome passionate post Charlie!
I couldn’t help but to link back to it, it was very thought provoking and kept reminding me of what I have been preaching to my readers since.
There is a new breed of entrepreneurs, a very rare breed indeed. Survival is no longer the name of the game they are playing, significance is. They are asking from life what they truly deserve and not what they have been handed. And this is what will make this age, and probably the next one of the most liberating times in human history. When passion will be let loose and destinies will be fulfilled.
I am happy to be a part of this renaissance as you rightly put it, and I know the world will never remain the same again as a result of what we are all collectively doing.
Baaaaaang! Its superb…………….!
It is my best attractive bookmark now.