There's no more resting on your laurels. No more following the same manufacturing procedure year after year. No more downtime. It's pretty exhausting just reading about all this change. He provides an intriguing look at how seemingly eternal business verities are being turned on their heads by advances in computer technology.
Straight lines are out, decentralization is in.
It's a trend already in evidence that's led to a fierce debate about the appropriate business model for successful commerce on the Internet. At some point, you've got to charge for something to stay in business, but you have to be flexible and selective. More and more services will head toward commoditization and near-free pricing. The saving grace, as Mr. Kelly sees it, is demand for new ideas and services limited only by human imagination. It still seems like a tough way to make a living.