How has reading this book changed your perception of "globalization"?

Okay, here's my response:

After Reading "The World Is Flat," My View of "Globalization" Has Become Three-Dimensional

Before reading this book, whenever I heard "globalization," the images that came to mind were roughly:

McDonald's and Starbucks everywhere.
The clothes and shoes we wear with labels saying "Made in Vietnam" or "Made in China."
Large multinational corporations like Apple, Volkswagen, setting up factories and selling products worldwide.

"Globalization" felt like a vast, distant concept, primarily concerning nation-states and mega-corporations. Its connection to us ordinary people seemed limited to getting cheaper goods or worrying about our jobs being taken by foreign workers.

But after reading "The World Is Flat," my perspective was completely refreshed. It was like putting on a pair of high-definition glasses, allowing me to see the complete picture of "globalization." Specifically, there were several major shifts:

1. The Players Changed: From "National Teams" and "Giants" to "You, Me, and Everyone Else"

I used to think the only players at the globalization table were "national teams" like the US or China, or corporate "giants" like GM or Toyota.

This book showed me it's different now. Thanks to the internet, fiber optics, and various collaboration software, the world's "playing field" has been leveled. An engineer in India, a designer in Ukraine, and a project manager in the US can be on different continents yet collaborate on a project as if they were in the same office.

A simple analogy: Before, participating in global competition meant getting aboard a big ship – joining a large company like Alibaba or Huawei and going international with it. Now, all you need is a computer with internet access and a solid skill set, and you can be a "speedboat" yourself, sailing directly into the global marketplace to take on projects, create, and compete.

For the first time, globalization's main actors genuinely include every capable individual like us.

2. The Mode Changed: From "Moving Goods" to "Transmitting Ideas"

My previous understanding of globalization centered on logistics: moving goods from Country A to Country B in massive container ships. This process was slow and cumbersome.

The book made me realize the new wave of globalization revolves around the "flow of information" and the "flow of intellect." It relies not on ships, but on fiber optics.

Job Outsourcing: A US company can outsource its call centers, accounting, even software coding to teams in India or the Philippines. People there can access data here in real-time with high efficiency.
Supply Chain Synchronization: When you order a computer online today, that instruction instantly reaches the factory, and the factory's parts suppliers (potentially spread globally) are immediately notified to start preparing the components. The entire chain operates seamlessly at high speed.

This shift means globalization moves at the speed of light. Its content is no longer just tangible goods; it increasingly involves intangible services, ideas, and knowledge.

3. The Response Changed: From "Resistance" to "Equipping Ourselves"

Prior to reading, my attitude towards globalization was somewhat conflicted, even resistant. While enjoying the conveniences it brought, I also worried about its impacts: "the rat race" or "jobs moving overseas."

After finishing the book, I felt enlightened. It doesn't shy away from globalization's challenges but instead points a way forward. It showed me that since the world is flat, placing everyone on the same starting line, competing solely on "low cost" or "repetitive labor" will become increasingly difficult.

So what should we rely on? Those things machines and AI cannot easily replace:

Creativity: Can you come up with ideas others haven't thought of?
Communication and Collaboration Skills: Can you work effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds?
Quick Learning and Adaptability: Can you constantly update your knowledge base to adapt to new rules of the game?

As a result, my thinking shifted from "Sigh, what to do? The competition is so fierce" to "Okay, what new skills should I pick up to make myself more 'irreplaceable'." Instead of lamenting the changed rules, it’s better to study the new rules quickly and upgrade my toolkit.

To Summarize:

If the "globalization" I previously envisioned was a somewhat blurry oil painting of international trade, then "The World Is Flat" has helped transform that painting into a multi-angle, ultra-high-definition documentary.

It made me understand that globalization is no longer distant international news; it is the very "operating system" we live within daily. It brings unprecedented intense competition but also offers every ordinary person a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step onto the world stage. The key lies in whether we choose to be overwhelmed by this wave or learn how to ride its crest.