The costs of being an employee are numerous, and all the evidence shows that they will have a greater impact on the American economy in the future, and in a negative way. In the past, the United States was a manufacturing powerhouse, and those who worked in the manufacturing sector had high salaries with great benefits. Statistics and studies continue to show that a country that has a strong manufacturing base tends to be very profitable as a result, and its GDP (Gross Domestic Product), will be a reflection of this. The poorest countries in the world are always those that have no manufacturing base at all. Without a manufacturing base, a country has nothing valuable to sell, and without being able to trade with other nations, it will remain in poverty. The reason why this is important to those reading this is because America's manufacturing base has and is being decimated. The United States today is not the manufacturing power house that it was during the 1950s. There are many reasons for this. One reason is because the U.S. has become a litigious society with heavy regulations. In other words, it is hard to start a business here, it is easy to get sued, and it is tough to remain profitable once the business is operating.
In the past, when America was still a very young nation, starting a business was easy. The government, both federal and state government, was very hands off. There weren’t many regulations, and law suits were rare. It isn't a surprise that America was the most prosperous during this time, because it was an environment that encouraged entrepreneurship, an environment where both large and small businesses could operate with ease. There were thousands of banks, much more so than today, and the government didn't regulate them. If a bank was involved in fraud or made mistakes, it would either collapse on its own or the local governments would handle it. The federal government rarely dealt with such issues.
Today, the United States is probably one of the most heavily regulated countries in the world when it comes to starting a business. This is especially true in the manufacturing industry, and because of high taxes, heavy regulation, unions, and frivolous law suits, manufacturing companies find it hard to remain profitable, especially when faced with intense global competition. Because of this, many manufacturing companies have ceased operating in the United States, with some choosing to operate in countries where laws, regulations, and taxes are lower. For each company that moves off-shore, the United States loses its profitability, and its citizens suffer as a result. Instead of adding to the GDP of the U.S., the manufacturing companies that move off-shore add to the GDP of the nations in which they are based.
Why is all this important to those of you reading this? Because if you follow the same old advice, the advice of getting good grades, going to school, and getting a secure job, you may attempt to get some work in the manufacturing sector. However, you will have difficulty in achieving this, and your future won't be secure. Because of the reduction in manufacturing that has occurred in the United States, our economy has become more “service based.” Some economic pundits try to paint a rosy picture, saying that there is nothing really wrong with a service based economy, and that it is simply a sign that America is evolving.
Well, I agree with these pundits that America is indeed evolving, but my question is evolving into what? Service sector jobs tend to require much less skill than manufacturing jobs, and they are also less profitable. If you don't believe me, I have a question for you: who makes more money, a guy flipping burgers at a fast food joint, or a person working at a factory which manufactures ceramics or other industrial strength materials? The answer should be obvious, as one requires much more skill than the other. Many Americans today are working at service sector jobs, not manufacturing jobs.
Service sector jobs are terrible for an economy because these services are only valuable “within that country.” A fast food restaurant will rarely, if ever, ship its products overseas. It may establish chains in other countries, but it won't export food. Just the same, a barber who cuts hair can't offer his services to other countries, because those services can only be carried out locally. Many Americans today are working at service sector jobs such as retail or in restaurants, and these jobs require no skills and will under no circumstances allow you, or a country for that matter, to become prosperous.
Many Americans wonder why America is not as prosperous as it used to be. While there are many reasons, one key factor which is leading to America's decline is its inability to maintain and strengthen a strong manufacturing base. As you read this sentence, it should be becoming more obvious to you that doing things the same old way will not bring about good results. The things that most of us were taught as kids, to stay in school, get good grades, go to college and get a good job, are rapidly becoming obsolete in the face of technological and global change. Those who can change to meet these challenges will prosper, while those who don't will be left behind.
As I write these words, America is in an increasing recession, and many people are looking for answers. While there are some who will use this economic down turn to their advantage, the majority of people will become victims of it. If you want to become successful, you can't afford to do what everyone else does, because most people are sleepwalking towards the edge of a ravine. It is the elite few that choose to take the road less traveled, or the road never traveled at all, who end up reaching the heights of success.
This book is designed to prepare you for the future, for the inevitable. It is designed to prepare you for the one thing that won't change, and this is change itself. We all need to make a living, but The Ultimate Internet Freelancer is designed for those who want more than this. It is designed for those who are looking to become successful, fulfilled and wealthy from the work they do. The good news is that with this book, you can travel anywhere, anytime, and use its principles in order to build wealth, but most importantly, you will have freedom. It is important for you to decide whether you want freedom or security.