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PERFORMANCEGLOBALWake Up!It’s a new world.by Kevin and Jackie FreibergIN MOST CASES, CHANGE IS PRECEDED BYcrisis. Someone religiously bucklesup after being in a serious automobileaccident. A friend goes on a rigorousexercise program and low-cholesteroldiet after experiencing a minor heartattack. A workaholic father decides tocheck-in, re-engage and “be there” forhis children after his teenage daughterenrolls herself in drug rehab.Here are eight insights gleanedfrom our global travels:1. See opportunity in the crisis. Youare likely on the verge of facing either acrisis or an opportunity, depending onhow you choose to look at it. India,China, and others are getting betterand stronger every day. Don’t assumethat professionals in these countries arecontent to settle for low-paying, laborintensivejobs. How long will a softwareengineer in India or China—whoreads about the success of his or hercounterparts at Microsoft, Yahoo,Google, Intel, and Silicon Graphics—becontent to work for a third of thewages? How long will the best andbrightest entrepreneurs of these countriessuppress their standard of livingand materialistic desires with so muchopportunity right in front of them?2. Face reality. Are the radical innovationsthat give birth to new industriesunique to entrepreneurs in theU.S.? Do we really think that the peopleof India, China, and other countrieswill patiently wait for us to createnew, cutting-edge technologies andsophisticated new industries so theycan take the routine work we refer tothem? Perhaps we need to think again.3. Fuel the entrepreneurial spirit. Onhis last two trips to India, Kevin conductedleadership programs inHyderabad, Bangalore, and Mumbai.He was struck by the first-rate intellectof the people, the thoughtfulnessof the questions from the media, andthe passion with which business leadersare engaged in building a newIndia. Young people take little forgranted. They want to learn, and theyare committed to doing something significantwith their education. As soonas they graduate and start makingmoney, they are dedicated to helpingtheir younger siblings get an education.The country is abuzz with newfoundhope and optimism. Peoplehungry for new ideas are experimentingfeverishly. Their penchant foraction is challenging India’s fatalisticculture and creating a fresh and invigoratingmomentum. When asked,“What big initiatives are you focusedon right now?” Many Indian CEOs arebuilding stronger ties withcompanies in China, Australia,Egypt and Brazil.The argument has beenthat while we outsourcemore of the low-value-addjobs to developing countries,those jobs will bereplaced by more sophisticated,higher-paying jobshere in the U.S. Maybe, butconsider the fact that Ernst & Young,J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Microsoftand Intel are building or plan to buildfacilities in Hyderabad, Bangalore,Mumbai and other locations in India.These facilities will house people producingmore sophisticated, technicallyadvancedproducts—not just therepetitive “call center” work.4. Be aware of the intellectual migrationunderway. Enticed by a whirlwindof entrepreneurial activity, culturalrestoration and the excitement of puttingtheir homelands in contention forglobal economic leadership status,expatriate managers are bringing theirknowledge, skills, experience, and networksback home. Trained in the bestAmerican and European firms and universities,these sophisticated managersare equipped to lead the knowledgeworkers of the 21 st century into morecomplex and value-added work.The phrase “Made in China” nowhas a different ring to it. The result? Anational renaissance that is sendingshockwaves around the globe. Thosewho will be most affected are thosewho choose to reside in denial aboutthe radical changes occurring in otherparts of the world. People are in for asurprise who believe that India is simplythe call center capital of the worldand China is an isolated, inward-look-ing nation that can’t get out fromunder communist oppression.Even if only a small percentage ofthe three billion people in China andIndia cross the entrepreneurial thresholdthat we are describing, it will havea dramatic affect on everyone competingin the global marketplace? Are youand your company prepared for this?5. Take nothing for granted—successis never final. While we’ve had our upsand downs as economic cycles come andgo, the U.S. is still the only superpowerin the world. Yet, as a nation we are nevermore vulnerable to arrogance, complacency,indifference, and inflexibilitythan when we are riding the wave ofsuccess. No nation has the corner oncreativity, innovation, and ingenuity.Success is never final. Our greatnesstoday could disappear tomorrow. Hardto fathom? Read some history—thereare no guarantees.6. Stay hungry. Manypeople argue that in thenext 20 years there will bethree superpowers: India,China and the U.S.—if weget our act together. Webelieve the U.S. can maintainits place of leadershipon the global stage, butonly if we can reinvigorate our entrepreneurialspirit by developing the gutsto risk more and fail faster, strengtheningour work ethic, ridding ourselves ofthe entitlement mentality, and actingwith a sense of urgency. We can’t affordto roll over and hit the snooze button.7. Inspire people to fire on all cylinders.Eric Hoffer said, “In times of drasticchange, the learners will inherit the future.”If we become arrogant or fail to ask thetough questions that force us to face thebrutal facts, we won’t govern our economicfuture. To have a fighting chance,we need to engage every employee,with every idea in their heads, andevery bit of energy in their bodies.8. Be a global player. What are youlearning today that prepares you andyour organization to face these challengesand capitalize on these opportunitiestomorrow? Are you currentlyengaged in a dialogue about what itmeans to be a player on a global scale,or are you content to be a spectator? Areyou interested in establishing the rulesby which the game is played, or are yousatisfied to play by the rules created byyour competitors—who just might beon the other side of the world? LEKevin and Jackie Freiberg are speakers, thought leaders andauthors of NUTS! and GUTS! and BOOM! Visitwww.freibergs.com or www.bigspeak.com.ACTION: Wake up to the global world.8 May 2008 Leadership Excellence