Professional Knowledge It

Broaden Your Perspective

Look wide, beyond the scope of your daily life. You are part of an international community and a global economy. In today’s economically interconnected world, people all over are dependent on each other for products and services that are the necessities of life. For example, what happens to the Japanese economy may affect the prices of automobiles and electronic equipment sold in your neighborhood. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) makes Mexico our special trading partner and affects the price of produce sold at your local market.

Globalization may change the course of your career. If you take a job with a multinational corporation, you may find yourself working in Europe or Asia or the Middle East. Even if you never leave the United States, you will probably be doing business with people all over the world. You are an important link in the worldwide chain of human connection, communication, and interdependence that is creating a better world.

The previous century was marked by intense change. The industrial revolution transformed the face of farming, and inventions such as the telephone and television fostered greater communication. Labor unions organized, the civil rights movement struggled against inequality, and women fought for the right to vote.

Now, in the early years of this century, major shifts are continuing at an even faster pace. Computer and Internet technologies are transforming every industry and changing the skill set workers need to be of value in a global marketplace. The Internet and cable news networks spread information rapidly to the global community. Many people continue to strive for equal rights, on the one hand, as medical science makes strides to eradicate disease and improve the quality of life, on the other. You are part of a world that is responsible for making the most of these developments. When you choose to achieve your potential, you also choose to make the world a better place....