The World is Flat

Ken TruesdaleBuilding Unique Ideas, Community

Image of flat globe

Today I’m reminded of the great read “The World is Flat”, by Thomas L. Friedman.

In 1995 I decided to build a business that was very dependent on the Internet, both the product and customer acquisition. I spent a few months building the original set of features, and eventually launched a website. A few days later, I had my first customer and much to my surprise they lived in the Cayman Islands. I was hooked. I was just amazed that I could put together some components and somebody thousands of miles away would pay me. I’ve been working on Internet connected solutions ever since.

And now, with Unique Ideas, it continues. I began providing coaching and development solutions for builders using the Bubble™platform late last year. I had invested a couple thousand hours of my own in learning to build web applications using this great tool, and decided to add it into my professional offering. Along with the folks I serve from the U.S., I’ve had the great experience of connecting with people in France, UK, Belgium and Thailand. It is so cool to converse with people having such different backgrounds, and views of the world.

As an INTJ, this is my type of connecting…one on one conversations identifying and solving problems. A couple people working together, combining our life experiences into something of value for the world. And technology now allows this to be done seamlessly. It no longer matters where you sit, it is only important to have the ability to communicate.

And then there are forums — places where people can gather focused on a shared idea unencumbered by ones physical location. People can share, learn and engage with others under the auspice of a central topic, product, or really whatever.

Oh, and to top it all off, we have a great kid from Denmark staying with us this week!