Current Work Life Transformation of Ireland

Small business will play a key role in this local and global transformation. The current so-called recession is not a recession, it is a slowing down to allow for a transformation to happen.

In the 1960’s and 1970’s there was an era of social transformation, as diverse new groups of members of society - women, minorities, youth, immigrants and the disabled – challenged government, business and other traditional institutions. The period in time brought social disruption which was then followed by a period of technological disruption in the 1980’s and 1990’s. During this time, personal computers entered the market place and the internet laid the foundation for the growth of entrepreneurial activity.

With growing digital infrastructure it reduced the costs of starting and running a business and opened new markets and industries to small business.
Locally and globally the corporate world is experiencing the completion stage of what was started in the 1960’s.

Immigrant entrepreneurs frequently have contacts in their native countries as well as Ireland. This provides them with the opportunity to create businesses that link markets. The internet and other connective technologies enable these businesses to be both global and local, and to source materials and goods in one market to sell in another.

In his book, The World is Flat, Thomas Fredman claims, “We’ve entered the third phase in globalization”, which he calls “Globalisation 3.0”
He describes Globalisation 3.0 as “the newfound power of individuals to collaborate and compete globally. With cross-border skills and contacts, immigrants with small businesses are leveraging the internet and connective technologies to exploit global trade opportunities. This is creating a new wave of small business globalization, and creating broader and deeper economic links across the globe.”

Since the 1990’s, the foreign born share of the Irish population has grown substantially, resulting in a strong increase in immigrant –formed businesses.

CSO statistics show that already, foreign owned enterprises, representing just 11% of the total number of enterprises in Ireland, contribute to nearly half - 43% - of the total turnover for Ireland of all enterprises.

How this segment of Irish society performs over the next decade will depend on Irish Immigration policy. However, regardless of the changes in immigration policy, small business formation by immigrants will continue to grow. Connective technologies will continue to grow in strength and links between Ireland and other economies, cross – border trade will increase and growing numbers of immigrant entrepreneurs will continue to drive this new wave of globalization.
While scientific and technological innovation is critical to the economy, it is entrepreneurship that turns innovation into economic growth and jobs.

Women start businesses for many of the same reasons men do – career independence, personal fulfillment, professional challenge, and work-life balance. Women coming from the corporate world see entrepreneurship as a way of steering around the traditional “glass ceiling” they may have faced in previous jobs. With the scheduling flexibility the personal and small businesses offer, women can meet both family and work demands in a more balanced way.

What’s holding women back? Exclusion from informal networks, misconceptions about women’s roles and abilities, and commitment to personal or family responsibilities is key impediments to top earner positions. While women are making progress, catalyst research forecasts another 40 years before women have equal access to key positions in large corporations. So women are choosing the entrepreneurship model to progress forward with their lives.

Entrepreneurship offers an alternative to women with corporate experience. It is reported that mid-career women are the group most likely to succeed in starting and running a business. Women have sharp business acumen and solid managerial experience, but they feel stunted in their corporate career paths. Women are keen to create and leverage mentor – peer networks they develop themselves. Women look for a way to invest in professional growth without letting go of their family ties. Women are professional ambition and the desire for work – life flexibility are the key drivers for Women entrepreneurs.

What is required for sustainability through these interesting times of transformation is flexibility with new business design process and strategy, lots of innovation and plenty of new health and techonolgy, both in the work and home life environments.

This is where private training companies will recognize the need and demand for mid –career entrepreneurial training models. Using presentations, practical workshops, small –group sessions, and online training, a variety of small business training models and formulas prepares middle –aged people to form small businesses. These mid –stream career training models and formulas focus on the skills it takes to be a small business person. They will enhance the transition to entrepreneurial roles. They will help provide these budding entrepreneurs with the skills they need to succeed in small businesses.

We should seek to develop and encourage entrepreneurial thinking to calculate risk-taking, problem–solving and new ways of leading others to success. Business planning, niche marketing, strategic decision-making, risk management for a small business, presentation and networking skills, relevant technology applications and method for accessing capital are the key focuses for entrepreneurship.

The Digital Natives – Will emerge as the most entrepreneurial generation ever.
They are the first Generation that have grown up with digital technologies rather than having to adapt to them. The Digital natives cherish autonomy and lean towards libertarian ideals. Above all they want to be treated fairly and with respect. They have a unique fresh approach to society, information and workplace. These youth have tremendous self-confidence, but their confidence in the adult world is weak. They are distrustful of governments.

Ireland must become more flexible to this change and must not continue business as usual, they must now start to accept business as unusually as possible.

I am an award winning entrepreneur, mentor and coach. I am an incredible mother, sister, friend and personal partner. I am a true entrepreneur and pioneer in my creative thinking formulas and models. I live it, walk it, talk it.
I inspire others to rise above their fears and limiting beliefs to achieve a fulfilling life.
As a coach, I have the current life experience of achieving my goals with ease and effortless with incredible work life balance!

Copyright Bernice Maria Paolozzi 2009
info@bernicepaolozzi.eu