will never use; preparing for a world that no longer exists。
〃Today; the most dangerous advice you can give a child is ‘Go to school; get good grades and look for a safe secure job;' 〃 he likes to say。 〃That is old advice; and it's bad advice。 If you could see what is happening in Asia; Europe; South America; you would be as concerned as I am。〃
It's bad advice; he believes; 〃because if you want your child to have a financially secure future; they can't play by the old set of rules。 It's just too risky。〃
I asked him what he meant by 〃old rules?〃 。
〃People like me play by a different set of rules from what you play by;〃 he said。 〃What happens when a corporation announces a downsizing?〃
〃People get laid off;〃 I said。 〃Families are hurt。 Unemployment goes
up。〃
〃Yes; but what happens to the pany; in particular a public pany on the stock exchange?〃
〃The price of the stock usually goes up when the downsizing is announced;〃 I said。 〃The market likes it when a pany reduces its labor costs; either through automation or just consolidating the labor force in general。〃
〃That's right;〃 he said。 〃And when stock prices go up; people like me; the shareholders; get richer。 That is what I mean by a different set of rules。 Employees lose; owners and investors win。〃
Robert was describing not only the difference between an employee and employer; but also the difference between controlling your own destiny and giving up that cont