Be sure to also read:

Part One: Thinking to Win

Part Two: The Visual Components of Your Brand

In business today, this same 80/20 disparity exists. Consider these 2005 statistics: 672,000 small businesses were started, and 545,000 of those same businesses—80 percent—failed. Why? What is the difference between businesses that make it and those that don’t? What the facts point to is an extraordinary lack of knowledge about the changing state of the world around us. Here’s one example of our changing world.

Have you ever noticed that 90 percent of the products you purchase are manufactured (household items, clothing, electronics, cars—you name it!)? Did you notice that you can get on the Internet and purchase almost anything you can think of, from anyplace in the world, at any time, and have it delivered anywhere you want? Have you noticed when you call companies for service you are helped by people in another country?

Did you know services you depend on like credit card companies, insurance companies, accounting firms, law firms, and airlines use people in other countries to handle time-consuming activities such as research, analysis, and customer service? Did you know in 2007, pay for outsourced labor ranged from $ 1.35 to $5.85 per month (and they are generally very appreciative of the work).

Did you know big American companies like General Motors and Ford (there are others), who conduct business around the world lost hundreds of billions of dollars last year? They also permanently cut and are continuing to cut tens of thousands of jobs. Do you know why they lost all that money? Despite all their power, money, and political influence, they made a very simple mistake in planning by ignoring how their business, customers, and competitors were changing in America and around the world.

Can you see what these three have in common? Poor public awareness of September 11th, the 80 percent failure rate of small businesses, and billion-dollar losses by global companies: they were all lacking the secret knowledge. This secret knowledge is the reality that America is now significantly impacted by economic events in other countries and the smart businessperson can no longer ignore these events.

“In the Information Age, knowledge is king, innovation is queen, and speed of execution is the ace of spades!”

All it will take to become globally savvy is 10 minutes a day, five days a week. You must stick to this program for a month. Okay, time for you to learn the secret that has tripped up the best and brightest minds in business. Remember, “China-proofing” is insignificant, what we are really addressing in this article is how to “ignorance-proof” our thinking and our financial future.

Every problem we see in business has a root cause of failing to accept and react to reality. Business is all about profits, and global opportunity awaits for those who pay attention. Do exactly as we say for 10 minutes a day, and the results will blow you away (Isn’t that a Johnny Cash song?).

Let’s roll! Get the paper in your hands. Skim. Don’t try to soak up a lot of details now; it will all flow right into your brain later if you learn this technique first. It is going to take you 20 days to develop the rhythm. The main idea is to hit the high points and skim the paper in 10-12 minutes maximum. Your purpose during this period is to pay attention to significant economic current events and anything relevant to your industry or life.

Begin with the first section and read “What’s News” in the center of the page for current events, then move on and skim the headlines on the entire front page. Next, turn to page two; this is where you will find pressing economic issues. Just skim the headlines; if you want to read one or two lines for the main idea, that’s fine. Next, flip to the last page in section A, the Editorial/Opinion section. Again, skim the headlines and read the first and last paragraph of each editorial story.

Put section A down and pick up the B (Market Place) section. Skim all the headlines on the B section. While you read, continue to ask yourself if the content is related to your industry. If not, move on; if yes, read the beginning, middle, and ending paragraphs. If an article is very important, clip it and save it where you can find it in a file market “Business News.” Put down the B section and pick up section C (”Money & Investing”). Follow the same rules from reading A and B. Scan and skim the page for significant headlines. For anything that sounds like it is explaining keyissues of money works: skim the articles, beginning, middle, end.

Anything you really like, save it to read on the weekend, then toss out the rest in your recycling bin. If you miss reading a paper, you will feel compelled to save it for later. Don’t do this! Throw them out today; by now it’s old news.