Dr. Tony Vercillo

Link: http://www.ifmc-consultants.com/shop

The world has changed considerably since that fateful event ten years ago yesterday. Security is higher now than it used to be and our country has come to terms with the fact that we aren’t always immune to the violence that happens throughout the world. We weren’t immune at Pearl Harbor seventy years ago and we weren’t immune in NY, PA, and DC ten years ago.

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But the changes since then weren’t just personal, but professional, as well. Things have changed tremendously in world of business since 9/11. For example, many companies the world over have put together formal initiatives to mitigate their security risks between the company and their customers. Employees are being screened much more intensely and security checks are becoming the norm, even in companies that didn’t formally engage in such practices.

It’s interesting to note that social media has become a large factor in screening for clients at the same time that social media has become so hyped up. As most people are more open on their social media pages than they should be, companies have gotten smart and used that to get a clearer idea of what a potential employee is really like. That’s right kids, anything you say can and will be used against you, not just in a court of law.

As everyone knows, security in regards to travel has become tighter, but how companies treat travel has also changed. More companies are demanding that only 1 or 2 executives travel at a time on the same mode of transport. This past week there was a plane crash just outside of Yaroslavl Russia that killed every single member Lokomotiv, a Russian hockey team. This is the sort of tragedy that companies these days are trying to avoid when it comes to their executives. While you will never see the entire White House staff or the entire British Royal Family travel together, you most likely will never hear of more than a few high-level executives traveling together, either.

Along with security being tighter at airports, security at company offices has changed, as well. TSA-type machines and metal-detectors are now showing up at firms that may carry sensitive products or data. Basically you’re looked at everywhere you go. Don’t be surprised if you see these machines showing up at places like banks one day. Security is tight, but people are looking at making security tighter.

We all know the phrase “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” and “freedom isn’t free.” Well that now holds true for trade. Free-trade isn’t free. Not anymore.