We are exiting the office-as-a-factory era, and have entered the office-as-a-network era.

When modern offices were built, manufacturing and factories were in vogue: symbols of efficiency & apices of human progress.

So, modern offices were built to resemble factories: a central location where everyone met, every day, with a strictly hierarchical management structure, and, most importantly, a rigid division of labor.

But advanced factories aren't run like that anymore. Now, they're highly technological, more flexible, and part of a complex network (web) of supply & demand chains.

I sense that modern offices are undergoing a similar shift, hastened by the pandemic.

To be a great worker, you no longer need to be just good at what you specialize in: You need to be comfortable with technology, flexible in your role, and understand the big picture of what you (and your company) is trying to do.

This shift has occurred even in soccer. When I was growing up, the best teams had a dedicated wing back (Roberto Carlos!), a dedicated playmaker (Roberto Baggio!), and a dedicated goalscorer (Patrick Kluivert!).

But now, in the best teams, everyone plays offense with the ball, and everyone plays defense without the ball. This season, Chelsea's defenders have scored more goals than their strikers, and Chelsea sits at the top of the English Premier League table.

We are exiting the office-as-a-factory era, and have entered the office-as-a-network era.

Let's ride!