For centuries, expertise was a local endeavor. Experts did not need to be the best in the world, because they did not compete beyond the confines of their narrow markets. An individual did not have to be the absolute best if no one better could be found. But the advent of global transportation and instant communication has caused disruption in the market for experts.

When global competition first appeared, it came in the form of massive factories and cheap labor. Now, competition is reaching every facet of individual performance. Every expert in the world can be known by a global audience.

The customers of expertise no longer look for help within their shire or hamlet as they once did. They can fi nd global experts with no more eff ort than typing in a search engine. There are no stringent barriers to entry, no lasting import or export constraints, and few enforceable intellectual property protections. The truth is, all experts now compete globally, and all are vulnerable to challenges from every corner of the globe. The days of the local advantage are gone forever.