Effects of Digital Trends on Personal Training in Boston

I live south of Boston, in Canton and my business serves Norfolk county. For the convenience of data availability, I will assume that the data collected specifically on Boston does not directly apply causally, but is in close enough proximity to have a diffusion impact on the relevant topics of costs, talent, and tech. Boston is a world leader in education and innovation and is why Massachusetts sits where it does on the charts. The vast majority of high contributor data points live in or close to Boston. This is due to the long standing foundation of a focus on education and specifically prestigious higher education drawing people from around the world who excel or focus on tech and innovation. Companies like Boston Dynamics are fed by prestigious schools which draw talent from all over the globe. This funnel system creates a highly competitive market for these industries as well as others. Their existence even brings up talent in seemingly less impressive or less known schools as there is such a high concentration.

Digitalization and the American Workforce

I found it very interesting to compare the growth rate to the potential for automation. Comparing these makes it challenging to find a clear choice of market. Many of the fields with high growth rates also seem to possess a high potential for automation like for example “legal”. It does still help narrow the decision though, potentially completely ignoring those with both low growth rates as well as high potential for automation. For my own context living in Massachusetts, these skills seemed to be what drove the mean wage and therefore drove up the cost of living and the cost of living in Boston clearly shows some of the disparities mentioned in the article with it being 46% higher than the national average. That is why it is paramount that I continue my education in tech as well as network with those who have a strong tech skill set. 

I have no desire to code and as the article "A foot in the door: Microsoft’s Imagine Academy brings productivity software certification within reach for North Carolina high school students” displays, this push to do so leaves other opportunities “excessive focus on high-level digital skills like coding may be obscuring another gap in workforce preparation: the lack of broad exposure among students to the humbler realm of everyday software such as spreadsheets and enterprise management platforms” As I complete my degree, my curriculum has allowed me the opportunity to learn how to manage and navigate a business as well as people. If I can do the basics in tech well and run a business that is enticing to new talent I can do what a good leader does and focus on effective systems that address emerging trends and balance the priorities of all parties involved to keep motivations high and therefore productivity. Having a deeper knowledge of other areas and a love of learning, I hope to draw like minded people and create an environment that is positive and innovative. Finally my knowledge in the law certainly does not make me a lawyer, but it does give me another layer to risk management that most business owners lack and that will support new talent in having a sense of security in joining this currently small venture. I don't need to be great at “tech”, I need to be great at what I do to draw those who will support where I lack.