I suggest that we focus on our own individual competitive advantage. Less than 1% of people who attempt to make a living solely online actually succeed. And, with the dramatic increase in the number of people competing, 99.9% of online entrepreneurs would be better of spending their 2000 hours per year in a more financially rewarding activity. Even burger flipping pays substantially more, on an hourly basis, for 99.9% of online entrepreneurs.

Online writers, graphic designers, affiliate marketers, etc. are growing in tremendous numbers from countries where a monthly wage of $500 will keep a family of four in relative luxury. We can’t compete in the virtual world on this basis.

Our competitive advantage is location, location, location.
We need to focus on products/sales that can only be provided within a 50 mile radius of Springfield. Products that people need to feel and touch, before buying, are ideal. Services where one face-to-face customer meeting per month is essential cannot be provided by someone who is 12,000 miles away!

I predict, for 2010 to 2012, a growing domestic market for locally produced clothing, food, furniture and a tremendous expansion in the service industry for solar panel, wood burner, heat pump and wind turbine installations done by local skilled craftsmen.