In today's world of mass communication we often overlook ways to make our lives easier because of the way things are done. The whole world changed with the invention of the telegraph, radio, telephone, television, computer, and today crypto! But alas! We still mostly shop at local stores, even though 90% of the time its cheaper online.
One thing I stumbled on is the power that timezones can have in affecting our business in the modern world. Everything business related is done online today. Therefore, it doesn't make a difference if your business associate is across the office from you or across the country. I live in Virginia, on the border of North Carolina.
I was unfortunate enough to have to work in San Diego, California for a little over 6 months (haha). While out there I befriended a loan officer at a bank that doesn't even operate in Virginia or North Carolina. Yet, he got me financed on property located in Virginia.
Like most people, I work Monday through Friday, 7am to 3:30pm. However, due to the nature of my job, I realistically can't make it to the bank, accountant, advisor, or anyone else on my investment team before 5:00pm (when they go home).
Since I can't conduct my personal business at work, local businesses simply don't work out for me. Now, having a few contacts in California, allows me much more freedom and mobility. California is 3 hours behind Virginia, so I can continue to conduct business until 8:00pm (5:00 CA time.) Even 3,000 miles apart, I still get the same results as I do from the bank down the street. Along with talking to nicer folks on the phone (the west coast is much more polite than the east coast)
This realization has sparked a strong line of thought in me of what else can be achieved by utilizing the effect of operating in multiple timezones. I'm someone that wakes up early and goes to work until I go to sleep, and have always felt 'limited' by what time businesses close.
I can't begin to mention how many times I've raced to the auto parts store, home improvement store, or even bank only to be met with a closed sign and an employee grinning because their manager let them lock the door 5 minutes early.
You can even see a correlation between crypto fluctuations and the daylight hours of the Asian and Western markets. I wonder how else one could take advantage of time zones and their affect on local affairs? It's definately something that merits more thought. It also highlights the advantages of networking over long distances.
All thoughts and opinions in this post are my own. The pictures are not. I neither produced nor claim credit for any images used.