In the early ‘60s, British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke proposed three “laws” related to science and technology.

The third law is the one most frequently quoted:

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

This idea fuels the passion we all have to seek out technology solutions to our problems.

And the hope of a magical solution keeps our attention focused on the horizon.

But what happens when everyone quickly gains access to the same technology?

Seth Godin recently pointed out that Clarke’s Law–Part 2 emerges:

All sufficiently advanced technology is now widespread.

Batman used to have gadgets that gave him an advantage over his adversaries.

And Henry Ford had machines that allowed him to produce items far cheaper than the competition.

Now, almost all technology magic is widely available and cheap.

Technology has been the engine of cultural and economic change, and it’s no longer concentrated in the hands of a few.

A fast car isn’t rare, good drivers are.

The real estate industry is not full of low producers because they lack magical solutions.

They lack great leaders who can show them how to turn the magical solutions into profitable businesses.