Ever wonder why your skills are constantly out of date? Why your company is always falling behind competitors? Why so many jobs and projects are being outsourced? The Robot Curve is a simple model of innovation that shows how new processes, businesses, and technologies continuously destroy old ones as they create new opportunities for wealth. Where are you on the curve?

1. STEAL THIS IDEA
BY MARTY NEUMEIER
The Robot Curve

2. Ever wonder why your skills are constantly out of date? Why your company is
always falling behind competitors? Why so many jobs and projects are being
outsourced? The Robot Curve is a simple model of innovation that shows how
new processes, businesses, and technologies continuously destroy old ones
as they create new opportunities for wealth. Where are you on the curve?
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER

3. The Robot Curve is a constant waterfall of obsolescence and opportunity. At
the top of the curve is creative work. Creative work is original or even unique,
so the value and cost are relatively high.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER

4. LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVE
WORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUS

5. One step down is skilled work, including the work of professionals. Skilled
work is creative work that has become so well understood that it can be
codified and taught. The value and cost are somewhat lower, but still
profitable for the providers.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER

6. LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVE
WORK
SKILLED
WORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUS
STANDARDIZED
TALENT-DRIVEN
PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTED

7. As skilled work becomes standardized, or as technology can transform it, skilled
work becomes rote work. Rote work is a program, process, or operation that can
be outsourced or handed over to unskilled workers with a minimum of training.
The cost and value are low quite low.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER

8. LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVE
WORK
SKILLED
WORK
ROTE
WORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUS
STANDARDIZED
TALENT-DRIVEN
PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTED
INTERCHANGEABLE
ROUTINIZED
OUTSOURCEABLE
MANAGED

9. Finally, skilled work turns into robotic work, allocated to machines, software, or
actual robots. The cost and value plummet to the bottom, creating wealth for
those who design and manage it. Eventually the work is made obsolete by newer
processes, businesses, or technologies.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER

10. LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVE
WORK
SKILLED
WORK
ROTE
WORK
ROBOTIC
WORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUS
STANDARDIZED
TALENT-DRIVEN
PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTED
INTERCHANGEABLE
ROUTINIZED
OUTSOURCEABLE
MANAGED
ALGORITHMIC
COMPUTERIZED
EFFICIENT
PURCHASED

11. How do you optimize for the Robot Curve? Two ways: 1) By keeping your skills
or products moving toward the top of the curve, or 2) by designing or managing
skills or products at the bottom of the curve.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER

12. Find more Marty Neumeier ideas to steal at
liquidagency.com/blog
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER