Frustrated and surprised by the inaccurate reporting of the H-1B visa issue during the spring of 2017, Hilarie began talking about the need for a national dialogue about the true state of technology outsourcing and the tech industry.
Encouraged by her husband, and then prompted by her brother to the ability to publish anonymously, Hilarie began the book in May of 2017. The original outline of the book drafted was the book that was completed in the end, with the only exception of the removal of a section describing tech jobs and the addition of the second to last chapter reviewing the ramifications of globalism versus protectionism.
At about the same time, Hilarie’s husband brought home Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “David and Goliath,” as a ‘must read’ for a parental prep prior to getting ready for her eldest child’s ensuing college application process over the fall of 2017. Gladwell’s book became a validation of many of the theories Hilarie had always extolled, but never was able to prove.
Hilarie realized that many of the themes in Gladwell’s books supported her theories on the macro-economic scale for the tech industry. Hilaire also drew heavily on binge reading The Wall Street Journal to theorize trends, and later purchased Ben Sasse’s book, “The Vanishing American Adult,” which also validated many of her personal parenting in the 21st century ideas. She took inspiration and ideas from virtually everyone she interacted with, other parents, grocery store workers, postal workers, garbage men, construction workers, and most importantly, the many professional associates who would call for advice or just to complain.
Some of Hilarie’s biggest influences to write the book came from Indian managers and executives she had worked with in the past. Many were having a hard time getting work and/or challenged by the new paradigms in the tech industry. When Hilarie realized that her professional circle hailing from India was as challenged as her American born co-workers, she realized that the themes of the book would appeal to a wide variety of readers, and that the challenges she realized with the current tech paradigm were universal regardless of the type of tech job one held or the country of origin of the tech worker.
Hilarie used the best in remote flexible work websites to hire staff virtually. Each chapter was drafted, then Hilarie would have staffers research supporting and negating information to be used and cited in the book.
Hilarie used a wide virtual network and relied heavily on her husband and her primary editor who worked with her from August 2017 and on. The editor, also a mother with a child engaged in the college preparatory process, became a close friend and sounding board as the book took shape and was eventually completed.
Not a writer by trade, Hilarie edited “Billions Lost: The American Tech Crisis and The Road Map to Change” over and over, sometimes fine-tuning the chapters with 15 to 20 revisions. In doing so, the goal was to balance technical information with a non-political opinion, and provide a positive outlook and an educational experience that would be accessible to every reader.