California’s Prop 22 – The Devil is in the Details

As a California voter, I hate the proposition process.  I have always felt it was inappropriate for the masses to legislate, since that is what we elect our state representatives to do. Unfortunately, those representatives don’t always do a good job.  They passed a law in late 2019, AB5, designed to require gig platforms to… Continue reading California’s Prop 22 – The Devil is in the Details

“Agency” and the Gig Economy

Deloitte Research and the MIT Sloan Management Review published an interesting report recently entitled “Opportunity Marketplaces.” Their premise is that companies should create internal talent platforms  which are employee directed and enable workers to  develop new skills and investigate new intellectually challenging corporate projects.  By providing such opportunity marketplaces, employees will be able to exercise… Continue reading “Agency” and the Gig Economy

The Government Shutdown and the #GigEconomy

There have been several articles so far this year about how furloughed federal workers are using the gig economy to make ends meet; A recent Fast Company article indicated that services offered on the digital talent platform, Fiverr, in the Washington DC metro area increased by 41%. That means that the number of people putting… Continue reading The Government Shutdown and the #GigEconomy

Community in the #Gig Economy

A challenge for many workers in the # gig economy is the isolation.  By definition independent workers are working on their own, an island away from the mainland. You do get to mingle with clients now and then, but for many, independent work is remote, and that client connection is via email, phone or maybe… Continue reading Community in the #Gig Economy

#CoolGigCompanies – Shortlist – Scaling Recruitment in the Developing World

People often ask me why I wrote my latest book, Thriving in the Gig Economy.  It was due in part to the fact that in the summer of 2016, three different investor groups approached me for ideas about gig economy platforms.  One of those groups went on to create a very cool, platform that is… Continue reading #CoolGigCompanies – Shortlist – Scaling Recruitment in the Developing World

#CoolGigCompanies – The Hired Guns – Creative Solutions for the Digital Future

I have to laugh when people talk about the “new” gig economy, because the truth of the matter is, it is not new at all.  Gigs have been around for a long time as have companies who help successful independent consultants find interesting work.  The digital talent platforms may be getting a lot of the… Continue reading #CoolGigCompanies – The Hired Guns – Creative Solutions for the Digital Future

Cool Gig Companies – Moonlighting – “A Platform of the People”

Many people complain that the #GigEconomy creates low wage jobs with no benefits and is therefore a negative for society.  What this perspective fails to recognize is that for so many, the #GigEconomy represents a tremendous opportunity to complement an existing income stream by moonlighting.  Moonlighting, or doing paid work that is done – often… Continue reading Cool Gig Companies – Moonlighting – “A Platform of the People”

#CoolGigCompanies: Thor – Blockchain Solutions for Independent Workers

When I am asked about the problems with the rise of the #GigEconomy, I have a very optimistic response. “Smart entrepreneurs out there will come up with solutions to the inefficiencies in the marketplace.” Thor is the story of two such entrepreneurs. They met at a blockchain event and became partners. Now they are devising a… Continue reading #CoolGigCompanies: Thor – Blockchain Solutions for Independent Workers

Lessons in Scale for the Gig Economy

Masters of Scale, the podcast run by Reid Hoffman of Greylock Ventures and founder of several companies including LinkedIn, is one of my favorites podcasts to listen to as I walk my dog. On a recent show, he focused on the “10 Commandments of Start-up Success.” Not all of them apply to independent growing their businesses in the gig economy, but some do.  So I thought I would share them with a special spin for the freelance world.

#CoolGig Companies – Workhoppers – A Canadian Innovator in the #GigEconomy

As a student of the #GigEconomy, I seek out #CoolGigCompanies to understand the new models and ideas that are being brought to the market by entrepreneurs around the world. Here is another in my series of developments to watch in the new world of work. In 2012, Vera Gavizon and Linda Singer were two working… Continue reading #CoolGig Companies – Workhoppers – A Canadian Innovator in the #GigEconomy