Gig Mindset

Just try it.Times have changed since the days of pensions and retirement gifts of golden watches. Just like with any big changes, the change itself is met with uncertainty and fear. The reaction to the gig economy and how it’s transforming work is no different.The truth is, studies by ClearlyRated show that freelancers’ productivity, communicativeness, and engagement is no different from that of a traditionally hired full-time employee. In fact, if the company embraces the gig economy, then freelancers will be just as—if not more—engaged, skilled, and productive as traditional employees.In this episode, Eric Gregg discusses how corporations will benefit from investing in the gig economy. Eric Gregg is the CEO and founder of Inavero Research (now called ClearlyRated), which focuses on finding ways to create satisfaction for employees and clients alike.Eric shares insights into the changing nature in work, how companies look at different ways to innovate and compete, how traditional employees and freelancers ne

How do you handle change?  Change is one of the toughest barriers that prevents companies from hiring freelancers, and “traditional” workers from becoming freelancers. Diving into the unknown is daunting, especially when it means transforming an individual’s entire livelihood, or a company’s way of retaining talent. But once a flow is established and the unknown becomes familiar, it’s completely worth it.In this episode, Jody Miller talks about her experience with hiring high-level executives with expertise and knowledge—who also happen to be freelancers themselves. She is the co-founder for Business Talent Group: a global platform for high-end business talent that seeks project-based work. She will help us see what companies have to do to engage these high-level freelancers, and how it will ultimately change companies for the better.  Get ready to listen to Jody’s advice on how to gain a competitive edge in your industry through working within the gig economy.  In This

The first step is always the hardest step.When it comes to hiring freelancers or gig workers for large or small projects, picking the very first contractor is a daunting task on its own. It’s difficult to give up that control over the execution, no matter what size the task is.The truth is, there are a lot of experts out there in the gig economy, just waiting for the right job to get posted for them. Once you find that freelancer who delivers above and beyond the expectations, tons of new opportunities open up.In this episode, Liane Scult discusses her methods for identifying appropriate work to contract out and how to find that first freelancer for the job. Liane Scult is the Senior Freelance Program Manager at Microsoft. Her superpower is bringing people together, finding the right experts, and building something out of those resources she gathers.Liane shares her insights into the importance of always asking why whenever the answer is no, and how to learn to delegate to a freelancer for the first time. She

Are you an expert? What does that mean? Everything seems to be moving at the speed of light in today’s world, especially when it comes to the technology that makes it essential to work. Oftentimes, many professionals think that they’re experts in certain areas. In other words, people are generally poor judges of their own areas of expertise. According to Antony Brydon, efficiency in a given problem area is what makes someone an expert. Antony Brydon is the co-founder of Directly, which is a leader in CX automation, helping companies deliver better customer service at scale. This sits at the center of AI and the gig economy, essentially helping replace outsource call centers with global networks of experts that deliver better answers. In this episode, Antony discusses how utilizing real experts within a dynamic and fluid model will transform customer experiences. Specifically, Antony discusses what makes an expert, how to curate a pool of experts, and what role the marketplace plays in compensat

Companies all around the world are starting to embrace new technologies and new ways of working. Nowadays, the best person to do a job may not be the person sitting next to you in the office. They might be sitting in a coffee shop in another city or even at home in another country.With new technologies and platforms in place to connect companies with a seemingly unlimited source of global freelance talent, there is no reason not to hire freelancers. As Eric Gilpin says, “It’s no longer an ‘if’ question. You need to just get started.” In this episode, Eric Gilpin busts several myths around hiring freelancers. As the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Sales at Upwork, he is very familiar with the transition that large companies have to make to hire freelancers.Eric shares some insights into how to get started working with freelancers, how to protect yourself and your intellectual property, and even how to manage time zones to optimize productivity. It’s time for companies to wake up and pay attention to t

The future is here - and it’s here to stay.The new wave of technology that is currently sweeping across the world is happening 10 times faster and at 300 times the scale of the first industrial revolution. This new wave, of course, is rapidly transforming the workplace as well.In this episode, Anka Twum-Baah discusses various new ways of working that accelerate growth and change, and why companies need to start looking to the future today. Anka is the Senior Director within the Microsoft 365 Enterprise Marketing group. She currently leads modern workplace thought leadership discipline with a focus on the future of workAnka shares her experiences, insights into the future, and practical strategies for embracing and inviting innovation into work. As a futurist, she believes that the future of work will provide new methods for extracting the best versions and the best talents out of all of us.Get ready to learn how to keep up with the swift changes of the future that are impacting the culture of work today.In Th

The world around us is transforming at a rapid pace. With new technologies constantly emerging, other technologies get pushed out of sight and eventually become irrelevant. For business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to stay relevant themselves, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest technological developments. In this episode, Peter Loforte talks about his experience with the evolution of the gig economy. With his 26 years of experience working at Microsoft, Peter is well-acquainted with the staggering speed at which new technology is demanded, developed, and produced. As someone who is responsible for various aspects of development of new technology, Peter is required to identify trends early on and stay ahead of the curve. He shares some strategies for staying on top, employing communication technology to cross-culturally collaborate, and defining what it means to be part of the gig economy. Get ready to listen to Peter’s take on the transformation of the world of work, life

Do you find meaning in your work? In America, generally at least a third of our lives is spent working. For many, this work is nothing but an obligation - a means to an end. Work culture is changing. Now, there are more options than ever to pursue work that's meaningful and flexible. Of course, that doesn't mean it's easy. Freelancing doesn't always mean working at home in your pajamas and bunny slippers. Actually, this type of work comes with unique challenges and some uncertainty. But, if you are truly dedicated and passionate about your work, the benefits are endless. This is one of the many reasons why so many people pursue freelance careers. For example, freelance work has given stay-at-home moms the opportunity to continue working and utilizing their skills while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. On today's episode of Gig Mindset, I talked with Shari Cruz. She's a former marine, stay-at-home mom, and successful freelancer. She works as an instructional designer and a lear

Let’s talk about the money issue. Money can be a major motivational tool that pushes you to continuously work hard, but it can also deter you from pursuing your dreams. One of the biggest myths and misconceptions about freelancing and pursuing a career in the gig economy is that freelancers aren’t actually doing a real job; they only perform low-end work. Therefore, freelancers will never make a real, satisfying living. On this episode of Gig Mindset, Brad Martin busts these money-related myths. Brad is an architect-turned-XR-developer. He transformed his passions and areas of expertise into both a freelancing opportunity and a company that hires freelancers. His experiences give him a unique perspective as both the worker and the client. Highlighting his experiences, Brad discusses the reality and risks involved in diving headfirst into the gig economy, and why it’s totally worth it. He explains how to mitigate those risks, market yourself, and find a way to make freelancing work for you—

Why do you work? No matter where you work or what you do, there are generally two options to answer that question: either necessity or desire. It's even true for freelancers. There's a narrative around freelancing that says people freelance because it's exactly what they desire. Sometimes that's true, but there is an increasing number of freelancers that are also doing it out of necessity to survive.The workforce is rapidly changing, and many companies are looking for new, innovative ways to get work done on-demand with the added bonus of cost savings. At the same time, many individuals are looking for ways to work flexible hours, when they want, and where they want. Both of these reasons are why the gig economy is flourishing and transforming work. On today's episode of Gig Mindset, I interview the CEO of Upwork, the world's largest platform for freelancers and clients: Stephane Kasriel. In this episode, Stephane walks us through how the global marketplace and the definition of "work

When you were a kid and handed a coloring book and coloring utensils, did you stay inside the lines or color on the outside? Parents oftentimes teach their children to carefully color inside the lines. It's what you're supposed to do - you're "supposed" to function within the boundaries that were already established for you. Entrepreneurs and innovators alike, however, reject that mindset. Instead, they metaphorically color outside of the lines. On today's episode of Gig Mindset, I talk with someone who colors outside of the lines, breaks norms, and embraces workplace culture change: Dyan Finkhousen. As a "serial disrupter," Dyan works as the Director of Open Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing at GE. She recognizes that the gig economy will play a big role in the future of work and defining the digital era of operations. She uses tools like crowdsourcing, freelance resourcing, and open innovation. Get ready to learn about how Dyan is changing hearts and minds - project by project.&

Everyone fantasizes about what it would feel like to have more time in a day or even to clone yourself. Of course, that is not literally possible - but it is possible to scale your own capacity and get more done. The gig economy allows for professionals to do more with less time, along with even improving quality output with a faster turnaround - all at lower costs. On today's episode of Gig Mindset, I interview Ken Circeo. He is a Creative Director at Microsoft. He's figured out how to essentially clone himself in the workplace, going from making 1 video per week up to 15 videos per week. Through platforms like Upwork, Ken built a workflow that optimized creative output and helped him continue to progress in his career. Each day is more fun and more satisfying. So get ready to learn to optimize yourself, embrace change, and redefine your work life.  In This Episode, You Will Learn: What steps people have to take to embrace new technology.How the military helped Ken embrace

Gig Mindset n. - The inclination for people and organizations to engage on-demand expert intelligence to reclaim time, drive innovation, and rethink what’s possible.