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"The 8 Myths of
Making a Living...
and the Truth of
Making a Life"
By Mary Lyn Miller
Getting Clear
About Your Life & Work
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THE CHOICE OF LIVING & WORKING AS A FREE AGENT
From MARY LYN MILLER,
Executive Director, The Life & Career Clinic:
One of the L&CC's basic principles is the notion
of "multiple sources of income", thus expanding one's concept of work and money
well beyond the constraints of "1 job - 9-5."
In order to successfully
accomplish this, it is critical to understand and clarify what personal traits are the
most likely to produce not only income, but balance and fulfillment. (See upcoming Life
Focusing Workshop.)
On March 5th , the New
York Times published an article, "The Price of Freedom," which addresses this
hot new "Free Agent" trend, and we have excerpted some relevant quotes for
you…
" The cult of the free agent
took off in January 1998, when Fast Company, organ of new-age management, heralded on its
cover, "Free Agent Nation." As if reporting the demise of corporate America
(with its layoffs, office politics, demotions, harassment, hierarchies and general
incompetence), the cover lines continued: "25 Million Americans Declare Independence.
Are You Ready to Join Them?" It was the Boston Tea Party all over again…
The author of that story, Daniel
Pink, a former speechwriter for Al Gore, has since become a one-man advocacy group for
free agency, quoted as an authority in publications like Newsweek and The Wall Street
Journal. A contributing editor at Fast Company, Pink is currently writing a book about
free agents. He also operates a Web site called FreeAgentNation.com...
Pink believes that something
bigger and higher than technology is driving the free-agent revolution: a search for
spirituality. "I thought this was an economic story," he says. "Then I
realized it was much gooier than that. It's about emotions, feelings, lifestyle, family. .
. . After I wrote the Fast Company article, my mailbox started flooding with letters from
people saying, 'Oh, my God, this is me!' Work has become almost a secular religion; people
are trying to self-actualize through work. But it's hard to find yourself in a cubicle.
It's easier when you're on your own." In other words, earning $$$ thousands in your
pajamas may well be the path to self-fulfillment.
Pink's greatest contribution to
free agency involves statistics: when he wrote the Fast Company article, he counted 25
million free agents in America; now he says there are 33 million. Just how did Pink arrive
at those huge numbers? He won't let on. "I'm pretty sure the government agencies
don't know how to count this," he says confidently, explaining how his estimate is
nearly three times larger than numbers compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (which
says there are 12 million nontraditional workers in America). "I have in my book a
separate chapter on numbers," Pink continues. "But I'd like to hold off on
giving out that information until the book comes out. It's very difficult," he
admits, "to be definitive"...
Promoting their business models
with Pink's buoyant stats, dozens of companies targeting free agents have been popping up.
Among them: icPlanet.com, Ants.com, IMCOR.com, eLance.com, MBAFreeAgents.com, iNiku.com
and Aquent.com.
Like FreeAgent.com, these Web
sites match employers with employees, listing short-term and part-time jobs and
encouraging "free agents" to post résumés online. They also offer advice and
give pep talks promoting free agency to those who cling to their 401(k)'s as if to life
rafts. ("Sure working for yourself is scary," warns Aquent's Web site.
"Life is an adventure and then you die. Live now!") "
We want to mention here that the
life of a free agent is not necessarily glamorous or even highly profitable. It is but one
of the many possible lifestyles and ways of working you might consider exploring. If you
are not happy, it is important to realize there are many possible options and
opportunities beyond your present situation.
Contact us for an appointment if
you would like assistance in exploring some of them: Mail@L-CC.com
NEED
ANSWERS? ASK MARY LYN
[ Up ] [ Career Articles and Advice - Archives ] [ Do You Believe? ] [ Diversifying Your Life / Work Portfolio ] [ Expectations for the Future ] [ What's Your Fear Quotient ] [ Free Agent Lifestyle ] [ The Gratitude Game ] [ Recovering From People Pleasing ] [ The Power of Vision - 4 Principles ] [ The Holidays - Relax! ] [ 3 Keys to Receiving ] [ The Greatest Risk You Can Take ] [ 3 Keys for Successful Life / Work ] [ Unlimited Vision ] [ Where Are You Going? ] [ Passionate or Work Addicted? ]
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