Back to the Future, was a movie some of us may remember. The title was most appropriate for the science fiction story. However, back to the future has never been a good business strategy.

This perspective is dedicated to the future of work. We might add that the future for those of us who are already working is always NOW! We are personally honored to reflect upon the many evolutions and iterations that we have personally experienced regarding how work can be accomplished. We have had the experience of working in the traditional format, going to an office, and spending the greater part of our day in an environment that included many others who were also there to work. We worked the traditional hours of approximately 8:30 am to about 5:00 pm. Many of our friends worked different hours, some worked from 11:00 pm to 8:00 am. All of us had to find transportation to a fixed facility, allocate enough time to arrive on time, and generally, take with us some form of lunch and snack to help us get through an entire eight-hour work day or night.

There were always co-workers that we liked, and some were actually mentors because they had worked the job far longer than most within the work environment. Many in this category were recognized for their tenure and rewarded for tenure with pins, plaques, watches, and gifts. This is what we now refer to as the traditional industrial economy model.

Today’s economy is very digital, and technology plays a huge role in how we work. Because Millennials have never experienced the perspective that I shared in the previous paragraph, many will not identify with the picture I painted. However, if you are Gen Z, you certainly did.

Flexibility and Freedom in how we work is now a choice, if you desire and/or prefer such choices? Work possibilities inclusive of Flexibility and Freedom to work when you desire, as much or as little as you desire, when you desire, is now a possibility. It is possible to be more in control of how you work toward a positive outcome in your life. Be the Architect of Your Own Destiny is what we might consider to be fundamental to the New Economy – an economy of new Individual Entrepreneurs.

The type of current work or profession we are currently engaged in should not interfere with an opportunity to leverage underutilized assets. Some assets are physical, others relate to time, knowledge, skills, or experience, even passion and purpose. The limitations of years past have been eliminated. The gig economy has changed the game and become an enabler of choice. We can choose what we would like to do and even try something new that we never explored before. We can also develop an underutilized asset into the enterprise we often dreamed about but felt too risky to try. We can even develop a new career through multiple opportunities or possibly find the one thing we always knew was out there, we just didn’t know exactly what it was or how to develop it. We can now work around other priorities without disrupting core priorities. We can try something new without risking what we have established. We can enhance the life work balance, perhaps, become the architect of our own destiny, or at least gain more control, especially of our income can be earned relative to a positive and enjoyable life/work balance. 

When new knowledge and thoughts enter into our thinking, we think differently. When we think differently, we can expect to impact outcomes differently. The information shared in this article is based upon personal and collective perspectives gained from many years of working as an independent contractor and in support of independent contractors. The thoughts shared may stimulate your thoughts about possibilities that are waiting for you to explore. The NEW Economy is very different from the traditional industrial economy model.

To the Future!