The End of Career Ladders, Best Sites to Hire a Freelancer, CreatorDAO Raises $20 Million, and More...

Approximately 60 million independent workers in the United States represent $1.5 trillion in U.S. GDP and growing. Projections estimate that 50% of our U.S. workforce will be independent workers by 2025- 2030. The Gig Economy represents a trend that will digitally transform the future of work.

I believe that?every organization?in?every industry?needs a Gig Economy strategy. Not having one is like missing the internet trend in 1990 or the mobile revolution in 2010.

The Freelance Revolution

The rise of independent contractors and globalization of knowledge work is the Industrial Revolution of our time. We can see the U.S. workforce undergoing a massive structural change everywhere we look.

Highly successful remote freelancers have these 3 skills, says CEO: 'You'll be able to shine through' ?-?Remote freelancers and CEOs may not seem like they have too much in common. But using some of the same skills as a business leader can set a remote freelancer up for success, says?Taso Du Val , CEO of staffing firm Toptal. Du Val would know: He leads one of the largest freelancing networks in the world and has spent years placing thousands of freelance professionals in jobs across the tech, design, and finance industries.

Best Job Search Sites for Hiring Freelancers ?-?Businesses of all sizes utilize?freelancers ?for various projects. Contract workers are a fantastic way to help to meet demands for a quick turnaround when you don't have time or resources for a full-time hire. Freelancers possess specialized skills companies can use to grow their business efficiently. Whether a one-off project or extended contract, freelancer workers can help keep payroll costs down while being valued contributors.

A golden age of consumer convenience is passing ?-?For viewers, one of the joys of Netflix has been the ability to gorge on hours of top-class T.V. without ever encountering an ad. Now, the streaming giant is introducing a?new subscription tier ?that runs adverts alongside its shows — albeit at a lower price point. The U-turn on something that had been anathema is the latest sign that the economics of the on-demand app industry is becoming stretched. The instant gratification once dished out by streaming, ride-sharing, and delivery services may become not only less instant but also less gratifying.

Fiverr Partners With Selina to Bring Together "Anywhere Workers" From Across the Globe ?- New partnership includes a Work from Anywhere Contest, where Fiverr freelancers have the chance to win comped accommodations at Selina locations.

What Is Upwork's "Opportunity Unlimited" and Why Do Freelancers Need to Know About It? ?- Let's?face it: freelancing is hard work, and constantly pitching projects to potential clients and building a steady work stream can be challenging. Add those to dealing with unstable living conditions, which becomes much more difficult.

The Creator Economy?

The Creator Economy is like the sharing and gig economies in 2012-2015 that ushered in an explosion of creativity driven by individuals, technology platforms, and hype. All are driven by the dream of making a living by doing what you love. At over $100B+ the creator economy is just getting started.

'Champagne problems': TikTok influencers battling burnout, 'exhaustion' ?-?Mackenzie Newcomb , 29, is living the millennial and Gen Z dream. She works from her home on a beautiful pond in Massachusetts, where her grueling schedule includes quiet time in her kayak and trips to the beach. There, she's expected to do little more than work on her tan, show off her free J.Crew gear and perhaps enjoy a complimentary lobster roll from a local restaurant.

CreatorDAO raises $20 million in 'ambitious bet' on creator economy; a16z and Paris Hilton among backers ?-?In theory, DAOs are blockchain-based entities governed by democratic online communities. The world of DAOs is incredibly diverse—spanning everything from investment clubs to blockchain hobbyists to social justice organizations. Their laws are primarily enforced by smart contracts and can only be changed by voting members of the DAO.

Seven Business Leaders Predict the Future of the Creator Economy ?-?The?creator economy ?is constantly in flux and changes based on many external factors, including relevant social, political, or world events occurring at that time. This has been very clear over the last few years with the Covid-19 pandemic, a party-dividing election cycle, and increased social justice campaigns.

The creator economy: How we arrived there, and why we need its Web3 upgrade ?-?Though creativity has existed as long as humanity, we discussed it as the new economic paradigm not so long ago. What's more, we even talk about it in the Web3 dimension. To better understand what it is, first, let's walk through the backstory of the creator economy. How did we arrive here? Looking back at the past is a great way to get real insights into what is happening today. It won't make you yawn, I promise.

Venturing into the next frontier of the creator economy ?- The power of influencer marketing and content creation is undeniable. An online survey by?Harris Poll on behalf of LEGO ?revealed that today's children are three times more likely to aspire to be YouTubers (29%) than astronauts (11%). Another venture capital firm?SignalFire ?found that around the world, more than 50 million people consider themselves creators.

The Changing Workplace

We see unprecedented numbers of companies implementing remote work programs. How we work has forever changed and requires new skills and leadership approaches.

The rise of the side startup ?- Shari Rose is working on her own SEO company while doing SEO full-time for someone else. Her full-time job involves helping dentists in California, but her new business,?Blurred Bylines , focuses on small firms and nonprofits in Michigan, where she lives and works remotely. Rose says her main job is still her main priority. She also says her job knows her startup and is okay with it.

Gen Z workers demand flexibility, don't want to be stuffed in a cubicle ?- The young generation of professionals is entering the workforce with new demands — including increased flexibility, wellness perks, and authenticity — shaped by their experiences during the height of the pandemic.

Stop Offering Career Ladders. Start Offering Career Portfolios .?- Employees today are fed up. People are antsy for something better (and sometimes, simply new). They want to be seen, valued and listened to. They want equity, dignity, security, balance, flexibility, and autonomy. They expect opportunities for growth, learning, meaningful contribution, and fulfillment. This may sound like a lot, but it's pretty modest if we're striving to help them reach their full potential and leave the world a better place.

The Playbook: The danger of the loyalty tax ?- The first time I encountered the "employee loyalty tax" was my senior year of high school. By that point,?I'd been working at Taco Bell for about 18 months ?when an opportunity presented to work at the Hardee's next door.

Wellness?

We will spend one-third of our lives working, and the disruption to how we work has never moved faster. This can impact our overall wellness as we navigate the changing landscape and fight for balance.

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How Burnout Physically Changes Your Brain (It's Not Pretty) ?- When you're a busy entrepreneur, it's easy to convince yourself you need to push through?burnout . With people relying on you and endless problems to solve, many business owners feel like they don't have the time or space to take a step back and deal with their?mounting stress and exhaustion .?

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PAUL ESTES, founder of?XpertLinkAI ?and the best-selling author of the best-selling book?Gig Mindset , is an unstoppable advocate for the simple idea of ensuring that all voices are heard and that all people have access to opportunity. This passion is inspired by the quote from the late?Leila Janah ?"Talent?is equally distributed,?opportunity is not."?Now is the time to address systemic?location bias ?and encourage companies to reach beyond their organizational boundaries to engage the world's best minds.?For 20 years, He struggled to balance his life with fast-moving leadership roles at Dell, Amazon, and Microsoft. He led a team of progressive H.R., procurement, and legal trailblazers to launch Microsoft's Gig Economy freelance program. Hiring his first virtual assistant transformed the way he lived and worked.

Paul is the former host of the Gig Mindset and Talent Economy podcasts. Each week, Paul provides insights and perspective to over 100,000 readers of his weekly LinkedIn newsletter, and he frequently shares his insights as a keynote speaker and panelist.?