The Freelance Revolution & The Rise of the Solo Warrior

The financial model of the industrial age is officially dead. And that’s a good thing. Really, it is.

In today’s society, if you make smart choices, you can create a lifestyle that’s not just free, but fulfilling. Let’s dive into why this is happening and what it means for you.

Remote Work

The global pandemic showed us just how unnecessary being in an office every day was to conduct business… and with the power of the internet, there's no need to be packed into a city with skyrocketing expenses and a decreasing standard of living with low connectivity to nature.

According to a FlexJobs survey from 2022, 65% of workers now prefer to work remotely at least some of the time. Furthermore, Global Workplace Analytics estimates that remote work has grown by 173% since 2005, significantly outpacing the rest of the workforce.

In 2024, Deloitte's Global Workforce Survey predicts that 74% of companies will continue to invest in remote work technologies, with a projected 60% of the workforce working remotely at least some of the time by the end of the decade.

Internal vs. External Transactions

In the old days, companies were massive, and internal services were the norm. But with the information age, we’re increasingly trading these internal services externally. Enter the era of consultants and freelancers.

Why hire someone full-time when you can outsource to an expert? According to Upwork's 2022 Freelance Forward Report, 59 million Americans freelanced in 2021, contributing over $1.3 trillion to the U.S. economy alone. This trend is global: The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that in 2023, freelancers and gig workers made up approximately 43% of the global workforce. This figure highlights the growing importance of freelancing in the global economy.

Think about it. Why spend hours trying to master a skill when you can pay someone who’s already an expert to do it in a fraction of the time? That’s why the freelancer community is booming.

The Power of Small

Large companies are shrinking, and small one-person businesses are on the rise. Why? Because the internet makes it easier than ever to communicate, monitor work, and get things done.

A Harvard Business Review study from 2021 found that small businesses are more resilient and adaptable than large corporations. They can pivot quickly to market changes and offer personalized services that larger companies often struggle to match.

Self-autonomy

Soon you’ll realize that everything you are currently doing for your employer to bring them revenue, you could be doing within your own business.

I’m living proof. I run a one-person business, and I use sites like LinkedIn, 5iver, CHATGPT, online accountants, and more—all through the internet. I pay for each service on a one-off contract or a monthly subscription. Fifty years ago, I’d need a large office and a huge team to facilitate all these things. Today? Just me, my laptop, and an internet connection.

The Biggest Game-Changer

The internet is the greatest equalizer of our time. It’s made it possible for anyone to start a business, access global markets, and compete with the big guys.

As Peter Thiel put it, “We wanted flying cars, instead, we got 140 characters.” The internet and social media sites are the great opportunities that you have at your fingertips to create the life you want. If you’ve already been working in an industry for a few years, I guarantee that you have marketable skills that you could sell online.

Stop believing the lie that you need to work for someone else for your livelihood. You might feel secure in your salaried job, but are you building a future, are you growing?

So, what’s your next move? Are you going to stick with the old ways, or are you ready to embrace the future?

Remember, if you are a regular employee on regular salary, theres a very high probability that you will never fulfil your dreams, in fact its pretty certain that you wont, which means, you havent got much to lose by making some changes and actually going after what you want.?

What’s one small step you could take to improve your current situation?

Want to see if you’re ready to embrace the freelancing lifestyle? Download my free ebook here: https://mailchi.mp/afccaff52a96/the-freelancing-revolution-ebook

Curious about whether freelancing makes financial sense? Try my risk calculator for free: https://mailchi.mp/8862aa51e803/risk-calculator .

Sources:

FlexJobs Survey, 2022

Global Workplace Analytics, 2022

Upwork's 2022 Freelance Forward Report

Deloitte's Global Workforce Survey, 2024

Harvard Business Review, 2021

Peter Thiel, "Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future"