Freelancing Is A Dirty Word

The term “freelancer” carries some negative connotations for many. It often conjures up images of someone working alone from home, dressed in pajamas and staring endlessly at their laptop screen.

The stereotypical freelancer is depicted as broke, desperate for any work they can find, and lacking accountability or a support system.

But this outdated stereotype fails to recognize the major shifts that have occurred in remote work over the past few years. The solution for today’s freelancers is not to ditch freelancing entirely, but rather to embrace the power of joining an open-source company.

This would essentially be groups of independent workers, freelancers, contractors and solopreneurs who come together in a structured way to collaborate. Typically, these groups function somewhat like agencies, taking on client work and projects together. However, they provide more flexibility than traditional employment at an agency would. The cohort members get to maintain their own independent contractor status but also reap the benefits of working as part of a team.

So what exactly are those benefits?

First and foremost, joining an open-source company combats the isolation that has plagued freelancers for so long. When you become part of a group with similar goals, backgrounds and ways of working, you gain a built-in support system. You have others who can relate to the ups and downs of freelance work and with whom you can ideate, collaborate and keep accountable. The sense of community and teamwork creates natural peer pressure that encourages team members to produce great work.

On a more tactical level, being part of an open source company allows for more efficiency. As a solo freelancer juggling everything independently, it’s impossible not to lose time spent on non-revenue-generating tasks like bookkeeping or sorting through new project leads. But in an open model, administrative or support tasks can be distributed across the team according to each person's strengths. This way, more billable hours can be dedicated solely to client work.

Open source company structures also enable the adoption of helpful AI tools at a much more affordable, scalable way. Whereas a solo freelancer might not be able to afford investing in AI, an entire team can pull funds to integrate AI and machine learning in smart ways. This assists with automating certain repetitive tasks so the team can focus their time on the work only humans can do.

However, it's important not to go overboard in relying on AI alone to replace human creativity and critical thinking. The best collaboration happens when AI augments human intelligence without attempting to mimic it entirely.

Finally, freelancers gain better access to more ambitious projects by working within this model. As a unified team, remote teammates can tackle bigger clients with larger budgets that require a wider breadth of talent. What’s more, team members can leverage one another’s networks, essentially expanding their access to leads exponentially. This way, the allure of steady, well-compensated work increases significantly. Rather than desperately searching for scraps, the team member can function like an agency in a constant state of growth.

Of course, embracing this new paradigm requires some adjustments for seasoned freelancers. Accustomed to setting their own rules and schedules, some independent workers chafe at the idea of coordinating with others.

The team would have the bandwidth to implement frameworks that preserve worker autonomy while enabling seamless collaboration on shared goals. Documentation systems, meeting rhythms and visibility tools are leveraged so the team communication flows effortlessly.

Over time, digital tools can enable remarkably high functioning remote teams that feel just as cohesive as an onsite group, if not more so.

The bottom line is that the future of work is changing rapidly, and yesterday’s freelance models are not sustainable. Rather than clinging to outdated notions or misguided stereotypes, independent workers should consider how they can tap into the power of community while still retaining flexibility.

Open-source companies reject the idea that freelancers must choose between solitude and traditional employment. Instead, they offer a middle path that empowers ambitious creatives and doers to grow together successfully on their own terms.

The teams working remotely harness technology, human connections and modern management strategies to drive productivity, enjoyment and results for their members.

In doing so, they render words like “freelancer” --with all the baggage that term entails –obsolete. A new paradigm is emerging that points toward working smarter, not harder while surrounding yourself with others at the frontier of remote work.

Vikram