From Chaos Comes Order

WFM has had two en-masse side effects, the “Great Resignation” and now the sizzle namely, “Moonlighting”

I personally believe the term “Moonlighting” in its present context is an inappropriate expression. It implies, seeking a side job for additional income. For a few, this may be true but for a large majority, maybe it is not.

May be, it is an indication of a tectonic behavioural shift that the corporate world will have to come to terms with, eventually. It reminds me of a personal story, where I was both, victim and the change leader. I am referring to the introduction of Napster, the digital (music) file sharing platform in early 2000 and the onslaught that followed.

Napster, brought with it, this unruly debate on morality, ethics, intellectual property, piracy and what not. Entire music industry; corporates, governments, enforcement agencies came clamping down on “Napster,??slapping lawsuits and criminal cases not only on the founder but also the users. In certain countries, including USA, individuals in possession of digital (music) were arrested and charged with non-bailable offense.?

Music company’s world over filed for bankruptcy and insolvency. I was brought in as Global CEO of a large music and entertainment company, as an industry-outsider to “manage the internal mayhem”. Coming from a hard core- consumer marketing background, I drew a simple inference, this is a consumer led behavioural shift, it is an unfelt need, which, if not met legally would work in the shadows to satisfy this hidden urge. Consumers want this, we either respect, accept and embrace this change or perish.?

It was an extremely bold statement in time. I was condemned, vilified, and truly ostracised by global music companies, music associations and senior management. I was branded as a nincompoop, an outsider that knows nothing, to an extent my own staff started boycotting me and my meetings. Rightfully so, I was not only new to the industry I was a young, 30 something lad.??Nonetheless, in my own way, we played the fine-balance and slowly started migrating to the digital format.?

As a consequence, we not only stayed afloat we settled long unpaid dues, unpaid salary, met working capital needs, all without a single penny infusion by promoters or financial institutions. Everything worked out- just enough to keep us out of the woods and declare a small surplus in the 7th?quarter. Today it is a standalone billion-dollar enterprise, built largely on its digital music business models and its awesome repertoire.?

The moral of the story and the parallel one needs to draw is that any fundamentally uprooting shift in consumer behaviour is never easy to accept or digest. There will be outlash, humiliation, legal entangles, moral and immoral enforcements, criminal allegations but eventually it will settle down. Uber, if you recollect was no different, it created a ruckus ever country it entered.?

The corporate world has no option but to accept this fundamental change branded as “moonlighting”. They will eventually respect it, embrace it and find answers around this. It is the ask of the “GEMZ” ecosystem (Gig Economy-Millenials-genZ). It is not an unfair ask but the need of the hour for both corporates and the GenZ

What drives them is challenge, creativity, new age technology, the opportunity to build, explore, create, innovate. Sadly all this is happening in the “Gig Economy”- to a large extent. Corporate jobs are getting boring, GEMZ need to “ be in the space” they belong. Corporates either create such work and environment or allow them to find this balance, respectfully, gracefully and mutually and of-course without sacrificing IP’s, client privacy and organisational confidentiality.?

Creativity and Learning is the new opium that drives genZ. The more you try to stop it, the more “legacy” problem an organization will have. You need them as much as they need you.??They understand the new age economy better than themselves. They can be the tranquilliser, the trigger and the source of new age thinking, bringing new age skills, exponential decree and the much needed resolve to “make it”

Remember, it is not the smarter or tougher that survive and grow, it is the wiser and the ones that are more adaptable and amenable to change. It is the law of Darwin applicable in all situation. This is no different.