Norms.

Until Fractional came along, work was pretty predictable. Unfortunately, in a lot of ways that truly sucked. 60 and 70 hour weeks were common, and often expected. Micromanaging ruled the roost. Useless and endless meetings were woven into each day as naturally as the weather. Very little freedom and flexibility were found. Just get in your seat and do your job. Day after day. Personal income growth was relegated to a few percentage points above or below the inflation rate, depending on how much cash shareholders left after they scooped theirs off the table. Workers were captive to a system that had been in place for the past 48 years. Some, very few, got to work above and outside of these norms. The system just didn't make room for it. The norms were the norms, and the world ticked along inside them, counting on the norms to stay constant so the systems could work the way those who designed them counted on, and ultimately to their advantage.

Then Fractional showed up, right around the same time the pandemic arrived. The norms began to change. For those of us who took the risk and stepped outside of the norms, life has become exponentially better in all of the ways the career norms didn't serve us before. If you're still living in the norms and want to see what it looks like once you are Fractional, well here you go.

Fractional Changed the 70-Hour Work Week

The process of becoming a Fractional professional forces you to take a long hard look at the value you can bring to customers. Guess what? It's not in the hours you can grind through. The norm of simply putting your head down and burning up hours is often put on a pedestal. You can hear it: "Look at how hard I work." "Look at how hard Gary works." And yet you know better. You know inherently that the more you lift your head from your computer or phone screen and look around, the more effective you are. You see more. You know more. You can zoom out. You can experiment. You can change course. In Fractional work, a long walk is far more valuable than three more hours on screen. The reality is, if you're not careful, you can grind yourself right into a wall. Ask anyone who thought they had a safe job and got laid off. That safety is an illusion. And you don't make it more secure by putting your head down and grinding. Fractionals have figured this out.

When you become Fractional, you work in shorter, more powerful bursts than long, drawn-out days. Your value lies in your powers of observation, the context you bring to problems you solve, and the corners you can see around. You hone in on making change and advancing the ball, rather than simply repeating another day like yesterday. You resist step-and-repeat work, opting for working smarter instead. As it relates to time, Fractional work is about quality over quantity.

Fractional Changed Micromanaging

The thing about micromanaging is everyone sees it. It's so... obvious. Yes, it is ineffective, disempowering, and screams poor leadership, but still, it is soaked into the fabric of corporate America. It is normalized. The one thing micromanaging cannot handle, though, is an equal and opposite force. There is a kryptonite here, and it's called Fractional. Micromanaging relies on a power structure where the managed answer to the manager, and thus have very little power or strength to push back. Fear of losing a job. Fear of confrontation. Fear of getting passed over. Just plain too tired to deal with it. These normalized fears serve to reinforce micromanagers. In my coaching work with Erik Therwanger I have found that those who micromanage don't even want to do it but often simply don't know any other way. They've been trained, and that training has been reinforced for years.

Once a Fractional professional is on board, the equal and opposite force comes into play. Pause for a minute though, because it's not what you think. It's not "Oh that micromanager Paul is going to get it now. Someone to stand up to his micromanaging ways." That's not it. A Fractional provides an equal and alternate path, an equal and informed view, an equal and experimental idea. We make our living bringing new and fresh ideas to our clients. This is our natural state. When we run into micromanaging, we don't use blunt force to deal with it. We simply, and tactfully, channel the energy in the direction it must go for success. Micromanaging then recedes to the dark corners where it belongs.

Fractional Changed Endless Meetings

Of all of the things we discuss when we train companies how to hire Fractional professionals, and professionals how to become Fractional, this one is always at the top. The meetings.

Oh, the meetings.

It has been six years since Jason Voiovich and I decided to teach this whole new way of working called Fractional. The meetings continue to be the largest thorn in the paw for everyone. Here are the words our Fractional students attach to meetings they used to have in their corporate life:

"They were an utter waste of time."

"Most of the time I didn't even know why we were meeting."

"99% of them could have been an email."

"I was in them. But they weren't for me."

"I played solitaire during meetings."

This one is also an equal and opposite force kind of thing. When a Fractional arrives at a meeting, the one thing they don't have time for is wasting time. Another thing in their pocket is that they are laser-focused. You have to remember that Fractional professionals have thousands of hours of meeting experience. It is a battleground they have spent far too much time in, with zero desire to return to. We are there to make change, not dilly-dally. Even before a meeting becomes a meeting, the Fractional professional is looking for ways to solve the challenge without involving everyone. If a meeting must take place, a Fractional professional is going to get straight to the issues at hand and exit the moment the direction is clear. If meetings are an utter waste of time, have very little focus, and most of it could be an email, why do they churn up 75% of the day? A Fractional professional wants no part of that norm. Because of that, we tend to show our clients how to make progress without endless meetings.

Fractional Changed Freedom and Flexibility at Work

For those of us who embrace Fractional work, the definition of work-life balance transforms entirely. Traditional employment has often bound professionals to rigid schedules, defined locations, and inflexible roles. This rigidity inherently leads to burnout and a lack of genuine productivity. Fractional professionals don't like those restrictions, so we simply opt out of them.

The very simple fact is we have and take the liberty to craft our own schedules, work from wherever we feel most productive, and focus solely on high-impact tasks that align with our expertise. It is not just a dream but a living reality for those who step into the world of Fractional work. You're no longer shackled to a desk from 9 to 5; instead, you have the autonomy to decide when and where your best work happens.

This freedom not only cultivates a healthier work environment but also sparks creative problem-solving and innovation. Fractionals dive into projects with a fresh perspective, unencumbered by the corporate inertia that often stifles innovation. Our work environments become the perfect blend of professional and personal goals, tailored to complement, rather than compete with, our lives. In the world of Fractional, flexibility isn't a buzzword; it is the cornerstone of our work ethos.

Fractional Changed How We Look at Our Income

Perhaps one of the most seismic shifts for Fractionals is the perception and management of personal income. Traditional employment offers a steady but often stagnant paycheck, tied directly to the hours worked rather than the value delivered.

Fractionals, however, see income differently. We no longer equate hours with dollars but instead, value with compensation. The Fractional model allows professionals to work on multiple projects, scale their income in line with their expertise, and truly capitalize on their unique skills and insights. It's a merit-based system; the more palpable value we bring to our clients, the more we earn.

This shift sparks an entrepreneurial spirit within us. One I believe every person on the planet has. In fact, this spirit is what makes us advance as a species. If not, we never would have bothered making the wheel. Or math. Fractional pushes us to continually refine our skills, stay ahead of industry trends, and deliver top-tier results, knowing that our income potential is, in many ways, boundless. Financial growth is no longer a slow, plodding ascent dictated by annual reviews but a dynamic, responsive process that truly rewards excellence and impact.

Ditch the Norms

As we navigate the evolving landscape of Fractional work, it’s evident how transformative this model can be. Gone are the days of grueling hours, oppressive micromanagement, and endless meetings. With Fractional, we find ourselves in a work paradigm that celebrates autonomy, values innovation, and truly rewards merit.

For those still entrenched in traditional norms, the shift to Fractional might seem daunting, but it holds the promise of a richer, more fulfilling professional life. Taking that leap not only redefines how we work but how we live, aligning our professional endeavors with our personal aspirations.

Our next cohort to escape the norms begins August 7. Look for the Fractional Accelerator course here.

Step into the future of work with us and redefine your professional journey.

Go Fractional.

John

Dave Barczak Jeff Johnson Christian Solomine Robert Zielinski Paul Polo Matthew Mottola Brett Trainor Karina Mikhli Rob Smith Liz Otteson (she/her) Katie Walter Jason Voiovich