My belief is that the future of work is different from office based. However, when we look at the way we work, a lot has stayed the same in the last century. We still mainly commute to a single place of work, punch in, do 7 or 8 hours, punch out and repeat Monday to Friday. The future of work is all about freedom. Freedom of how we work, when we work and where we work. Giving people the trust and flexibility to work in a way and in an environment which makes them happy and sets them up for success. I'm fortunate to work collaboratively with clients worldwide and build brilliant relationships in the process without actually meeting face to face. As a freelancer, I can work in any time zone and still have client meetings, emails, and calls whilst contributing to business success. Would I be more successful commuting in a fixed location? No. The freedom I have to choose where I work and when I work gives me fulfilment, which makes me happier - and happier people produce better work.
I started off my marketing career in design marketing - designing case studies, brochures, whitepapers, curating websites, and doing a bit of copywriting as well. As my career progressed, I found myself heavily involved in the data analytics side of marketing and focused on demand generation. However, freelancing in my spare time after my traditional 9-5 has allowed me to continue doing what I love - which is letting my creativity roam across different industries. I get to not only stay focused on my current career trajectory, but I can keep working on crafting my foundational skills in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and working in WordPress.
Although freelancing represents a fantastic solution to small businesses who might not be able to afford full-time resources, and it's also great for medium-to-large business with short-term capacity issues or very specific needs they may not be resourced for, it is NOT the future of work. The shift to freelance resources has gained popularity primarily because it makes sense to a company's balance sheet - reducing the burden on the P&L - and many freelancers ARE exceptional. But freelancers are temporary talent. Companies who are on the leading edge of bringing in freelancers are already learning the value that full-time staff brings - brand continuity, culture, brand knowledge/efficiency, and consistency. Remote work represents a much bigger long-term solution for companies as a way to reduce costs while preserving their single greatest asset - their human capital.
Freelancing is the future of work because the "knowledge economy" is much more rewarding than being an employee. Freelancers get to set their own rates and increase them as they gain experience and knowledge. No waiting for a boss to give you a raise! As freelancers become experts, clients start competing for their time. In short? As a freelancer you can earn more money in exchange for your skillset while providing value to multiple clients, rather than being stuck at a full-time job that doesn't value you or utilize your true potential.
As the gig economy continues to expand every year, the future of Freelancing is a PROMISING AND FULFILLING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. There is a big future for freelancing as a job opportunity to use skills, specific tasks or projects as freelancing is a viable career.
Ready to take control of your career and your life? Freelancing might be the perfect fit for you! As a freelancer, you get to choose the projects you work on, the clients you work with, and the hours you put in. No more being chained to a desk from 9-5 or being at the mercy of a boss who doesn't appreciate you. And thanks to all the technology available today, you can work from anywhere in the world and still be just as productive (if not more so) as in an office. Don't miss out on the gratifying world of freelancing – give it a try and see where it takes you!