Gigonomics 101

I just learned a new term:  Gigonomics.  Definition?  Something like this:  a shifting American economy increasingly comprised of freelance-work, project "gigs" and part-time work combined with shrinking corporate budgets, outsourcing and the end of corporate loyalty.

Newsweek's article A New American Job does a great job explaining this trend with some interesting statistics and anecdotes but, in my humble opinion, misses the boat on potential "winners" of this trend.  They claim that job-auction websites may benefit from this trend, which is certainly true.  But what about families?

Let's take a typical family example.  Say Dad loses his corporate job and is forced to make ends meet by jumping on the "gigonomic" bandwagon, piecing together project-based jobs and some part-time work.  While some may see this as a "bad" thing...lack of corporate benefits, security, 401K plan, I see opportunity.  Opportunity to get out there and nurture new skills while honing existing ones; meet new people, which inevitably expands the professional network; try new things; challenge oneself; and spend more time with family.  

And what about all those stay-at-home, college-educated moms who would LOVE to do some work on a part-time basis as long as they can be home when the kids get home? Bingo.  Gigonomics.  What if Mom could help pay family bills as well?  Hmmm...it's beginning to sound like "balance"...now that's a novel idea!

I personally see this as a good thing.  The days of corporate job security may be behind us, but this trend is forcing more corporations to consider outsourcing to competent, talented individuals.  Gigonomics will reward corporations who are flexible and able to projectize work and create lasting relationships with gifted contractors.

Yes, there will be personal challenges:  how to keep project work flowing, increased costs associated with independent health coverage, "feast or famine" cycles.  But inevitably as more professionals enter into this gigonomic trend, more resources and tools will appear to make that transition easier.

Because Courage is Contagious

Welcome!  If you’ve found this blog perhaps you, like us, are tired of hearing “Doom and Gloom” everywhere you turn.   Yes, these are trying times. 

It’s our firm belief that it’s those trying times in life that shape your character, allow the “you” in you to emerge…if you allow it.  If you can summon the courage to embrace it.  So this blog is dedicated to stories of having the courage to look fear in the face and say, “I see you.  Now teach me.”  The courage to hear all the “shoulds”, “musts”, “don’ts” and “can’ts” and do what rings true to you instead.  The courage to sit with the discomfort instead of stifle it.  And then take thoughtful action.  Learn.  Grow.  Transform.  Convert it productively into a positive force that only you can create.  Thrive.  Because at the end of the day, we believe that’s what we’re put on this earth to do.

Now Here's A Novel Idea...Turn off the News

Loved this report from CNN about a guy named Eric Bell who was making $100,000/year and is now unemployed.  One of my favorite quotes was, "For somebody that's unemployed right now, you need to turn off the news," he said. "It will affect the positive attitude you need to have. You've got to be positive, because it's not easy. All you read is the job cuts: It can be very depressing."  And I concur with Donald Latumahina in his blog posting, "Do You Want to Stay Positive? Turn Off the News" who extends the "Turn off the News" message beyond job seekers to...well...everyone.  Lloyd Garver has even gone so far as to propose a National "Turn off the TV News Day" on February 22nd.

When I Googled "Turn off the news", I found a great posting by Douglas E. Welch and appreciated his take on how "lately the mainstream news sources have begun focusing on what 'may' happen instead of reporting on what 'is' happening. "  Thank you, Douglas!  

My favorite paragraph in his whole posting was, "...there is a great difference between being aware and wallowing. Being aware means taking action — adjust our budgets, reduce our debts, look for alternative work, if needed. We might even investigate a little freelance work as a hedge against layoffs. This is what we should be doing. Instead I am witnessing more and more conversations where we bemoan our fate and wallow in the unfairness of it all. We see deeper and darker trouble just over the rise or just around the corner. We postpone action, paralyzed with fear and indecision, wondering what next ax will fall in our careers and our lives. Even worse, this is easy to do as the media and those around us continue to feed our fear."

Back at the CNN story,  psychologist Erik Fisher's take echoed Douglas's "take action" message by saying, "Life is about lessons, and it's about learning. In this situation, it's not about feeling bitter and resentful. It's about moving forward."

I'm all for productive action.  Maybe more of us need to take heed and power down the PC, switch off the boob-tube and click off the radio dial for a while.

In Entrepreneurs We Trust

Gotta love Inc. magazine's "11 Businesses You Can Start in Your Pajamas in 2009".  Most of these ideas are low-overhead ways to generate part-time or full-time+ income.  Several take advantage of the down economy to expand their market.  All take the owner's specialization and/or love and put a creative, entrepreneurial spin on it and "voila!",  a work-from-home opportunity is born.

Whether you're considering starting a business or already have a plan in the works, there have been several InCouraging opportunities for small business funding that are worth checking out:

• Intuit's Share Your Story and Win contest.  Small business stories and tips are ranked by Intuit community members.   Prizes range from Intuit Small Business Word of Mouth Marketing Toolkit (given to all entries) to $25,000 in cash.

• The Mark Cuban Stimulus Plan:  Open Source Funding.  Billionaire Mark Cuban issues an intriguing VC opportunity to entrepreneurs:  share your business plan on my blog and I'll personally fund the good ones.  If it's a fantastic idea, others will steal it...that's the point - to get more businesses up and moving in this economy. Brilliant.

Entrepreneurs are typically creative and hard-working...exactly what we need in today's economy.  Hats off to Intuit and Mark Cuban for being some of the first to actually put cash behind the theory that entrepreneurs can help fuel our communities and ultimately, our economy.