Richard Greenwald, of The Wall Street Journal, reports that “20% to 23% of U.S. workers are operating as consultants, freelancers, free agents, contractors or micropreneurs.” Greenwald says that this chunk of the U.S. workforce grew in the 1980′s. At the time, people considered the move towards freelance and consulting a temporary fix to job shortages. Fast forward thirty years, and that growth doesn’t seem so fleeting anymore.
Going solo
Greenwald suggests we accept the fact that the “going solo” sector will only continue to grow.
These are Greenwald’s 4 tips for success when going solo:
- Think long term
- Join a network
- Have your own space
- Think like an entrepreneur
Greenwald’s most important advice is to join a network. Nobody can go it alone. Sure, you can have your own practice, firm, agency, office, tattoo parlor. But you must be connected to the people around you. At least the people around you that are part of “your world.” Greenwald puts it nicely,
“The image many of us have of the lonely consultant toiling on his or her own is touching. And dated.”
Find yourself a network. If you’re a teleworker (work from home, WiFi warrior, telecommuter, virtual assistant, etc.), you’ll find your network here. You are out of touch if you feel that other people don’t matter to your success. They do matter. Desperately trying to remain the “lonely consultant” will turn you into that house down the way that nobody wants to buy because it has roomfuls of questionably matted-down orange shag carpet. Rip that image out of your thoughts. Connect with people.
Greenwald adds a cautionary word:
“These communities of freelancers often have their own unwritten rules, and too often consultants find out about these rules only when they break them.”
In other words, get to know your neighbors before you assume they want you to pluck their flowers (hint: flowers won’t hide shag carpets). Chances are they have certain rules of conduct. Learn what those rules are and abide by them. Greenwald shares some other great thoughts too. You can read his article here: “How to Succeed in the Age of Going Solo.”
Is this the age of going solo? What are you doing to succeed in your career?
image: footloosiety
