Confessions of an Accidental Free Agent
Written by Traci Ayer on July 12, 2016
There is a lot of chatter about the gig economy -- independent contractors, self-employed consultants, on-demand workers, e-lancers, high-lancers -- and whatever new terms come out tomorrow that describe this shift in the way people are earning a living. It is usually described in the context of highly capable people choosing a different path, intentionally blazing their own trail, and embracing the American entrepreneurial spirit.
I have a confession. I’ve been an independent consultant for seven years now, and I feel like one day I tripped, tumbled down the proverbial rabbit hole, and ended up in freelance wonderland. Here is the ironic part. Most of the work I do involves advising clients on being intentional and structured in the way they drive their business forward. I help them create strategic business and marketing plans to grow in a deliberate and measurable way. But when it comes to my own consulting practice, it began a little less…deliberately. Read More
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The professional on-demand workforce includes all generations
Written by Canopy Advisory on June 28, 2016
Older, more experienced independent professionals between the ages of 35-55 are the ones most sought-after by today’s businesses for on-demand assignments. This makes sense, given businesses’ emphasis on proven skills and experience (See previous post). Mid-career professionals satisfy this need.
Not only does this arrangement work well for employers, it works well for on-demand consultants as well. A professional woman in this age group is often stressed out by balancing career goals with the challenges of caring for a growing family. On-demand work provides her, too, with a good solution. Read More
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Is This Wildlife Conservation PhD The Steve Jobs Of Impact Investing?
Written by Devin Thorpe on June 23, 2016 for Forbes.com
Did the people who met Steve Jobs in 1976 have any inkling that they were talking to the person whose name would for a generation be synonymous with “entrepreneur”? More often, people have believed to have found the next incarnation of Jobs only to be disappointed. Perhaps you can help me determine if the subject of this article could become the Steve Jobs of impact investing.
From my perch in Salt Lake City on the west side of the Rockies, over the last few years I’ve been hearing rumblings from the other side of the mountains. In Denver, Dr. Stephanie Gripne has created one of the most dynamic centers of impact investing and social entrepreneurship in the world. With a goal to catalyze impact investments of over $1 trillion and a plan to get there, it is about time that people outside the Rocky Mountains took note.
Dr. Gripne founded the Impact Finance Center as a partnership between the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and the Sustainable Endowments Institute, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Read More
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But you have a law degree…
Written by Carin Parcel on May 31, 2016
I just completed the Intellectual Property LLM degree program at University of Washington School of Law…and the first question I get asked is always: Why aren’t you practicing law? It’s natural to think that after spending 3 or more years in law school, one would then go on to practice law, which I did for several years after receiving my JD from Northwestern University School of Law. But as most law graduates know (whether they practice or not), law school and practicing can lead to so many more opportunities. I’m excited that my next opportunity is Canopy Advisory Group Seattle! Read More
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Nearly all U.S. companies use flexible, on-demand talent
Written by Canopy Advisory on May 26, 2016
In 2015, an impressive 88 percent of U.S. businesses of all sizes relied on on-demand workers as part of their workforce. More than 40 percent of these companies used on-demand professional as more than 30 percent of their overall workforce.
Not only are businesses planning to increase their use of independents in 2016, it appears many of them are already taking advantage of this new class of “free-agent” talent. This may suggest that these independents are proving their worth and are able to integrate well with their full-time counterparts.
The most common reason the surveyed companies gave for using on-demand professionals was increased flexibility. Using on-demand professional talent allows businesses to respond to opportunities with more agility, scaling their workforces as conditions require. Read More
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Starting Your Own Midlife Internship
Written by Kj Dell’Antonia on May 5, 2016 for New York Times
“Let’s take some time off.” That’s how Susan Corvino of Pasadena, Calif., remembers her husband’s reaction when her communications job was eliminated four years ago. At the time, her husband was working long hours, so they agreed she would stay home with their three young children.
But returning to work two years later when her youngest daughter began preschool wasn’t so easy. Interviews in her field led nowhere, particularly when she asked for a flexible schedule. Read More
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Increasingly, Companies Use Independent Professionals for Longer Projects
Written by Canopy Advisory on April 19, 2016
The 2016 Corporate On-Demand Talent Report is a comprehensive study of corporate use of on-demand talent in a new economy. For this report, Work Market surveyed decision-makers at more than 1,000 U.S. companies. Over the next few posts, we will examine… Read More
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Stress Rampant in Traditional Workforce
Written by Canopy Advisory on March 23, 2016
If you suspect that the traditional workforce is more stressful than ever before -- especially for women -- you are right.
In January, The Huffington Post discussed constantly increasing workplace stress in an article titled The American Workplace Is Broken. Here’s How We Can Start Fixing It. Here are a few excerpts we thought you might find relevant:
Americans are working longer and harder hours than ever before. Eighty-three percent of workers say they’re stressed about their jobs, nearly 50 percent say work-related stress is interfering with their sleep, and 60 percent use their smartphones to check in with work outside of normal working hours. It’s no wonder that only 13 percent of employees worldwide feel engaged in their occupations. Read More
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Working It Out: Is outsourcing your best opportunity?
Written by Lauren Sveen, Corps Team Denver on March 9, 2016 for Denver Post
For many young companies, the pressing question is whether to commit precious resources to a full-time hire — or to outsource some tasks
It's no secret that Colorado is an entrepreneurial mecca. The state was ranked fourth in startup activity nationwide, with 350 people out of every 100,000 adults becoming entrepreneurs every month, according to The Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurship. Read More
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By 2025, the #1 place to work could be wherever you are sitting
Written by Canopy Advisory on March 2, 2016
There is a clear shift shaking up today’s labor force. Technological advances and a growing comfort-level with alternative work arrangements are fundamentally changing how people work.
This trend is not just entrepreneurs leaving the “comforts” of corporate America to build a better mousetrap. It also includes service professionals going out on their own – pursuing intellectual, economic, and personal independence and balance.
Companies are using this on-demand talent at higher levels than ever before. In addition, amenities that serve this freelance national are growing rapidly. Read More
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