By Jean Ginzburg, Founder & CEO of Ginball | Accelerating digital marketing for tech companies | Faster growth | Increased profits | Expand brand recognition.
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The future of work has been the topic of many conversations, predictions and speculations over the years. This conversation has come more into focus as we adapt to the global impact of the pandemic. Workplaces have been changing rapidly and best practices began to emerge as we adapt to changes in our industries and the world. Let’s consider several ways the future of work would benefit from an entrepreneurial mindset.
Plant, Don’t Drudge
Life in the corporate world can be highly disengaging and draining, which translates into a disconnect between the employers and the employees.
This disconnect often stems from a perpetuated belief that seems logical: We study, take a job in the field of our study and work (and work and work) at the job for years whether we enjoy it or not. When we do something we don’t care about, we end up unhappy and discontent. In the long run, we blow out like a fuse.
What we should be doing is replacing this study-work-drudge cycle with planting. It’s a strategy where you ask yourself, “What do I want? What impact do I want to create?” Then we use our knowledge, skills and experience to create something of value.
MORE FOR YOU
That’s what I did about nine years ago when I quit working for the corporate world. I started in the corporate world because I didn’t have any other ideas about my work options. I was just doing what I thought I was supposed to do. Eventually, I realized what I really wanted to do and took steps toward achieving my goal of being an entrepreneur.
Evolve Your Skillset
When I started my business, my expertise was affiliate marketing, a subset of digital marketing. Shortly after, I wanted to transition to more comprehensive digital marketing that would allow me to have a 360-degree view of my clients’ needs.
I shifted my focus accordingly and began expanding my education. I took courses and read books because none of the knowledge I needed was taught in university. I understood first and then proved that I am not tied to my education or previous career.
You don’t have to stay in one lane forever, especially if you’re just working for the sake of getting paid. You’re not limited to that. Realize what your passion is and tie it to your purpose and make work beyond just “making money.”
Revisit your old hobbies or things you wish you’d learned. Maybe explore new ones. Learning a new skill nowadays is much more accessible thanks to different learning alternatives.
Get Ready For The Future
The future of work is every action or decision we make in the present, and judging by the disruptions we’re going through right now, we are already in the future. Covid brought about these changes faster than they would’ve arrived otherwise.
This pandemic has stressed the systems. People responded by creating businesses that provide solutions to the new challenges. These are the advances that wouldn’t have been realized for another five years at least if the need for them didn’t arise sooner. According to data collected by UpWork, 36% of the workforce in the U.S. did contract and freelance work full-time in 2020. Post-pandemic, as high as 60% of freelancers said no amount of money would convince them to take a traditional job.
How we see work now has shifted dramatically. We don’t get paid for time — we get paid for value. It’s the transition from tiring ourselves out in traditional jobs to entrepreneurship, based on the value we can offer to those who need our products and/or services.
The importance of learning the ins and outs of entrepreneurship is a huge consideration for the future. If you have the luxury to stay in a company while starting a business, consider doing it on the nights and weekends until you can rely on your business to provide for you.
Entrepreneurial Education
Along with the disruptions in the industry, education has also been affected and therefore must evolve. The gap between formal education and the skills recent graduates need to succeed in the modern workplace has been growing for decades. Ask any parent or anyone just past college age: Students aren’t prepared for the job market once they graduate. I know I wasn’t prepared for the workplace when I completed college. Educational practices still aren’t fully geared toward a constantly disrupted, disruptive and disrupting market.
What we end up using for work and business isn’t offered by many universities. The need for new skills emerges every day in response to new global trends. Those new trends include developments in my field — digital marketing. Things here change fast. Sometimes every day! As business owners, we need to be agile enough to respond to these trends quickly.
We need to shift from “industrial education” to “entrepreneurial education.” And that’s because the future of work is entrepreneurship. Even if you work in a traditional company, most companies now require their employees to have entrepreneurial skills. So these skills are important whichever way you want to go.
Bottom Line
The future of work looks positive. The speed at which we adapt to new global trends, including the shift toward entrepreneurship, is inspiring. Imagine a world of people exercising their creativity and providing value to each other. It isn’t just about earning money anymore. It’s about finding your purpose and having the freedom to switch paths whenever you want to change directions.