The Free Agency Revolution

What is a Free Agent? Anyone who defines themselves as self-employed, freelancer, temp, home-based businessperson, independent contractor, solo practitioner, and operator of a micro-business (that is, a business employing less than 3) is considered to be a Free Agent. Today, there are approximately 33 million Free Agents across North America, which represents approximately one in every five people in workforce. Freelancers vs. independent contractors vs. temp Quite simply, a freelancer is an independent contractor who earns his or her living by contracting for projects on a project by project basis. A freelancer is not an employee of anyone and so he or she must actively seek out work, negotiate terms and conditions of project (the contract) and complete work to satisfaction of client. Once project is complete, freelancer seeks out and enters into another contract for another project. A freelancer becomes a microbusiness when they obtain a business license. Independent contractor is a legal term for a freelancer. The importance is that independent contractors are covered by different labors than regular employees. Consultant, often a euphemism for unemployed white-collar worker, is now a common label for independent workers. Freelancers are not exactly a twenty-first century innovations. Writers, artists, and photographers gave worked this way for decades. And both idea of freelancing and term itself are even older, dating back to Middle Ages and bands of Italian and French mercenaries who roamed Europe looking for a war. These so-called free companions would fight for any sovereign and march under any banner if price is right. When this notion migrated to England, some British subjects began calling these rent-a-knights “free-lances.” They weren’t free of charge, just free of loyalty On other hand, temporary agencies hire temporary worker and then sell worker's services to an employer. So "temp" worker receives their paycheck from agency. Typically, employers may offer temporary worker a permanent job, but terms and conditions apply that usually cost employer an additional fee. This raises your cost of hire, but it gives both you and employer an opportunity to "try before you buy" - testing relationship and job fit, Temporary workers, since they are employed by agency, are not independent contractors. There are high-end temps, like 5000-a-day CEOs; however, many temporaries are not so lucky. They work for meager pay and no benefits. Temporary workers, since they have little control over conditions of their work, tend to be most dissatisfied member of workforce. According to one economist’s survey, only 27 percent of temporaries are happy with their present situation. (Sharon R. Conahy,”Workers in Alternative Economy” Monthly Labor Review (October 1, 1996)) Not that long ago, freelancing was something people did mainly in larger metropolitan areas where work for writers, artists, and other creative types was plentiful and easily accessible. Today, however, freelance landscape has dramatically changed.

American Dream

American Dream” Success Model The present model of business and career motivation , one most closely associated with “American Dream” which emphases enterpreuneurship, individual achievement, competition, and domination has been around for at least last 50 years . Up to mid 20th century, predominant prosperity model was Calvinist work ethic originally derived from Puritan. The Calvinist work ethic emphasized hard work, saving for future, and foregoing vacations, paying bills in cash, and foregoing luxuries to save for a rainy day. On other, motivation for moneymaking is no longer saving for future, but, what Thornstein Veblen, famous 19th century economist characterized as “conspicuous consumption.” Luxury homes, luxury cars, fancy electronic gadgets, and exotic vacations create illusion of wealth. The philosophy of Amway Corporation, now known as Quixtel in U. S. is a good illustration of concepts involved. Amway Corporation is a direct selling organization that produces and markets products using a Multilevel Marketing system (or MLM for short). Multilevel marketing is a form of direct selling in which manufacturers authorize independent contractors to sell their products directly to consumers, bypassing intermediaries and retail stores. Using garage or a spare bedroom as a warehouse and a home office as a business hub, a distributor makes a profit by buying wholesale from his or her company and selling to customers at retail prices. MLM is also a recruiting business. A distributor is permitted to sign up other individuals to become part of his company’s distribution force--and is paid a commission on wholesale product purchases made by recruits. Both methods then furnish consumers with new options in acquiring consumer items they desire. The motivator for work and sole measure of success measured is money and goods that money can buy: This is a business, and a main reason people work at any business is to earn money that not only will help them pay their bills, but also meet other goals. Those may be short- or long-term goals, and they could be large (like buying a new house) or small (like saving for a vacation). A better standard of living is a common motivation and reward for people starting any kind of business. Money - and what it can buy - is universally recognizable indicator of success that distributors use to motivate and establish credibility for their business. (http://www.amway.com/InfoCenter/questions/question20.asp)