Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur the collaborators are his.
There has been a seismic shift in the way people see work: how they work, where they work and who they work with. It is no longer based on the idea of a 9-5 job, the future of the job is becoming much more fluid, and it allows people’s creativity, passion and skills to shine. As this evolution continues, the creator’s economy and the ethos that creators personify will pave the way for the future of work.
In many ways, the future of work is already here. The creative economy is estimated to reach more than $ 104 billion by the end of 2022. More than 50 million people consider themselves creators, and approximately 30% of young Americans want to become digital creators instead. of traditional occupations such as doctors and lawyers. But being a creator doesn’t just mean using social media or monetizing online content. Being a creator means doing a job that you are deeply passionate about, which often means sharing experiences, knowledge, or creativity with an audience. This audience can be millions of subscribers on YouTube or a few dozen customers on Kajabi. This is the beauty of the creator’s ethos: no matter what you have to share, there will be an audience eager to consume it.
Related: How to enter the economy of the creator in a digital age
Embrace a strong sense of self
At the heart of the creator’s ethos is a strong sense of self. Instead of being “one of many” or working for a company or market, being a creator means being able to thrive on your own terms. In fact, this strong sense of self is one of the biggest differences between workers and creators.
In the gig economy, workers have some freedom, but for the most part they are limited by platforms that promote uniformity among workers. For example, if you’re an Uber driver, you’re told who to pick up for a trip and when to pick them up. This is very different from an artist who is free to sell his work on Instagram or collaborate with other creators to produce art and display it on YouTube, or an aspiring musician who not only makes music on Spotify , but also works with other artists to create music that TikTok creators collect.
Related: Can the creator’s economy help democratize entrepreneurship?
There has never been a better time to adopt the creator’s ethos
A confluence of events from the pandemic to the laws of technology transparency to pay makes this the perfect time to let your creator’s ethics shine. While the seed has always been there, this type of thinking has become prevalent as our way of thinking about work continues to change. The entry barrier, which used to be high for most jobs, is much lower. Nowadays, you don’t necessarily have to go to school to become an expert on something. You can learn from a lot of online courses, both from institutions and other creators.
Undoubtedly, the pandemic has accelerated the transition to remote work, making it easier for those who want to pursue their passions to have the flexibility to do so wherever and whenever they want. In addition, the pandemic caused many people to reevaluate their relationship with work and how they want to dedicate their time. Many people quickly realized that life is too short to do something they are not passionate about.
For some, adopting the creator’s mindset was an inevitable choice. For example, my wife quit her job from 9 to 5 to start her own training and consulting practice after her passion for helping people helped her realize the freedom to let go of oppressive systems. . For others, becoming a creator was more circumstantial, such as those whose pandemic threatened life and unearthed latent creative skills to stay afloat.
Broadway performer Kari Cotone shared her story with me about how she channeled her writing skills when Broadway closed during the pandemic. Before the technological tools that fuel online creators, he had to juggle an execution contract and work in bars and restaurants. He can now run a freelance writing business, working with clients online and can adjust his workload based on upcoming art concerts.
We cannot forget the role of technological innovation in creating the environment and the tools that creators need to pursue their passions. Without the creation of communications platforms like Slack and Zoom, the proliferation of affordable laptops, ubiquitous high-quality Wi-Fi, and more, it’s hard to imagine creators being able to make a living, let alone thrive.
Related: How to get passive income in the creator’s economy
Businesses must give way to passion
It cannot be argued that passion generates creativity. In today’s landscape, creativity generates more business impact than just pure hours. In fact, McKinsey’s research finds a strong correlation between creativity and financial performance, and creativity and innovation.
In the next 10 years, I think more than 90% of Americans will have some sort of passion-related income or job. The amount of time people invest, the revenue they earn, and the size of the audience they reach can vary significantly; but it is inevitable that work driven by passion will continue to proliferate.
Whether you’re a small business owner, a startup founder, or a Fortune 500 leader, all businesses will need to adapt to this new reality and think about what it takes to thrive in this changing environment. As business leaders continue to adapt to distance work and consider their employees ’desire to be part of something bigger, issues will need to be addressed in the context of this changing climate.
Now is not the time to curb creativity and passion, but to encourage it. When business owners encourage employees to adopt the creator’s ethos and employees are given permission to spend more time doing what they enjoy, the future of work looks much brighter.