Maynard Webb, CEO
Recently, I was honored to be a guest blogger on The Huffington Post. For those who missed it, below is what I had to share:
I came out of retirement to run a start-up. Over the span of my career, I have rarely used my vacation time and, if my recollection serves me, the last time I called in sick was in 1992. Some think my dedication to work is a bit extreme and unbalanced. Given my current position and platform, it’s somewhat ironic (my family might even say “hilarious”) that I talk passionately about flex-trends and work-life balance – two things I still haven’t fully figured out for myself yet! Although, as part of a commitment I made to my wife for coming out of retirement, I am taking more vacation and doing a weekly date night, which has been fabulous!
In full disclosure, I actually enjoy working. While I work my tail off as the CEO of LiveOps, I do so knowing that the way we work is fundamentally changing and the ramifications will be better for everyone. This amazing trend is so important to me that it was worth postponing retirement!
It is my belief that the notion of going to work, putting in set hours, and getting “face time” are increasingly antiquated ideas. Because of technology, we have entered a modern era of work where we can work from wherever we want, whenever we want, and we can be more productive and make greater contributions than ever before. Not only is this possible, but it’s imperative as workers demand (and deserve) to control their own destinies. And, I believe it’s better for both families and companies.
Enlightened companies see the world of work differently: there is a global economy consisting of suppliers of talent, and buyers of talent. It’s the eBay way. Just as eBay revolutionized the world of ecommerce (and eradicated the sole reliance on stores, set prices, and accessing things within driving distance), we are now revolutionizing the world of work. There are new ways to get work done which eliminate the dependency on office buildings, set hours and commuting.
Independent contractors – a rapidly growing part of the workforce – can often achieve the best quality of life. They can choose where they work, whom they work for, ,and for how long. And, the best workers will receive far more work opportunities than afforded with the traditional employee model, where one gets a max of ten bets in his or her career. People can work productively from their homes (saving eight weeks a year that they would otherwise waste on commuting) and optimize their careers to meet their personal dreams.
This flexibility is important to today’s workforce; in fact, it’s most important. In a recent survey of our independent agent community, 66 percent of respondents cited work flexibility as the number one reason they have chosen to contract with LiveOps. It’s such a different model than what we grew up with, which instead emphasized presence. I used to pride myself on being the first one to arrive at the office and one of the last to leave at night. Now, that’s so dated. It’s not about effort, it’s about outcomes. I often say to people, “Don’t confuse action for traction!”
One of the best parts of my job is hearing from our independent agents about how working with us has given them more choices and has allowed them to build their careers without sacrificing the other aspects of their lives. Francine Phang-Matthews, an independent contractor in Florida, no longer has to race home during the workday to check on her elderly father. She now works from home on her own schedule, allowing her to tend to both work and family needs. Tiffany Shepherd, a young woman in Philadelphia who dreams of becoming an actress, loves the flexibility that independent contracting provides, as it allows her to fit work into her unpredictable audition schedule. And Cynthia Strayer, a single mom who has been contracting with LiveOps for about a year, cherishes being able to see her eight-year-old son when he comes home from school.
We feel good about this and we are committed to offering workers opportunities that make their lives better. For all the benefits this brings the workers, the reason this model works is because the freelance economy represents a superior way for companies to engage talent.
The advantages of a more flexible workforce are evident: less overhead for a company, broader access to talent and greater elasticity in getting work done efficiently. Traditional work is becoming increasingly flexible in accommodating the new work paradigm: nearly 80 percent of U.S. businesses currently have employees who spend at least some time as mobile workers, according to the Yankee Group, and it’s estimated that there will be 100 million telecommuters in the U.S. this year. It’s a start, but we need to go farther, faster.
Up until now, companies have been in control. There has been a surplus of workers and companies have been able to call the shots about where people work and when. But the world of work is dramatically shifting. There is a huge shortage of talent coming, predicts George Friedman in the book The Next 100 Years. With fewer workers, says Friedman, companies will have to be better at considering the needs and desires of the workforce in order to stay competitive.
Work is no longer just about full-time or part-time. It’s about real-time. Real-time calls for new thinking in the way business is framed. As a business leader, I call upon my peers to question the status quo: Does this job need to be located in a specific place? Is “face time” necessary? How can flexibility improve the quality and loyalty of my workforce? In today’s “do or die” economy, I believe the companies that take a critical look at their traditional business practices and adopt more agile work practices are the ones that are built to last.
LiveOps, Inc.
Maynard Webb
Regan Parker
Tim Whipple
Paul Lang
Niall Browne
