Ep 72: Entrepreneurship In The Age Of the Freelancer Economy

Imagine waking up in the morning, and as your coffee is brewing, reflecting on the work that needs to be completed for the day. For many of us, this can include a long commute to an office, sitting down at a desk, and working within restrictions that is set by management or an organization. For some people, this mental image causes feelings such as dread, resentment and even depression. Those people need to find a solution, where they cannot just have a job, but a career that makes their daily lives much more enjoyable! For some, the result is working on a career where they are not tied down by limitations of working for someone else, but cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit inside themselves.

With today's technology advances, there are many options available for different types of freelance work. Sites like Upwork, and Fiverr, allow people to post and bid for tasks and jobs, Airbnb allows a homeowner to turn their spare bedroom into income, and an Uber driver can make a living while traveling all across their city. What if you want to tap into the freelancer economy, but not sure where to start? How does one use these new tools to their advantage to actually become successful? We look at cultivating entrepreneurship in the age of the freelancer economy, with my guest today, Doug DeVos, the President of Amway.

Amway was founded on an entrepreneurial spirit principle. Starting in 1959, the founders, including Doug's own father, believed in a business model that people could have an accessible business of their very own. With over 21,000 employees in over 100 countries and territories, Amway also has Independent Business Owners that can work full and part time inside their own enterprises. Amway is able to provide many things inside of their company, such as manufacturing, research and development, and forecasting. Doug describes his family's background with Amway, and how the foundation of Amway applies to the future of work, now, more than ever.

A very interesting part of this podcast describes Amway's 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Report. In the report, it is evident that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well! Many times, starting a business, especially a small business, can be halted before it is even started. Fears and insecurities of failure, lack of support, and knowledge, can all be hurdles faced as a person starts working inside a freelancer economy. Sometimes, it can take some creativity to build the confidence needed to move forward. Amway is a great example of independent business owners, being able to use a large company as a backbone for their business. Sometimes having a safe place, to grown and learn, enables individuals to cultivate that spirit Amway was founded on, a necessity to survive and thrive. .

What you will learn in this episode

• Amway's 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Report
• Hurdles and risks in entrepreneurship
• Life stages and Entrepreneurship
• Difference between being a freelancer and an entrepreneur
• What are entrepreneurial characteristics?
• How people without an innate entrepreneurial spirit can grow in their organizations
• Innovation Ecosystems
• Technology in entrepreneurship
• The freelancer economy and the future
• Advice for new employees

Links from the episode

Amway

Amway Global

Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report

(Music by Ronald Jenkees)