I recently responded to a question on linkedin.com about the future of Daniel Pink's book "Free Agent Nation" written in 2002. Here are my thoughts:
Daniel Pink has certainly popularised the notion of working for oneself and if all of his ideas are taken at face value then I wouldn't want to be head of a large organisation! I do, however, feel that Pink is somewhat extreme in his predictions. Having been in the career field for almost a decade and seeing thousands of people experience career challenges I don't think that Free Agent Nation will live up to the hype.
Rather, I see a bifurcation appearing in the labour market between:
(1) those who prefer working in a large corporate, whether it be for perceived stability, access to resources, esteem needs etc; and
(2) those who pursue a more portfolio career (including Free Agent notion).
The internet is an enabling factor in pursuing a portfolio career. Sites such as elance.com and mturk.com are allowing people who otherwise would not have had the social drive to setup themselves up as a Free Agent can do so from the safe anonymity of their computer.
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