20% Hybrid

I was asked an interesting series of questions today by a friend who is questioning not only their career, but also the way they approach life. It spawned a drawn out conversation that I think is going to carry on for months ahead, but they were also asking me about why I got into crypto, what keeps me engaged with it and where I see it heading - which was refreshing, since most people are only interested in the "money" side of it.

One thing that did come up was the growing realization by people that they want to enjoy their work more, but still want the stability of being an employee, which doesn't always offer the most enjoyable tasks. However, with the changing world, economy and technology, those with valuable skills are increasingly being presented options to take a hybrid approach to their work. This allows them to take a "part-time" approach to their work as an employee where for example (what I modeled for my friend), was where they could work 80/20, four days as an employee, one day as self-employed.

This is similar to the "20-percent time" that has been introduced in some companies over the last decade, but the difference is that the work done isn't owned by the company, it is owned by the one doing it. OF course, this comes at a 20% cost of employee income too, so a person has to either be comfortable enough to absorb the cost or, willing to actually earn during that day.

However, as I was explaining today, when it comes to wellbeing, having that day of personally valuable work makes the other four days far more bearable, even enjoyable. This also has the added benefit of potentially distributing income streams, making a person (assuming the same amount is earned in that day) 20% less reliant on the employed work, with an option to expand the self-employed if wanted, or needed.

My friend actually has a huge benefit in this, as she already has a sound investment portfolio and perhaps more importantly, a high level of skill in a non-competing industry than what they are in now. On top of this, what they are able to bring to the table is a support function that would help other people doing similar improve their own competitiveness by developing their skill set and, they are very good at delivering this and have a track-record of results.

In a world that is going to see more "hybrid" work and distributed personal revenue streams, there is a lot of potential for those who can service the bourgeoning hustle economy, as more people take part. This means that rather than going it alone to start a new business, many skilled (and unskilled) are going to be starting their own hybrid approaches also, and are therefore more inclined to use services and people who understand them and where they are coming from. The large corporations are going to provide en masse, but that is going to get average results across the board - so they are still going to need to build market differentiation, as an individual.

There is another factor that will increase the drive to do this, as in time businesses are going to look to reduce the time that people are working for them and perhaps be encouraged to, as unemployment rises. This means that for every four people who choose to work four days of the week, another four-day employee can be hired. In a global business, this can be valuable for network distribution also, but it is valuable for governments to maintain stability, because working people are happier people - despite worker protestations to the contrary.

Now of course, most of us here on Hive are no stranger to this, since many are already taking a hybrid work approach, even though for example myself, I am still working 5 days a week and more, as I have a small business too. But, my little "crypto side-hustle" has the flexibility to do at anytime, seven days a week and, the diversity to continually keep me engaged and active, as well as the various reward mechanisms of social and financial aspects that incentivize participation.

What I am really looking forward to is a world where while people can't do only what they love, they are able to spend some of their time doing a bit of what they love for reward. This encourages them to improve and expand their skillsets and as such, end up being "better off" for it, as even though they might not earn a huge amount from it, their sense of self and quality of life experience can improve dramatically.

My friend uses her skills at every possible opportunity now, taking reward from the delivery of it socially, but I think they are starting to see what we see, that the coming economy is going to empower her to be her best, and pay her for it.

What does the world look like if people truly did what they loved, even if it was only for 20% of the time?

Taraz [ Gen1: Hive ]