Ultimate Gig: Flexibility, Freedom, Rewards

The gig economy can be viewed as the fuel that lit the fire of change in economies throughout the world. Flexible work grew out of a cultural shift in how we defined how we wished to work. The gig economy also grew out of a need, a need to earn more to keep pace with the inflation that nullified expected gains in purchasing power as wages increased. We no longer define work as related to the brick and mortar buildings that housed the traditional 9 to 5 job. Perhaps, the office-centric era is over as many companies have now made decisions relative to how and when their employees can work. Work from home is no longer a wish; it is a reality, and the gig economy has been the fuel that has helped companies realize new and better ways to engage labor and serve consumers.

John T. Fleming has been involved in the direct selling channel of distribution, directly and indirectly, for more than 40 years. He is a former executive of Avon Products Inc., former Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Direct Selling News and current principal of Ideas Design Group LLC. His recognition includes Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame, Direct Selling Education Foundation Circle of Honor and Direct Selling News Lifetime Achiever.