WORKSHIFTER - Dispatches from the New Executive Frontier

Did you happen to read the May 19th, 2008 op ed piece in The Wall Street Journal on page A15 titled, The Next American Frontier, written by Michael S. Malone (author of the upcoming book, The Protean Corporation)?
The article reflects what we here at EPOCH see as the increasing demand for greater control over work-life choices. Malone writes:
“Each step in the development of American society has been towards an ever-greater level of independence, freedom and personal liberty. And as the rest of the world catches up to where we were, we've already moved on to the next epoch in the national story.”
Malone cites some intriguing stats:

• 50% of all new college graduates now believe that self-employment is more secure than a full-time job
• 80% of the colleges and universities in the U.S. now offer courses on entrepreneurship
• 60% of Gen Y business owners consider themselves to be serial entrepreneurs, according to Inc. magazine.
• 70% of today's high schoolers intend to start their own companies, according to a Gallup poll.

Traditional employment is on the way out, it seems, and that may be a good thing. Think of all the STUFF that comes with a traditional job. Working independently, you can chuck most of it. We love the picture Malone paints:
"Without noticing it, we have once again discovered, and then raced off to settle, a new frontier. Not land, not innovation, but ourselves and a growing control over our own lives and careers... And why not? Each step in the development of American society has been towards an ever-greater level of independence, freedom and personal liberty."
We couldn’t agree more.