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Client Relationships Guide: 13 Ways to Build Strong Relationships with Clients
By MBO Partners | | Manage a Small Business
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Artificial Intelligence: MBO Senior Leadership Perspectives
By MBO Partners
As part of our continued focus on how enterprises and independents interact with AI, members of our senior leadership recently offered their thoughts on several key topics, challenges, and strategies. We will delve deeper into some of these in future articles. Welcome to the Wild West We’ve seen it time and again. When any new…
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How to Unlock Efficiency with Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners
Direct sourcing is a part of talent acquisition for many modern enterprises—our research found that as of early 2023, nearly 80% of large organizations either had a direct sourcing program in place or expected to explore the approach within the next two years. Direct sourcing involves sourcing independent contractor talent using internal resources rather than…
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Exploring New Frontiers: An Overview
By MBO Partners
A new report based on a research study by MBO Partners and Emergent Research hit the internet today. “Exploring New Frontiers: How Independent Workers View and Use Generative AI in 2024” looks at how independents interact with Gen AI in their businesses. Our research, which included 1,132 independent workers and 3,832 traditional workers, indicates that…
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12 Must Have Productivity Apps for Self Employed
By MBO Partners
While your favorite apps might involve watching viral videos, scrolling through beautiful pictures, or zoning out while playing a game, you don’t always have the luxury of getting sucked into the vortex of your phone when you run your own business. Luckily, there’s another category of apps that are equally engaging—and can help you maximize…
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Artificial Intelligence for Contingent Labor: Benefits and Challenges
By MBO Partners
Artificial intelligence (AI) can have a significant impact on companies that use independent contractor talent—from finding and sourcing contractors to engaging and onboarding them. AI tools can effectively source prospective independents, assess them without bias, and onboard them efficiently. With more companies drawing on contingent labor to build optimized or blended workforces, AI tools can be…
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Creating an Effective Contingent Labor Program: Getting Classification Right
By MBO Partners
Following on my introduction to this series, this first installment focuses on the critical importance of correctly classifying the members of your independent workforce. In the past, the onus was on independent contractors to make sure they were set up correctly, paying the right taxes – the IRS would audit them directly. That has…
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4 Ways AI Can Make Your Life Easier an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been growing buzzword over the past few years. Most recently, AI is being talked about with Chat GPT—a natural language processing chatbot that uses generative AI technology. AI promises a more innovative and growth-spurred future, so it’s no wonder that so many people believe AI will revolutionize the way we…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News February 2024
By MBO Partners
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. Commissioner of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Argues Misclassification…
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Navigating Compliance and Risk Management in Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners
Over 72 million Americans worked independently in 2023. As more enterprises turn to the independent workforce for staffing flexibility, in-demand skills, and cost savings, direct sourcing is steadily evolving as the leading way to engage this group of talent. Direct sourcing gives enterprises access to a pool of vetted talent, saves time and costs, increases…
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Top 7 Financial Considerations When Starting a Small Business
By MBO Partners
When starting a small business, there are many financial considerations to consider. Maintaining a consistent pipeline of work, marketing your services, and building your brand are big pieces of the puzzle, but to make a sustainable income and operate compliantly, you’ll need to think about your finances as well. Here are seven financial management topics…
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4 “Off the Beaten Track” Tips to Create Financial Security as an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners
Every worker has at least some degree of concern about job security, and independent professionals are very concerned. The challenge cited most frequently by nearly half of the respondents (49%) to our 2023 State of Independence survey was insufficient predictable income. Coming in second, 33% of respondents were worried about the state of their project…
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How Fluent Are You in “Digital?” 4 Areas that Independent Professionals Need to Master
By MBO Partners
On-the-job technology has come a long way since Netscape days. As hardware and software have steadily evolved since then, workers and companies have had to keep up. Web browsers, email platforms, and phone apps are just a few of the technology tools that are embedded in the workplace. Now there are clouds, web-based collaboration spaces,…
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Project Management Tips for Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Project management is an important part of every independent contractor’s business. How you handle a project from start to finish will have an impact on your reputation, and influence whether or not your client will want to work with you again. Project management can be tricky—even if you’re organized and it comes somewhat easily to…
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4 Applications of AI in the Creator Economy
By MBO Partners
In spite of seeing a plateau in its population from last year to this year, the Creator Economy is positioned for big growth. With an expanding ecosystem of support services and content platforms incorporating technological advancements that help them, new creators from all age groups are finding low barriers to entry and audiences waiting to…
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3 Questions to Ask About the “Future of Work”
By MBO Partners
The future. It’s always out on the horizon. How will things look in 5, 10, 20 years? And how can we prepare ourselves today for the most likely scenario? The” future of work” has become a buzz phrase. What does it actually mean? The world of work has always shifted and changed in response to…
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Future-Proof Your Workforce with Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners
Direct sourcing—the process by which a company leverages independent contractors—has seen rapid advancement in recent years. As the market shifts to increased use of independent talent, direct sourcing will become even more important to enterprises that want to optimize their workforces The Evolution of Direct Sourcing Basic direct sourcing can take the form of finding…
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Three Challenges Independent Creators Face and How to Overcome Them
By MBO Partners
Independent digital content creators are influencers, entertainers, artists, educators, writers, thought leaders, and more who make their living by using their skills or knowledge to create online digital content. In the influencer age, this is an enticing career path that many people are trying their hand at. But being a digital content creator doesn’t come…
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What Independent Digital Content Creators Can Bring to Your Enterprise
By MBO Partners
Digital content creators are a unique group of independent professionals. Combining interesting content with technical prowess, they have become an integral part of the digital environment. Primarily monetizing their businesses through a mix of advertising revenue, sponsorships, subscriptions, and product sales, creators in the US now number around 8 million people. According to our research,…
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How to Maximize Efficiency When Activating a Direct Sourcing Strategy
By MBO Partners
The use of direct sourcing to leverage independent workers from an internally developed pool of talent has rapidly grown in the past few years. As of early 2023, nearly 80% of large organizations either have a direct sourcing program in place or expect to explore the approach within the next two years. Finding the ideal…
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Independent Digital Content Creators: 5 Traits
By MBO Partners
Independent creators are a group of full- and part-time entrepreneurs and small business owners who monetize their knowledge and skills through online digital content. This group has increased 14% from 2022, becoming one of the fastest-growing self-employment and independent work segments. Entertainers, artists, writers, videographers, influencers, and thought leaders are all independent creators who earn…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News January 2024
By MBO Partners
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Worker Classification…
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3 Keys to Maximize the Benefits of Open Innovation
By MBO Partners
The business value of open innovation lies in its ability to drive creativity, flexibility, and efficiency by leveraging external resources and perspectives. Through open innovation challenges for its customers, MindSumo provides benefits that include: Accelerated innovation cycles. Instead of relying only on internal R&D, enterprises can leverage external ideas to bring new products and services…
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8 Ways to Offer Wellness Benefits to Independent Professionals
By MBO Partners
Being a Client of Choice is critical for any enterprise competing for independent professionals with in-demand skills. Our research shows an annual increase in the percentage of independents saying they are able to choose the clients with whom they work. This choice goes beyond money into areas like ease of engagement, the quality of working…
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Creating an Effective Contingent Labor Program: Introduction
By MBO Partners
Unsurprisingly, companies are increasingly recognizing the need for agility and flexibility within their workforce. Recent layoffs among traditional W2 employees have prompted a reevaluation of conventional employment models. As organizations navigate economic uncertainties and rapid technological advancements, the spotlight increasingly turns towards the strategic integration of independent contractors & a contingent workforce. This shift not…
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How to Find the Right Consulting Project
By MBO Partners
Finding work as an independent professional might seem daunting at first, but there are an increasing number of resources available to help independents find projects and clients. As more people turn to independent work, technology as evolved in tandem to help match your experience and resume with the best project and client for your skillset….
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Job Security Is Evaporating. Now What?
By MBO Partners
A person’s employment over multiple decades is a thing of the past. The notion of a gold-watch retirement has entered the realm of myth—to anyone in the younger generations of the workforce, such a thing borders on unbelievable. Instead, workforce cutbacks and layoffs have become almost commonplace. The Employed Entrepreneur While a steady paycheck, benefits,…
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3 Ways to Ensure Success When Engaging Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Growing demand, enabling technology, and expanding supply are three key factors leading to the continuing growth of the independent workforce in America today. In 2023, just over 72 million people reported working independently. As more organizations incorporate independent talent as part of their workforce, it becomes increasingly important to be aware of the legal complexities…
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Managing the Pressure Cooker of Microstress for Enterprises and Independents
By MBO Partners
In today’s fast-paced workplace, people often find themselves grappling with a subtle form of pressure: microstress. Unlike the obvious stress that can arise from major life events, microstress comprises small daily stressors that add up over time. Because of the “smallness” of microstressors, they may be hard to identify. Their cumulative effects, though, can be…
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Time Management Hacks for Independent Contractors: Balancing Work and Personal Life
By MBO Partners
As an independent contractor, finding ways to effectively manage your time can be a constant challenge. Many people decide to go independent for greater control over their work and personal life. They enjoy being their own boss, setting their own hours, and deciding who they work for and when. Maintaining this balance can take some…
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5 Tips for Building Stronger Contractor Relationships in 2024
By MBO Partners
Building strong relationships with independent talent will be important for businesses in the coming year as more enterprises seek to use independents as part of their staffing strategy. Top independent talent—who have the skills companies seek—have the luxury of picking the clients they work with. Those who purposely find ways to prioritize contractor satisfaction and…
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“Tethered Nomadism” – Unintended Consequences of Return to Office Mandates
By MBO Partners
In the wake of a global shift towards remote work, a once-niche lifestyle choice gained mass appeal: digital nomadism. Offices were vacated in favor of makeshift desks in living rooms, beachside resorts, or highland mountain retreats, proving that for many, work was no longer a place but a task that could be performed from any…
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How to Ensure Compliance for Non-Traditional Independent Workers
By MBO Partners
As the way work gets done changes and companies continue to seek high-demand and often specialized skills, hiring managers are tapping workers from non-traditional talent pools. The most notable of these are digital nomads and members of the creator economy. Engaging Digital Nomads Requires Extra Attention While independent professionals pursuing a digital nomad work style…
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Compliance Risk Assessment Tool for Independent Workforce Engagement
By MBO Partners
Because there is risk associated with hiring independent contractors, preparation is key. Often, misclassification can be unintentional because businesses simply do not have a full understanding of the laws regarding how to classify their workers. However, it can also be done intentionally to reduce labor costs or avoid payroll taxes. Regardless of why misclassification occurs, it…
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New DOL Rule Changes Definition Of IC Status: What Matters for Your Enterprise
By MBO Partners
On January 9, 2024, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced its final rule on determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) purposes. The rule is effective on March 11, 2024, and rescinds the existing rule developed by the previous administration that has been…
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9 Ways to Include AI in Your Workforce
By MBO Partners
Workforce optimization—establishing a strategic mix of employees and contractors—will likely be redefined in the next few years. With AI coming on the scene in a big way, speculations swirl in the business community about how it will change the way work is done. Will it cause jobs to be lost as it takes on roles…
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Gross vs Net Income: Differences and How to Calculate
By MBO Partners
Gross income is the total amount you earn and net income is your actual business profit after expenses and allowable deductions are taken out. However, because gross income is used to calculate net income, these terms are easy to confuse. When you run your own business, understanding the difference between gross income and net income…
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How to Integrate Independent Contractors into Your Business in 2024
By MBO Partners
Independent contractors are the solution for many organizations when faced with disruption, competition, and labor and skill shortages. The average company reports that contingent labor makes up 28% of their workforce, and this proportion is expected to grow to 38% by the end of 2027. As this sector of the workforce increases, it is worth…
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In-Demand Skill Sets for Today’s Workforce
By MBO Partners
As the business world enters a new digital reality dominated by AI, the skills needed in the workforce are changing. As a result, skills that were once nice to have or useful in special circumstances are in ever-higher demand. Soft Skills Become Power Skills In the past, enterprises considered roles in the context of “technical…
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5 Tips for Using Networking to Grow Your Small Business
By MBO Partners
Networking can be a powerful tool as an independent professional. By building relationships with peers and industry professionals, you can find new clients, discover potential partnerships, and benefit from new ideas and fresh perspectives. Whether you are connecting with people online or offline, consider making networking a regular part of your job to help boost…
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W-2 vs. 1099: 10 Differences for Employers
By MBO Partners
Employee misclassification can be detrimental to your business. Here are 10 key differences between 1099 independent contractors and W2 employees that you should know.
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How to Stay Organized as a Consultant
By MBO Partners
Boosting your productivity as a small business owner is never a bad thing. Two of the most valued benefits to being an independent contractor are the flexibility to work where want and the ability to work how you want. Whether you work out of a home office, leased space, or coworking facility, you’ve likely spent…
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How to Achieve Corporate Agility by Leveraging Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
Enterprises today are increasingly using workforces composed of full-time, independent, and offshore talent. By shifting to project-based workflows that align with this mix of talent, companies can be more flexible in creative in how work gets done. Many have transitioned to remote work, or partially remote work as a new way of operating. To remain…
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How to Prepare Your Team for Rolling Transformation
By MBO Partners
2024 is shaping up to be a year of rolling transformations for businesses. AI is catalyzing widespread technology changes. Generative AI is changing how many people approach their tasks. Workforce models are changing as in-demand skills are in short supply through traditional channels. World events demand that enterprises be able to change and adapt quickly….
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Balancing Act: Growing Your Side Hustle While Maintaining Your Full-Time Job
By MBO Partners
In the dynamic world of today’s workforce, I decided to delve into the realm of side hustles for a multitude of personal reasons. Economic considerations have been a driving force for me, pushing me to explore additional income sources as a safety net amidst the uncertainties of a rapidly changing job market. Beyond the financial…
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6 Tips for Productive Remote 1-on-1 Meetings with Team Members
By MBO Partners
One-on-one meetings are a staple of team management. A dedicated, private conversation between manager and team member, this kind of meeting can be highly productive. In today’s workplace, it’s likely that some, if not all, of your 1-on-1s will be remote. While the fundamentals are the same, this type of meeting lacks the shared physical…
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5 Essential Team Management Skills for 2024 and Beyond
By MBO Partners
Effective team management is a vital element of success in the future of work. As temporary teams take the place of the soon-to-be-outdated long-term team model, managers must be able to rally members around specific goals and provide the support and guidance needed to reach the desired outcome—and then rinse and repeat with new members…
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4 Long-Term Trends Driving the Growth of the Independent Workforce
By MBO Partners
Over the past year, both supply and demand for independent workers increased. MBO Partners’ latest State of Independence Study found that 72.1 million Americans reported working independently in 2023. A tight labor market and demand for workers with specialized skills led more organizations to rely on independent talent to fill skill gaps. Together, this increased…
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5 Things to Know About the Modern Independent Worker
By MBO Partners
MBO Partners’ 2023 State of Independence report found that there have never been more people working independently—more than 72 million Americans reported working as part-time, occasional, or full-time independents. There is a growing demand for independent talent, who are well-positioned to provide companies with flexible, on-demand expertise. And as more people see independent work as…
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Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Contingent Labor: A Strategic Approach to Direct Sourcing
By MBO Partners
In a labor market characterized by scarcity and dynamic shifts, the statistics speak volumes about the evolving nature of the workforce. As of October, there were 9.6 million open jobs, significantly outnumbering the 6.5 million job seekers (October BLS Report). This staggering gap emphasizes the ongoing challenge of talent acquisition, pushing organizations to explore innovative…
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10 Great Holiday Gifts for Clients
By MBO Partners
The holiday season is always busy and taking time to find the perfect little something for your client can be an added stress. Rather than settling for a last-minute gift card or fruit basket, take advantage of our annual holiday gift guide. We’ve scoured the web and polled our team members to find some of…
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6 Ways Outsourcing to Independent Contractors Can Help Your Business Succeed This Year
By MBO Partners
Outsourcing projects to independent contractors can be a great way to achieve goals. Today’s work environment is in flux. It can be hard to meet business expectations with a workforce of full-time employees alone. Independent contractors are skilled experts in many different fields. This group of workers can help provide the workforce flexibility and project-based…
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After Action Reviews as a Team Learning Tool
By MBO Partners
The after action review, or AAR, was first created by the U.S. Army in the 1970s as an on-the-spot learning tool to make fast corrections and improvements to a group’s direction and activity. Seeing the potential of such a tool, the business world adopted the AAR and applied it to a range of applications. The…
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Independent Contractor Misclassification and Compliance News November 2023
By MBO Partners
As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. 1. New York Passes Freelancers Isn’t Free Act…
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Ideas for Special End-of-Year Thank-Yous
By MBO Partners
It’s the time of year when we express appreciation in a big way—to family members, coworkers, clients, and the service providers who make our lives easier. Even though you might mass mail (or email) thank-yous in your business, you may have some contacts or associates who deserve a more custom message. They could be fellow…
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How to Do a Year End Business Review: 5 Steps
By MBO Partners
Conducting an end-of-year review isn’t a practice that just applies to bigger businesses—it’s a process that is valuable to freelancers and independent professionals as well. A business review gives you a chance to look back at what you have achieved, revisit your goals, and consider how to best move forward for the coming year. To…
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Preparing for the Holidays as an Independent Professional
By MBO Partners
The year-end holiday season is upon us! From now through New Year’s Day, many of us will juggle additional activities. School events, family visits, and social commitments get added to our usual workload and home responsibilities. For some, stress levels increase as to-do lists get longer and time gets shorter. An added stressor for independent…
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Help Solve the Challenges of Independence through Talent Marketplaces
By MBO Partners
Our State of Independence research defines independent workers as full and part-time workers of all ages, skills, and income levels. This includes consultants, freelancers, contractors, temporary or on-call workers, solopreneurs, gig workers, and others who work independently to build businesses, develop their careers, pursue passions, and/or supplement their incomes. According to independent workers who participated…
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Contractor Engagement Strategies for the New Year
By MBO Partners
Organizations of all sizes are increasing their use of independent workers to maximize workforce agility and flexibility. The average company reports that contingent labor makes up 28% of their workforce and this proportion is expected to grow to 38% by the end of 2027. Independent work is becoming more popular and accessible, giving enterprises access…
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Seasoned Workers and the Encore Career
By MBO Partners
Forty-eight percent of U.S. independent professionals are either Baby Boomers (19%) or Gen X (29%). It is likely that many of these, especially in the Boomer cohort, are pursuing encore careers as independent professionals. These workers can make valuable contributions to the companies they work with. What Is an Encore Career? An encore career is…
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Setting SMART Business Goals for the Upcoming Year
By MBO Partners
Conducting a year-end business review is a valuable practice as an independent contractor. Taking stock of your accomplishments over the past months, reviewing your network contacts, and setting goals for the upcoming year can help you identify gaps in your business offerings, keep your back office organized, and uncover new ways to grow and evolve….
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How to Make Sure Independent Talent Isn’t Temporary Talent
By MBO Partners
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, at the end of July 2023 there were 8.8 million open jobs but only 5.25 million job seekers. This gap, a skills shortage mainly in the technology space, and caution around adding headcount has more and more companies turning to independent talent to meet their workforce needs….
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Is It Time to Rethink Independent Talent in Your Enterprise?
By MBO Partners
“There have never been more payroll jobs in the U.S. There have also never been more people working independently.” 2023 State of Independence Report Those two statements may seem paradoxical, but they are both true. The U.S. independent talent population has grown steadily year on year—from 2020 to 2023 alone it jumped by 89%. Even…
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3 Ways to Make Direct Sourcing Part of Your Workforce Management Strategy
By MBO Partners
Direct sourcing is a way to connect directly with independent contractors and engage them for project-based work. Rather than using a third-party service like a staffing or consulting firm to find talent, companies can source talent internally using their own resources. This approach helps to save time, money, and resources while often resulting in sourcing…
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Mastering the Art of The Side Hustle: Thriving in Full-Time Employment and Entrepreneurship Simultaneously
By MBO Partners
In today’s fast-paced world, many ambitious individuals, myself included, are continuously seeking innovative ways to pursue our passions and financial goals. For those of us who are inherently creative, the idea of balancing a full-time job while simultaneously running a successful business is an enticing challenge. While it might initially appear as a daunting endeavor,…
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The Support Team Every Independent Professional Needs
By MBO Partners
As an independent professional, you will spend part (or, in some cases, all) of your career as a solopreneur. With a high degree of flexibility, autonomy, and control, being your own boss has a lot of advantages. The choice to go solo does have challenges. Respondents to our 2023 State of Independence survey cited unpredictable…
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Here Comes Gen Z: How to Prepare for the Gen Z Workforce
By MBO Partners
Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is the first digital-native generation. Computers, the internet, and smartphones are integral to their day-to-day lives, not the optional features of other generations. Their worldview, colored by a world in turmoil, has fostered a perspective on life and work that significantly differs from their elders. One in every…
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Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
As the year draws to a close, it’s common to take some time to look back on the performance of your business. Reviewing your back office—records, taxes, expense tracking, billing, etc.—is another helpful practice to prepare for the new year. Organizing paperwork and making sure records are accessible will help ease the burden of searching…
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How to Magnetize Your Independent Talent Role Descriptions
By MBO Partners
We’ve talked about the importance of creating an optimized workforce to future-proof your enterprise. We’ve also talked about how to conduct a skills assessment to figure out skills (and associated roles) that are most important in your independent talent pool. And we’ve observed that competition for those skills can be stiff. Now, let’s talk about…
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Soft Skills in the Workplace: Top Skills and How to Improve Them
By MBO Partners
What are soft skills? Soft skills, often called people skills or emotional intelligence, are defined as the ability to interact amicably with others. They are personal attributes that can affect relationships, communication, and interaction with others. Soft skills can be invaluable to business success, but why are they so important? While soft skills can at…
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What to Know Before Hiring through a Talent Marketplace
By MBO Partners
If your organization is not already using a marketplace to find independent professionals, you may be missing out on great talent. Talent marketplaces—online platforms that connect independent contractors with projects—are continuing to grow in popularity. In 2023, 40% of independent contractors said they used a talent marketplace to find work and 47% said they planned…
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Downsides of Using AI in Your Open Innovation Solutions
By MBO Partners
Last month I talked about how AI can help you solve open innovation challenges as a research assistant and brainstorming partner. But there’s a dark side to AI in open innovation. While using AI more extensively in your solving activities might be tempting, this can be a big risk. 3 Risks of Using AI in…
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4 Ways to Build a Network of Qualified Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
A talent network is a vetted and qualified on-demand pool of independent professional talent that managers use to fill project roles quickly. An established talent network that has either worked with your company before or been through a vetting process can be hugely valuable. This group of independents will already be familiar with how to…
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6 Ways to Find Work When Business is Slow
By MBO Partners
As the holiday season approaches, it’s common to find business slowing down. Many clients will take time off for the holidays and prospective clients may not want to start a project until the new year. But it’s important to keep in mind that other businesses may have budgets that need to be spent by the…
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How to Identify High-Value Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
Even as employment figures reach unprecedented levels in the U.S., roughly a quarter of the average company’s workforce today comprises contingent labor. This is more than a trend. Independent talent have a solid foothold in today’s labor market. More significantly, independents are working in increasingly strategic roles. They impact a company’s productivity, goal achievement, and…
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Put the Future of Work in Your 2024 Plan
By MBO Partners
The future is always on the business radar—for example, the economic future, the market future, the regulatory future. But the idea of forecasting the future in the context of work and how it gets done—what we’re calling the “future of work”—is new. The model of a predominantly onsite 40-hour work week has been in place…
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The Legal Landscape: Navigating Compliance with Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Engaging independent contractors comes with many benefits: increased staffing flexibility, access to in-demand skills, cost savings, and a workforce for project-based work. But in exchange for these advantages, companies must be aware of how to navigate compliance in order to operate legally when engaging contingent workers. From a legal perspective, independent contractors fall under a…
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10 Things to do When Business is Slow
By MBO Partners
When business is slow, there can be many factors at play. It might be the time of year for your industry, the holiday season, changing consumer trends, or a sign your pipeline needs a boost. As an independent professional, work can ebb and flow from month to month. One day you may be swamped with…
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Upskilling and Reskilling in Your Direct Sourcing Program
By MBO Partners
In today’s fast-paced business space where change has become the norm, worker skills requirements frequently shift. The result is not really a skills shortage, though media and many business experts use that term. Rather, demand is greater than supply at different times and for certain skills. In today’s market, this situation applies to many technology…
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True Flexibility is Key to Success in the Future of Work
By MBO Partners
If you ask leaders at your enterprise what “workplace flexibility” means, what would they say? Many answers would probably revolve around ideas like remote/hybrid arrangements, variable work schedules, and skill-based roles, and they would be right—to a degree. These and other tactics certainly contributed to enhanced flexibility, but on their own, they can fall short…
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Globetrotting Families: How Digital Nomads Are Embracing Travel with Their Children
By MBO Partners
By now, we have all heard about digital nomadism. Earlier this year, I authored a long form piece for HBR on the topic, on how to get started and have a successful digital nomad experience. However, while the phenomenon of employee nomading has been extensively recorded, its allure is now expanding beyond individuals to encompass…
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How to Use an Online Marketplace to Grow Your Small Business
By MBO Partners
Finding new work is always top of mind when you run your own business. Independent professionals are increasingly relying on online talent marketplaces as a sales channel for their services. In 2022, 41% of independents who provide services to businesses said they found work on talent platforms, an increase from 15% in 2015 and just…
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Gamify Your Direct Sourcing Program
By MBO Partners
The use of gaming techniques in non-game situations—known as gamification—has been a consumer staple for some time. From frequent flyer miles to coffee shop punch cards, retail marketers understand that motivating customers through freebies is an effective strategy. In recent years, gamification has made its way into the workplace, mainly by way of training programs…
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Creating a Feedback Culture in Your Direct Sourcing Program
By MBO Partners
Giving and receiving feedback to and from your high-value independent professionals offers for great opportunities for increased innovation and continuous improvement in the business. Establishing a feedback culture in this talent pool compounds the benefits to the enterprise. Even if you do not (yet) have such a culture in your employee population, creating one among…
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Writing Independent Contractor Agreements: 8 Things to Include
By MBO Partners
An independent contractor agreement or contract is an important part of working with contingent talent. Contracts protect both your business as well as the independent contractor from a legal perspective. They also provide a valuable opportunity to clarify details and questions surrounding the project, discuss any discrepancies, and establish a good working relationship. Here are…
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Do This Before Pursuing Federal Contracts as an Independent Consultant
By MBO Partners
Federal government contracts are a great option for many independent professionals looking to grow their businesses. Federal government contracts are a form of procurement for the government to obtain services for their direct use. Winning these contracts requires quite a bit of preparation and a different proposal process from commercial businesses. These contracts have strict…
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Contractor or Employee: Determining the Right Worker Mix for Recruiters
By MBO Partners
The workforce of many companies today consists of a mix of full-time and contract workers. When considering whether your recruitment strategy should include independent contractors or employees, there are many rules and regulations to consider as well as practical applications. Employees vs. Independent Contractors Employees work for a single employer, who can dictate how, where,…
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How AI Can Be a Solver’s Best Friend
By MBO Partners
Used in the right ways, AI can be a huge help to any open innovation solver who is looking to get more out of the experience. Used as a productivity hack, including AI in your solving activities can: Make you much more efficient Streamline the solving process Help uncover new angles that you wouldn’t have…
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The Power of Direct Sourcing: 3 Big Benefits for Your Workforce
By MBO Partners
MBO Partners and Staffing Industry Analysts recently released a new report detailing the advantages of direct sourcing in talent management. Direct sourcing is the process by which a company leverages independent talent sourced from an internally developed pool to perform work as contingent or temporary workers Direct sourcing has evolved significantly and has become a…
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5 Ways to Put Fun into Your Direct Sourcing Program
By MBO Partners
Is your workplace fun? While many enterprises don’t evoke the Darth Vader theme in workers’ minds when considering this question, too many consider fun a distraction and detrimental to productivity. In fact, research has shown that fun is a strong component of well-being, which is key to productivity. Creating a culture that includes fun is…
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Launching Your Direct Sourcing Program
By MBO Partners
This guide is focused on giving you tools that you need to plan and launch a direct sourcing program in your enterprise.
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Financial Management Tips for Small Businesses
By MBO Partners
Financial management is an important part of starting your own business. As an independent contractor your job isn’t just about keeping your clients happy and moving from project to project. It will also involve taking on an administrative role to help make sure your business runs smoothly and compliantly. Here are eight financial management tips…
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9 Tips for Future Proofing Your Workforce
By MBO Partners
While the business world has always been somewhat aware of the evolving nature of the workplace, the “future of work” is now a hot topic that leaders are paying close attention to. That future relies heavily on the workforce composition and culture. These nine tips can help your enterprise be ready for whatever comes down…
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4 Reasons Companies Hire Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Companies often hire independent contractors when they either need outside talent who have skilled expertise or their need is only temporary. Today’s workforce ecosystem is incredibly diverse. Enterprises are building dynamic teams with a mix of salaried employees and contract or freelance talent, and the contingent worker side of this equation is quickly growing as…
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Time to Pivot? 5 Ways Independent Professionals Can Help You Succeed
By MBO Partners
“Pivot” recently joined the business lexicon to define the place where many companies arrive at some point in the growth cycle. The term refers to a significant and structured change to a strategically important part of the enterprise. A pivot may happen in response to changing market conditions, customer feedback, product performance, or any perceived…
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5 Ways to Boost Engagement in Your Independent Talent Community
By MBO Partners
Talent communities can be a valuable way for enterprises to quickly engage skilled, pre-vetted talent for projects. A talent community may consist of independent contractors who are currently working with your company or who have previously worked for you. This is a great group to consolidate, because they have already been vetted, have proven their…
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Achieve Workforce Agility by Engaging Independent Contractors
By MBO Partners
Independent professional talent is increasingly becoming the workforce answer for companies throughout a wide range of industries. Enterprises are putting strategies in place to successfully attract, engage, and retain top talent. The independent workforce is steadily increasing in number as well, providing an indispensable source of professionals with in-demand skills. Here’s what you need to…
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Pay Rate vs Bill Rate: What’s the Difference?
By MBO Partners
Bill rate and pay rate are easily confused, but they both factor into the decision of how much you should charge for your services as an independent contractor, consultant, freelancer, etc. When negotiating with a client at the start of a consulting project, make sure you are clear on your rates, and if you are…
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Tap the Value of Feedback from Independent Talent
By MBO Partners
High-value independent professionals who work with an enterprise over time and on multiple projects may have unique insights that can help improve the business. Many have experience in multiple business sectors across a range of companies and are keen to contribute their viewpoints to your operations. You can encourage these contributions by requesting feedback from…
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5 Tips for Managing a Global Workforce
By MBO Partners
As enterprises transition from role-based to skill-based workforces, the composition of working teams is likely to change. The candidate with the best skillset may be down the hall or an independent professional based across town. Or they may be a digital nomad currently working in Thailand or some other country multiple time zones away. Assembling…
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3 Benefits to Joining an Independent Talent Community
By MBO Partners
If you’ve ever applied to a job through a marketplace, you’re probably familiar with the process of creating a resume or profile detailing your experience, providing onboarding information, and getting to know a new manager and team. Many independent professionals will return to work with the same company for another contract if they’ve had a…
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