Category

The Future of Work

Chris Koens
In Strategy & Business, The Future of Work

Hiring is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It

You know the drill. You meticulously craft the perfect job description and moments after you publish it to your favorite “now hiring” website your inbox becomes a battlefield of résumés, cover letters, and LinkedIn connection requests. You brace yourself for the impending onslaught of great candidates and start to dig in. The first one looks promising — until you open it and see an uber-generic, copy-paste cover letter starting with the disappointingly non-specific “To whom it may concern…” The next applicant boasts “exceptional attention to detial” (yes, spelled exactly like that). Others list “breathing” and “social media posting” as skills. There’s even a group of submissions that claim to be “fast learners” while admitting to no experience related to the job description.

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FlexTal
In Talent Focus, The Future of Work

15 Tips To Help Freelancers Stop Burning Cash

Graphic image of a jar-candle. Blue background with light blue, orange, and gray graphics.

OR: Is that Cashmere-Plum Scented Candle a Legitimate Tax Deduction

Ah, the freelance life — you’re living the dream, right? No boss breathing down your neck, no soul-crushing commute, and yes, you can absolutely take a “conference call” from your couch while wearing sweatpants (or no pants at all — we’re not judging). But let’s be real: while freelancing offers freedom, it also comes with the financial stability of a Jenga tower on a windy day. One month, you’re rolling in invoices and treating yourself to avotoast and oat milk lattes like a Silicon Valley CEO. The next, you’re eyeing the “fancy” ramen at the grocery store and wondering if you can justify it as a “business expense.”

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FlexTal
In Design & Creative, Lifestyle, Talent Focus, The Future of Work

WiFi & Wanderlust: The 2025 Digital Nomad Destination Guide

Graphic image of a passport with visa stamps that say "Digital Nomad Destination Guide" and "Work Remote 2025". Blue background with light blue, orange, and gray graphics.

So, you’re ready to swap your home office or co-working space for a hammock by the beach or a cozy café in a bustling city square? Welcome to the digital nomad lifestyle! As we run full-steam ahead into this third month of 2025, let’s explore the most popular, the least trodden, and the easiest destinations for U.S. citizens to relocate to — and thrive — as freelance digital nomads.

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FlexTal
In Strategy & Business, Talent Focus, The Future of Work

Cupid, Clients, and Contractors… it’s Complicated

A female freelancer sits across from a male client.

Bad Experiences from Swipe-Rights and Gig-Sites

Ah, Valentine’s Day — the annual reminder that love is in the air… or, at the very least, that heart-shaped chocolates are half-price tomorrow. Whether you’re blissfully coupled up or single and thriving, today is the perfect time to reminisce about the universal experience that unites us all: bad dates. Those cringe-worthy, facepalm-inducing, “why did I leave my house for this?” encounters that make you seriously consider adopting a dozen cats and calling it a life.

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FlexTal
In Lifestyle, Talent Focus, The Future of Work

New Year, New Home Office: Quick Tips to Revitalize Your Workspace

Well organized home office desk with computer monitor and desk accessories in front of window looking out at lush green trees.

Welcome to the first week of 2025! If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the holiday whirlwind, avoided setting resolutions you know you won’t keep, and have officially returned to your trusty home office — aka the space that saw your 2024 highs, lows, and the occasional procrastination-fueled snack binge. And maybe you’re thinking, “is it time for a workspace refresh?”

Let’s be real: your workspace is probably looking a little bit like it stayed up to watch the ball drop and headed straight to brunch with it’s bad-decisions-besties. No judgment; it happens to the best of us. While you probably don’t feel like doing a full-on HGTV makeover this week, spending a few minutes sprucing up your setup could make all the difference in kicking-off the new year with some serious “New Year, New You, Less Eww” energy.

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FlexTal
In Leadership, Lifestyle, Strategy & Business, The Future of Work

2023: A WorkSpace Odyssey

line drawing of space ship similar to the craft seen in "2001: A Space Odyssey"

In a world where technology has rewritten the rules of our daily lives… Okay, now, go ahead and re-read that first line in your best movie-trailer-announcer voice.

Technology is a catalyst for change. Devices and apps have updated how we interact with our workplace and with each other. Predominantly, the modern blend of hardware and software is working to simplify tasks, reduce redundant chores, and make access to information – and each other – easier. Technology is everywhere.

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FlexTal
In Leadership, Strategy & Business, The Future of Work

Freelancers Unleashed: Uncovering The Power Of The On-Demand Workforce

Line drawing of a dog's leash. Leash is light blue with an orange clasp. Background is dark blue.

Today’s rapidly evolving business landscape has redefined the traditional notions of how employees think about work and employment. The rise of the on-demand economy has ushered in a new era where freelancers are taking center stage, redefining how work gets done. The on-demand workforce, characterized by independent contractors, remote workers, and gig economy participants, offers a range of benefits and opportunities for businesses willing to tap into its power. It may be time for your organization to explore the untapped potential of the on-demand workforce and start to understand how it might be able to transform your business.

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Alex Manion
In Leadership, Marketing & Branding, Strategy & Business, The Future of Work

Marketing in the Digital Age of Business

Graphic representing a cell phone with text bubbles on it. The text bubbles contain marketing images including a speaker and a sale-tag.

For over a decade, people have been tossing around the term “The Digital Age of Business.” Today, everyone has access to countless versions of software and augmented-reality options to perform marketing tasks. Nearly every day, a new mobile app pops up and promises to give you access to all the tools you need to promote your brand, product, service, or even yourself. With just a little time and a meager budget, we’re just a few clicks away from creating and launching a campaign to drive traffic to our website. However, investing in digital ads without relevant knowledge or strategy often leads to wasted resources and low returns.

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Chris Koens
In Leadership, Strategy & Business, The Future of Work

How To Leverage Flexible Talent To Avoid Leadership Fatigue Or Burnout

Graphical representation of three light blue matches in a row; the first has no flame, the second has flame, the third and rightmost has only smoke.

In today’s fast-paced business world, people get stressed and exhausted. It’s no longer just a case of the Mondays; burnout is a common challenge that affects both leaders and employees. In most workplaces, people find constant pressure to deliver results, meet deadlines, and stay ahead of the competition. This work-related stress can significantly affect employees, even the most experienced business leaders. To avoid burnout, many in the workforce reach for the most common magic potion: caffeine. However, there is another, more powerful solution. No, not a double shot of espresso. This other business secret weapon can help you and your team avoid burnout while simultaneously revolutionizing your operations: freelancers.

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