Search Results For:

[caption id="attachment_8579" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo via Flickr[/caption] This week, Google[X] VP and former VP of business development at Google Megan Smith was named the White House's new Chief Technology Officer. But back in 2013, when Megan took to the CreativeLive stage during Secrets from Silicon Valley, she gave examples of how technology and creativity are not only bolstering the economy, but also enabling individuals around the world to have access to crucial information and resources.

[caption id="attachment_8563" align="alignnone" width="620"] Not just any old clown. Photo by Alyssa L.

[caption id="attachment_8544" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo by Andy Smith via Flickr[/caption] With the exception of those who work with hard media like wood, clay, or paint, a strange thing has happened to artists and makers in the digital era: We've stopped getting our hands dirty as much. Designers work largely on tablets, not drafting tables.

Though the monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report woefully neglects the new class of freelancers, part-timers, and gig workers, plenty of other organizations have a vested interest in knowing exactly how many Americans are making a living, or even just contributing to their income, by freelancing, working for themselves, or taking on work in addition to their full-time employment. A new report from the Freelancers Union and Elance-oDesk, though, shows that the U.

Among the things that most of us are afraid of, spiders, clowns, and snakes rank fairly high on the list. But there's another fear that's pretty common -- and it's a lot more present in our everyday lives.

[caption id="attachment_8496" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel[/caption] We've all heard it: This is the era of the freelance economy, where the autodidact rules and the jack-of-at-least-many-trades is more marketable than the guy with one degree in one focus from one decent school. The rules are changing — in part because we want them to, and in part because we can't stop them from doing so.