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Working in the Gig Economy: How to Thrive and Succeed When You Choose to Work for Yourself
Business Book Awards 2019 - Start-Up Inspiration Category
There are new flexible and independent working opportunities available in the gig economy for those brave enough to seize them. It is estimated that the number people involved with the gig economy will double in the next four years. New generation workers are realising that they can break the chains of corporate work and go at it alone. With flexible working hours, fluid work arrangements and technology that they can leverage to their advantage, people are creating purposeful careers that fit in with their lives, not the other way around. Working in the Gig Economy is the ultimate guide to successfully navigating the new flexible world of work. This is a book that will allow you to really examine the possibilities of freelance and flexible working. Is it really for you? Do you have what it takes to stay motivated, get clients to hire you and achieve that long-yearned for work-life balance?
Thomas Oppong is an expert in entrepreneurship and the gig economy. With this book, he takes readers through the main pitfalls of working for themselves, including how to stay productive, how to manage your professional network, build a personal brand and crucially how to keep the work coming and get paid on time. Working in the Gig Economy is the essential guide to having a successful and fulfilling career in the gig economy.
There are new flexible and independent working opportunities available in the gig economy for those brave enough to seize them. It is estimated that the number people involved with the gig economy will double in the next four years. New generation workers are realising that they can break the chains of corporate work and go at it alone. With flexible working hours, fluid work arrangements and technology that they can leverage to their advantage, people are creating purposeful careers that fit in with their lives, not the other way around. Working in the Gig Economy is the ultimate guide to successfully navigating the new flexible world of work. This is a book that will allow you to really examine the possibilities of freelance and flexible working. Is it really for you? Do you have what it takes to stay motivated, get clients to hire you and achieve that long-yearned for work-life balance?
Thomas Oppong is an expert in entrepreneurship and the gig economy. With this book, he takes readers through the main pitfalls of working for themselves, including how to stay productive, how to manage your professional network, build a personal brand and crucially how to keep the work coming and get paid on time. Working in the Gig Economy is the essential guide to having a successful and fulfilling career in the gig economy.
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2018
11 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 1, 2026
An exceptionally intuitive resource to help you start your freelancing career.
As an independent contractor myself, I happened to tackle self-employment when Covid striked the world. I ended up landing my first gig, then I started learning to grow my talent and land more jobs.
I am confident to say that my freelancing career has been exponentially prospering since then. I must say that I had many failures in the past to pursue freelancing, but at the end of the day, it made a lot of sense. Mistakes has been identified and mitigated leading to a successful career to date.
Meanwhile, I came across this book at Virgin Megastore with a huge discount! It simply made sense to all the questions and concerns that could come up to anyone thinking of making this step and changing from 9-5 to the gig world! I had practical experience in place that made a lot of sense, and the book came to put all my practice into words that reflected exactly what you need to be successful as an independent worker.
The book is a great reference to use to start your freelancing journey. It is easy and fast-paced with practical examples and tools for your support.
The book concludes by interviewing a number of freelancers and getting their advise on the most controversial topics including but not limited to: financial stability, fear, reasons of failure, and the typical work routine.
Thanks, Thomas for this book! It will always be a good reference once in a while when we sort of lose focus.
September 2, 2019
This is a good read for those who are looking to take the leap into self-employment. It covers a lot of the issues to consider to begin a gig-based career. Having been self-employed for over three years, most of the material wasn’t particularly relevant for me. However, it did spark some ideas regarding how to rebrand my image as my career had evolved. I’m thankful for those new insights.
December 19, 2018
_Working in the Gig Economy_ is geared towards those new to the flexible world of work. It is also useful for established freelancers who are reviewing their process and want to remain current. This is a well-organized book filled with many tips, samples, and advice. Oppong discusses everything needed for successful gig work. He begins with explaining why the gig economy has grown. The reader learns how to build a career in freelance. There are tips on everything from networking to contracts and client communication. All areas of freelance life are discussed including the fear. In addition, Oppong provides advice for getting started, landing clients, dealing with financial stress, and more. I wish this book existed 20 years ago when I first began my consulting career, it would have saved me many missteps.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.
November 3, 2020
I read this book thanks to Blinkist.
I am not a freelancer, so I really enjoyed diving deep into this world.
The key message in these blinks:
Working for yourself promises a lot of flexibility. But to truly enjoy this freedom, you need to offer the right services, consistently market yourself, and be disciplined about time and money. Doing this will be liberating. You’ll only work on projects that truly excite you. And you’ll be able to dedicate a lot more time to yourself, your loved ones, and things that make you happy.
Actionable advice:
Use happy clients to attract more business.
Pitching on job boards, blogging, and promoting yourself online are all great ways to find work. But you can also boost your efforts by asking existing clients to open doors for you. For each project that you successfully complete, request a testimonial or a referral from the client. These will help you build your network, give you credibility, and convince potential clients to come on board.
• Empowered by technology, more people are choosing flexible self-employment over full-time jobs.
• A successful career in the gig economy begins with knowing what you’re good at and what you’re interested in.
• A great personal brand and a credible reputation will capture the attention of potential clients.
• You’ll find work in the gig economy if you use a variety of channels and remain persistent.
• You don’t have to take every project that comes your way, but be mindful of how you say no.
• Clear expectations and open communication are vital to healthy client relationships.
• Practical timelines, structured working hours, and dedicated free time lead to better productivity.
• For financial stability, save up for dry spells and be strategic about your spending and taxes.
What to read next:
Dying for a Paycheck, by Jeffrey Pfeffer
You’ve just learned that freelancers and independent contractors tend to have more time and freedom in their personal lives. But did you know that they might also be healthier than full-time employees? In the blinks to Dying for a Paycheck, discover why work-related stress kills just as many Americans as second-hand smoke, and what steps employers and governments can take to make workplaces healthier and more supportive.
I am not a freelancer, so I really enjoyed diving deep into this world.
The key message in these blinks:
Working for yourself promises a lot of flexibility. But to truly enjoy this freedom, you need to offer the right services, consistently market yourself, and be disciplined about time and money. Doing this will be liberating. You’ll only work on projects that truly excite you. And you’ll be able to dedicate a lot more time to yourself, your loved ones, and things that make you happy.
Actionable advice:
Use happy clients to attract more business.
Pitching on job boards, blogging, and promoting yourself online are all great ways to find work. But you can also boost your efforts by asking existing clients to open doors for you. For each project that you successfully complete, request a testimonial or a referral from the client. These will help you build your network, give you credibility, and convince potential clients to come on board.
• Empowered by technology, more people are choosing flexible self-employment over full-time jobs.
• A successful career in the gig economy begins with knowing what you’re good at and what you’re interested in.
• A great personal brand and a credible reputation will capture the attention of potential clients.
• You’ll find work in the gig economy if you use a variety of channels and remain persistent.
• You don’t have to take every project that comes your way, but be mindful of how you say no.
• Clear expectations and open communication are vital to healthy client relationships.
• Practical timelines, structured working hours, and dedicated free time lead to better productivity.
• For financial stability, save up for dry spells and be strategic about your spending and taxes.
What to read next:
Dying for a Paycheck, by Jeffrey Pfeffer
You’ve just learned that freelancers and independent contractors tend to have more time and freedom in their personal lives. But did you know that they might also be healthier than full-time employees? In the blinks to Dying for a Paycheck, discover why work-related stress kills just as many Americans as second-hand smoke, and what steps employers and governments can take to make workplaces healthier and more supportive.
February 17, 2019
A 2015 survey by Ernst & Young shows that 25 per cent of businesses are expected to use over 30 per cent of contingent workers for various tasks and business processes by 2020. The rise of flexible careers has been facilitated by increased globalisation, technological advancement and the desire for more work-life balance while boosting their income. Hence, Thomas Oppong provides this manual to help contract workers to ease more smoothly to unconventional careers in what he calls the gig economy. temporary income-earning tasks.
He advises on focusing on building a body of work a.k.a a portfolio rather than a resume because it clearly outlines your expertise, work experience, achievements and past clients. It is a more comprehensive view of a professional's abilities and their contributions and what sets him or her apart. This will involve acquiring both hard (expertise) and soft indispensable skills personal traits and attributes as well as knowing how to market your business.
This slim volume (that you could go through in a day) largely delivers on its promise to validate one's idea of independent work by providing concrete steps to building a personal brand and highlights what it takes to succeed as a gig worker.
This is a fine book to place into the hands of anyone trying to find their place as a working a side-hustle or as a full-time independent contractor. Though I received this as an advanced copy from the Kogan Page via NetGalley*, I would definitely pick this copy for my own personal reference.
He advises on focusing on building a body of work a.k.a a portfolio rather than a resume because it clearly outlines your expertise, work experience, achievements and past clients. It is a more comprehensive view of a professional's abilities and their contributions and what sets him or her apart. This will involve acquiring both hard (expertise) and soft indispensable skills personal traits and attributes as well as knowing how to market your business.
This slim volume (that you could go through in a day) largely delivers on its promise to validate one's idea of independent work by providing concrete steps to building a personal brand and highlights what it takes to succeed as a gig worker.
This is a fine book to place into the hands of anyone trying to find their place as a working a side-hustle or as a full-time independent contractor. Though I received this as an advanced copy from the Kogan Page via NetGalley*, I would definitely pick this copy for my own personal reference.
April 11, 2024
Overall, a good quick read and has good overarching lessons on freelance work that can be applicable to multiple industries. I liked that it emphasized in-person networking and relationships because that’s really what will keep you afloat as a freelancer. A couple of things I disagreed with….
1 - The cold email templates were laughably formal. At least for my industry. I’d imagine everyone in the ad world would assume the emails were AI generated.
2 - The author says that rejection happens every so often. That’s so so so untrue. Rejection happens extremely often. From unanswered emails to projects that get cut right before the launch, there’s always rejection to be had. It’s important to set correct expectations 😂
3 - In my experience, online platforms like Fiverr are a race to the bottom. I’ve never found a solid client lead from an online freelancer platform and I don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon.
1 - The cold email templates were laughably formal. At least for my industry. I’d imagine everyone in the ad world would assume the emails were AI generated.
2 - The author says that rejection happens every so often. That’s so so so untrue. Rejection happens extremely often. From unanswered emails to projects that get cut right before the launch, there’s always rejection to be had. It’s important to set correct expectations 😂
3 - In my experience, online platforms like Fiverr are a race to the bottom. I’ve never found a solid client lead from an online freelancer platform and I don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon.
August 13, 2020
Working as a freelancer truly allows a lot of flexibility. However, you need to consistently market yourself, offer the right services, and be disciplined about time and money. Getting this right will be liberating as it also means that you will only work on projects that excites you. Good time management allows you to have time to spend with loved ones, and also time for yourself to pursue things that you enjoy. As time goes on, collect your credibility from happy clients to attract more business. These testimonials and referrals build your network, gain credibility, and convince potential clients to be on board.
August 13, 2020
We live during interesting times, especially when it comes to work. In this digital age, it becomes easier to find clients and also provide scalable work to them.
This book provided solid principles for any gig worker. They include:
Post your services in mutiple streams. You want to start by casting a large net and getting clients.
After getting clients, continue business with those you value and use their reviews to further receive good clientele.
As a gig worker, establish strong time schedules for work and non-work, as you lack the traditional office and co-worker structure.
This book provided solid principles for any gig worker. They include:
Post your services in mutiple streams. You want to start by casting a large net and getting clients.
After getting clients, continue business with those you value and use their reviews to further receive good clientele.
As a gig worker, establish strong time schedules for work and non-work, as you lack the traditional office and co-worker structure.
August 13, 2020
Ирэх 4 жилд бие даан ажиллах хүмүүсийн тоо хоёр дахин нэмэгдэх судалгаа гарсан байгаа ба хэрхэн энэ ойлгомжгүй, нарийн төвөгтэй зах зээл өөрийн нөөц боломжоо ашиглан гэрээсээ чаддаг зүйлээ хийн ажилж амьдрах талаар олон талын мэдээлэл агуулсан сонирхолтой ном байлаа.
Харамсалтай нь яг ямар төрлийн ажил илүү амжилттай байгаа талаар одоо ажиллаж байгаа хүмүүсийн туршлага зөвлөгөө дутуу санагдсан учир 3 од өглөө.
Харамсалтай нь яг ямар төрлийн ажил илүү амжилттай байгаа талаар одоо ажиллаж байгаа хүмүүсийн туршлага зөвлөгөө дутуу санагдсан учир 3 од өглөө.
August 13, 2020
Working for yourself promises a lot of flexibility. But to truly enjoy this freedom, you need to offer the right services, consistently market yourself, and be disciplined about time and money. Doing this will be liberating. You’ll only work on projects that truly excite you. And you’ll be able to dedicate a lot more time to yourself, your loved ones, and things that make you happy.
December 27, 2022
Thomas Oppong does a good job inspiring readers on exploring gig work as a potential source of income. The journey isn't easy, but he helps break the process down into manageable steps in the book. My main personal takeaway is to think about which skills I can offer up - and just focus on getting it out there in the world. Highly recommend this book.
March 30, 2022
There's a lot of repetition and not all of it is engaging, but there are some tidbits of useful information. Certainly, sections covering a working pipeline in the gig economy, as well as how to promote your personal brand, were worth a look.
January 9, 2019
Informative
March 29, 2020
Good for beginners, if you already 3+ years freelancing you can safely skip half of the book.
I was a bit disappointed at first but overall it is a decent book.
I was a bit disappointed at first but overall it is a decent book.
May 15, 2020
An amazing approach to discuss the concept of Gig Economy. This book certainly develops one's interest to explore about the term 'gig'.
August 13, 2020
Good for beginners.
October 2, 2020
To enjoy the experience of working for yourself, you need to market yourself and not waste money and time, so as to focus in exciting projects of your own interest, and dedicating time to yourself.
October 14, 2020
This book shows you how to become an gig worker who works independently. It includes all important aspect. Recommended.
December 12, 2021
This wasn't a very helpful book for me. There is a lot of information about the gig economy and some examples in the book.
September 23, 2023
Time and money are the key and you should only work on projects that you enjoy. From finding till explore new: Social media helps. #blinkist
October 28, 2018
Honest and in-depth advice for reaching your full potential. This advice is presented in easy to follow language that can be broken up and applied in pieces at a time.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews