The Rise Of The Corporate Mercenary
The Rise Of The Corporate Mercenary
He was referring to a massive medieval industry. “Free companies” were bands of mercenaries who made a living taking one side, then the other in the numerous wars of the period. The free companies were divided into “lances” – which could refer to mounted men at arms or the sub units of the company based on the retinues of the men at arms.
Men like Sir John Hawkwood were among the great entrepreneurs of their time. He was an Essex man who took his free company – with the evocative but wholly inappropriate name of the “White Company” – into Italy, where his frequent changes of employer determined local politics for a generation.
Although Hawkwood and Co were probably no more rapacious than standing armies of states – and although ultimate responsibility belongs to the Popes and Republics who started the wars and employed them in the first place – the free lances have always had an unsavoury reputation. A soldier of the King may be as much a cut throat as a mercenary but his constant loyalty to one employer gives him a higher status.
So it is in the modern world. Being a salaried employee is usually seen as being preferable to being a freelancer. It looks better on the curriculum vitae. It brings security and legal protection. Many freelancers who go on about how much they enjoy their freedom secretly dream of being given a staff post by an employer for whom they currently do only occasional contract work.
Yet that may be changing.
Professor Charles Handy, probably the most far sighted management theorist on the eastern side of the Atlantic, predicted that most of us will eventually live “portfolio lives” – earning a living not from a single salary but from a portfolio of different activities. In effect, we will all be freelancers, one man businesses, or rather one man groups of businesses.
A number of trends are making this utopian vision more likely. Draconian employment laws – especially in Western Europe – actually discourage employment. The wise business will avoid permanent staff unless absolutely necessary. This means more work will have to be done on a contract or project basis by freelancers.
On the other side of the fence, many employees are finding freelancing more attractive as a positive choice, not just as a way of filling in time while looking for a new permanent post. There is a growing interest in getting “the proper work-life balance” and a realisation that “having it all” in neither possible nor desirable. We must make choices, and many people, when forced to prioritise, find that money is not after all the most important thing in the world.
The development of the “knowledge economy”, and of the internet as a means of communication, provides the mechanisms by which home working becomes a viable option. It is no longer necessary for a large proportion of the workforce to be in the same places at the same time.
There may be natural limits to this trend, but it does seem to be the way things are going.
Soon most of us will be hired guns. Hawkwood might be amused.
The Rise Of The Corporate Mercenary - To learn more about this author, visit Guy Kingston's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
It is said that the term “freelance” originated – as did an amazing number of other things – with the novelist Sir Walter Scott, who first used it in his novel Ivanhoe.
He was referring to a massive medieval industry. “Free companies” were bands of mercenaries who made a living taking one side, then the other in the numerous wars of the period. The free companies were divided into “lances” – which could refer to mounted men at arms or the sub units of the company based on the retinues of the men at arms.
Men like Sir John Hawkwood were among the great entrepreneurs of their time. He was an Essex man who took his free company – with the evocative but wholly inappropriate name of the “White Company” – into Italy, where his frequent changes of employer determined local politics for a generation.
Although Hawkwood and Co were probably no more rapacious than standing armies of states – and although ultimate responsibility belongs to the Popes and Republics who started the wars and employed them in the first place – the free lances have always had an unsavoury reputation. A soldier of the King may be as much a cut throat as a mercenary but his constant loyalty to one employer gives him a higher status.
So it is in the modern world. Being a salaried employee is usually seen as being preferable to being a freelancer. It looks better on the curriculum vitae. It brings security and legal protection. Many freelancers who go on about how much they enjoy their freedom secretly dream of being given a staff post by an employer for whom they currently do only occasional contract work.
Yet that may be changing.
Professor Charles Handy, probably the most far sighted management theorist on the eastern side of the Atlantic, predicted that most of us will eventually live “portfolio lives” – earning a living not from a single salary but from a portfolio of different activities. In effect, we will all be freelancers, one man businesses, or rather one man groups of businesses.
A number of trends are making this utopian vision more likely. Draconian employment laws – especially in Western Europe – actually discourage employment. The wise business will avoid permanent staff unless absolutely necessary. This means more work will have to be done on a contract or project basis by freelancers.
On the other side of the fence, many employees are finding freelancing more attractive as a positive choice, not just as a way of filling in time while looking for a new permanent post. There is a growing interest in getting “the proper work-life balance” and a realisation that “having it all” in neither possible nor desirable. We must make choices, and many people, when forced to prioritise, find that money is not after all the most important thing in the world.
The development of the “knowledge economy”, and of the internet as a means of communication, provides the mechanisms by which home working becomes a viable option. It is no longer necessary for a large proportion of the workforce to be in the same places at the same time.
There may be natural limits to this trend, but it does seem to be the way things are going.
Soon most of us will be hired guns. Hawkwood might be amused.
The Rise Of The Corporate Mercenary - To learn more about this author, visit Guy Kingston's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
|||
George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Guy's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 |
|
Guy Kingston Video - Public Relations agents cost too much and do a lousy job? Then do your own PR. In this video, DIY PR expert Martin Tracy from the Framing Workshop shares his experience, skills and advice with Guy Kingston. Essential viewing for every small business owner and entrepreneur.
|
|
|
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Instant Quotes Memorandum Template 1 Making SEO Decisions Instant Flyers Reference Check Form |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Business Plans
Top Business Plan Blogs | |
 |
Top 50 Blogs For Startups
Top Blogs To Watch In 2009 | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||