As traditional career paths evolve, many professionals are navigating independent or gig-based work. But how can they find meaning and momentum without the structure of a traditional organization?
In a recent episode of Business and Society from Michigan Ross, Professor Sue Ashford—a Sanger Research Lab and Faculty Advisory Board member—shared how independent workers can flourish by focusing on four essentials: connection, place, purpose, and routine.
Connection builds belonging and feedback; place creates grounding; purpose drives motivation; and routine sustains progress. Together, these elements help gig workers cultivate stability and thrive amid uncertainty.
Ashford’s insights extend beyond the freelance world, offering lessons for leaders everywhere on how to design flexible, human-centered systems that support autonomy and resilience.