The world of work has shifted, and there's no going back. The barriers to entry have never been lower for talented professionals to work independently, and today's massive external workforce is hardly a pandemic-produced fad. Business owners can only survive in the new work landscape by partnering with this deep talent pool. Armed with decades of experience in both small-business entrepreneurship and executive management at PwC, Miles Everson, now the CEO of MBO Partners, believes the future of work is Independent. Free Birds both empowers the newly Independent worker and teaches corporate leaders why the workforce hinges on tried-and-true principles and predictions, outlining for readers: 6 unstoppable forces that have created the external workforce; What killed employer-employee loyalty? How will a new social contract evolve?; The mind of the Independent. What motivates workers to jump into the external workforce? What's a flight plan for readers who want to become a Free Bird?; How to attract and retain Independent talent and the bottom-line benefits for businesses who do so. An essential read for the talented professional launching their solopreneur career and the savvy business owner aiming to future-proof their organization alike, Free Birds charts the path for both groups in the new world of work.