“Like a Boss”
By: Is This Working
Tags: Modern Work, DIY, Gig Economy

“Like a Boss”

With great power comes great freedom. I’ve wondered if this is what the American dream is all about. Who wouldn’t want to be the boss of their own life?

Andy Samberg gets it

I’ve been trying to bossify my life since growing up under my parents’ roof, and so, their rules. Leaving for college was liberating. I no longer had to cut my nights short to make curfew or sneak around to have fun. Independent on my college campus, I was free to make my own choices. I was fully in charge of myself and my time — which turns out, can have its faults (you live and you learn, as they say).

In my final semester of college this spring, I spent a lot of time thinking about the future I would be diving into — though it felt more like falling. They always say, “the future is yours for the taking.” Or is it making? This line makes me laugh now because as I sit as a class of 2021 graduate, the idea of reaching out and grabbing anything without permission seems distressing. And maybe a little passé.

I’ll admit that I grew up as a rule-follower (for the most part). I did not enjoy feeling like a troublemaker. Call me a wuss, but I am a natural-born people pleaser. I like making people feel heard. I enjoy heartfelt conversations, which means I pry sometimes more than I should, but I have a sincere interest in almost everyone I chat with. These conversations are valuable experiences for me. Everyone has a story worth telling and a side worth sharing; I like to listen because there is always something to learn. That’s why I’m starting this newsletter.

My fervor for the future started with a shock. In 2018, I became utterly captivated with the new waves of…well, everything being pushed by the industry that never asks for permission: Big Tech. The astounding disruption a handful of companies could provoke on their own intrigued me in a strange way. Whether it’s Uber’s impact on public transportation, Zoom’s impact on the office, or Facebook’s impact on democracy, I am now completely mesmerized by what Internet technology has the capacity to do — and more imminently, to change.

The past year and a half coping with the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic insisted that we as a population accommodate a lot of change. Shut away from in-person affairs, we recreated our lives online and adapted to a “new normal.” Students, in particular, adjusted to changes that significantly altered the traditional ideas of learning. The pandemic disrupted everything, and Internet technology became the most important tool to wield. Beyond the mayhem, we made it work.

After spending this time learning and socializing online, I’m glad that my future is here. I graduated in the spring with the Class of 2021, a group of people who I’ve always felt to be a generation of change-makers. We can be defined by the social changes we’ve endured and embraced, and one day will create.

And so, this is how I found myself thinking openly and thoughtfully about the future of work. The American work culture has come under great scrutiny over these past months. In a time where the world has felt so uncertain, more people are yearning to take charge. Being your own boss has never been more alluring and it’s never been more attainable. But is being independent ever that simple?

The gig economy is the most worthwhile disruption to follow. Independence has been at the core of the American dream, and online platforms are building steadier, more accessible paths to chase your own. Internet technology is supporting new waves of creativity and opportunity. These are the untraditional paths forward that enable creators or property owners or any type of dreamer to live “like a boss.”

In “Is This Working?” I’ll explore the new waves of work as well as the gig economies promoting a “new normal.” I’ll dive into these alternatives and discuss their disruption. Finally, I will meet with people who are following their own paths, daring to lead untraditionally. These are the people who inspire me to think boldly about myself and my future, and I hope they will inspire you, too.

What will make this newsletter a resource worth paying attention to is my personal commitment to sharing more sides. I’d like to offer perspectives that we don’t traditionally see from, because I’ve learned that these are the stories that hold the most potential. My mind is open, especially to change.

I’m interested in your work life, too, traditional or not. I’d like to learn about your experiences, and I think many others could learn from them, too. Every week I’ll ask questions and I hope that I’ll hear your thoughts. What is working for you, and what could be improved?

As a writer, reporter, and general future-centric thinker, I am always looking forward. I’m excited to navigate the new waves with you all!

With that being said, my first question to you is: Did someone or something significant inspire you to follow your current career/school path? Tell me about it! Send your inspiration to me at JadeHollyHolman@gmail.com.

Self-Made and Home-Grown, Philadelphia’s Noah Gansallo (NxG)

I remember meeting Noah at band camp. In an emptied college dorm room, we spent one summer week playing an eclectic range of songs like “Gold on the Ceiling” and “Set Fire to the Rain” with a group of other 13-year-olds. I admired Noah back then for his talented bass-playing, and even more for the lessons he tried giving me. When we reconnected on Instagram, I found Noah to be as thoughtful as ever. His inspired musical insight and careful confidence are most resounding about the now 22-year-old — qualities Noah is blooming a career out of today.

Born and raised in North Philadelphia, NxG is creating his own path into the music industry

Noah goes by NxG now, or sometimes Mr. Eyy Yeah! His interest in music started at a young age, but as a sophomore in college Noah started to seriously pursue his passion for performance. Flourishing with sincerity and ambition, Noah has been up-and-coming as a fresh face with a fresh sound in the Philadelphia music scene ever since.

After I reached out for a chat, Noah and I mused about the power of social media for connection (and reconnection). Not just with friends, but people who can change your life. The DMs are sometimes a more meaningful space for collaboration than traditional e-mail, Noah informed. Many of the talented people Noah works with today he first linked with online.

Noah started making songs in his bedroom, doubling the space as a makeshift studio with his computer and sound system. He calls this his “environment for success.” Comparing it to NBA players who practice at their in-home gyms, living amongst his work kept Noah focused on his goal: become an undeniable success. “Some people want to say they’re hot, other people want to prove it.” Noah is dedicated to shooting his shot as NxG. Sharing his music across accessible platforms like Soundcloud and YouTube, producers and listeners were drawn to the original sound of NxG. His songs were tectonic. Hip-hop beats overlaid with Noah’s smooth vocals and vulnerable lyrics made them something new worth listening to. Soon, producers were reaching out to collaborate, too.

Social media is opening many doors for aspiring artists it seems, so I was interested in hearing Noah’s perspective on the new wave of the industry. When you can be self-made, is getting a record deal still the goal? How do you develop your sound and brand as an artist without faltering from intimidation? The Internet is blossoming with singers and songwriters putting themselves out there. What does it take to thrive?

It’s interesting how Noah speaks dreamily about his future career while being unmistakably grounded in the here and now of reality. Noah stands firmly while looking up, envisioning his dreams of achieving artistic success shining in the sky. “If that person is meant to be a star, then so be it,” Noah declared on our call. In a peak time for clout-chasing, I found his cool and collected attitude towards fame refreshing. He discussed staying humble in order to stay hungry. He doesn’t let popularity get to his head, though he’s grateful for it. And he doesn’t hold himself back with doubt. This mentality empowers Noah to create more music he loves and worry less about appeasing an audience. Authenticity is bold and clear in NxG’s music. In his 2020 single “Baguettes,” the artist talks about keeping this focus even as he grows. He doesn’t mind critics nor being independent for now. Noah wants to make himself, not be made.

While a record deal is still a reliable and worthwhile way to grow as an artist (record companies own many of the doors in the music industry), Noah is mindful about diving into exclusive relationships too quickly. Having creative control is critical to Noah as he continues to experiment with his sound and progressively profound image as an artist. Initially inspired by the rock-and-roll likes of Kurt Cobain, the transformative hip-hop artist looks forward to a record company being a partner in his creative career, not a “lifeline.”

What first started in his bedroom has led Noah to recording studios in Los Angeles, and today to the Philadelphia-based producer collective Working on Dying (who have notable collaborations with artists including Drake, Matt Ox, and the Future x Juice Wrld album “Wrld on Drugs”). This week, he’ll be releasing a project he’s been hustling hard on with the group titled “React.” Noah is also now working with a team of fellow creatives and managers who help support the business of being an artist, leaving Noah more time to focus on the core part of his career: his music.

Even with what I perceived as his first break, Noah stays steady in the studio. He maintains his golden “create more, worry less” attitude, which has been useful since surrounding himself with new levels talent. Noah reiterated the importance of self-confidence, particularly in an industry known for big egos. He finds reassurance in the value of seeing “people as people — not just their accomplishments.”

It’s sincere ambition driving Noah ahead of the game and into the future. “Anyone can make a hot song or shoot a hot video, that’s why we have one-hit wonders,” he reminded. “Can you do it three times? Okay, you’ve done it three times. Can you do it five times? That’s what makes you a real icon.” Noah considers consistency a key to success.

Noah is still adding to his exclusive stockpile of music. He is scheduled to release a much-anticipated project with Working on Dying this September, which he hinted at being a mixtape of sorts. As NxG continues to evolve, Noah hopes to stay grounded even in eventual stardom. He’s most proud of the promises he’s kept to himself, building a schedule to work on music and sticking to it. Noah urges other self-starters to think about creating their own environments for success.

The future can start wherever you are.

You can find NxG and his upcoming projects here:

NxG on Instagram

NxG on YouTube

NxG on Soundcloud

NxG on Spotify

NxG on Apple Music

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Thanks for checking out my first newsletter project. I’ll be releasing chronicles every other week. In the mean time, do tell me if this is working for you. Feel free to direct any commentary, feedback, or personal perspectives to my email: JadeHollyHolman@gmail.com.