Greetings From The Basement Economy

"I'm thinking it's a no pants day."

 -- Neal A. Pann, architect, via Twitter.

Greetings from the New Economy, a.k.a. "sole proprietor or micro businesses."  We all pull our weight because we eat what we kill. Earning a living turns out to be more important than putting on eyeliner or keeping up with the right tie width.

Or, sometimes, putting on pants.

Our water cooler is Twitter. Our lunchroom is Facebook. Our conferences are Linked In Groups and Twitter Chats. Our meetings are on Skype. We're creating new jobs and we've just showered.

Maybe.


I"m putting you on (maybe). We still put on pants because to succeed in the Basement Economy is to be a smart and efficient networker. It's just not every day. (see: efficient). In between, we conduct a lot of business from unusual spaces: in basements and converted extra bedrooms. We are in previously vacant retail space in strip malls, shared office space, and in the car with our laptop plugged into the lighter while the soccer game is underway.

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Join the New Economy Lunchroom on Facebook.

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With the money we save on a wardrobe to impress other people, we can create whatever space we need to help us be comfortable and most productive. 

There turns out to be a wide variety of ways people are at their most productive. For a lot of people, it's being close to our families, with flexible hours to help us care for them. Running kids to practice. Running Mom or Dad to the doctor. Hanging out with our pets instead of insufferable co-workers.

I work in my basement, telecommuting to my office in a remote city once a month  I create jobs and income for people. I also get to cuddle my cat and my husband in between assignments.

As smart networkers, we naturally form collaborative teams that can create absolute magic for companies. Some on my team are colleagues from periods in our careers where we accomplished great things for brands.  Others I've met through social media, conferences and being active in the industry. (see: efficient networker)

We of The Basement Economy have drastically reduced our carbon footprint, water usage, laundry, shampoo and conditioner consumption. Oddly, my hair is in better shape when I don't pummel it every day. Our commute is seconds, even when the cat has fallen asleep lengthwise on the stairs.

Companies love having a cost-effective flexible workforce of ready-made collaborative teams. No long term commitments or liabilities.

We love the flexibility in self-selecting our collaborative teams.  No empty suits or assholes.  This one benefit, more than any other, I believe, is what keeps us from forming our own political party to march on Washington and Wall Street just to get a decent rate on health insurance and favorable loan terms.

We don't have to work with assholes and we don't always have to work with pants on.  Life is good.

Message to Our Politicians:

Seriously, Washington, there are millions of us micro-businesses. I can buy individual car insurance and home insurance and get a good rate pooled with everyone else. Why can't someone pool all of us taxpayers filing as sole proprietorships, S Corporations, and LLCs and friggin' help us with healthcare costs? We'll even pay for part of it. Oh, wait, that actual health care reform is underway already..

A little credit to help us with cash flow would also help immensely. It's not like we have a lot of clout to get paid on time, even if we have a boatload of Klout. 

It's also not like the Basement Economy is going to get any attention from our elected officials because we don't have an army of lobbyists. Hell, we're thrilled if we can find good IT help.

Furthermore, we can't attract any politician to grandstand at our place of work to promote how much we contribute to the economy. Because our local zoning laws forbid us from holding meetings here.

So I guess I'll see you later on Twitter. And I promise to have my pants on.