Today many are Gig Workers. They are self-employed and work for many clients, unlike employees with one boss.

Gig mind setters are constant learners — they self-manage, take spontaneous initiative, focus on skills more than roles, feel free to shortcut processes, and don’t hesitate to question the status quo. They share what they learn with others, take ownership of their personal growth, and feel confident in their ability to influence people.

The Gig Mindset includes a level of loyalty to the organization and not the process. It is a willingness to make things better.

If you are someone who wants to show up and get a To-Do List from someone and execute it, then you need to find employment with a company. Then spend time in that company learning how to develop a Gig Mindset before you become a freelancer.

I think one of the key elements for Gig workers is their ability to develop solutions for their clients.

Creating is not a result of genius, unconscious incubation, or aha! Moments. It results from thinking: a series of mental steps consisting of problem, solution, and repeat.

Complacency is an enemy. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” is an impossible idiom. No matter what the sales, no matter what the customer satisfaction, there is always something to fix.

“Most Gig Workers can do a job, but few can conceive one.” 

– Stanley Leary

The secret of Steve Jobs was that he was never satisfied. He devoted his life to asking, “Why doesn’t it work?” and “What should I change to make it work?”

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been celebrating Passover, Easter, and Ramadan. All of these are the time for believers to remember. It is a time to hit the pause button on everything that is going on in their lives and focus on the bigger purpose in our lives.

It is just as essential for us to do our work. Each year we should hit the pause button and remember the purpose of our work. I believe people of faith who integrate their faith purpose with their work will be the most successful.

As a Christian, I am reminded of how Jesus stayed laser-focused on his purpose. At the crucifixion, the chief priests—probably both Pharisees and Sadducees—insisted that the sign over Jesus’ head that said “The King of the Jews” should say, “This man claimed to be King of the Jews.”

Throughout scripture, Jesus confronts the religious leaders about their desire to be honored by men, not God. He purposely healed the sick and picked grain on the Sabbath day to counter their extreme views about the Sabbath.

He was focused on his purpose. Jesus hit the pause button and took time to be alone. He prayed.

Martin Luther, best known as a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation, said, “I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer.”

C.S. Lewis is often attributed as saying, prayer “doesn’t change God. It changes me.”

As a Gig Worker, I see prayer as necessary for my business. It is a time for me to align my will to God’s will.

I have committed my business to honor God. I firmly believe that this alignment helps with all the ethics of my work and gives me a better sense of purpose.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus said the “leader” is “the one who serves” in the Gospel of Luke 22:24-27.

I spend a lot of time trying to understand my clients and potential client’s business. The core question is, “How can I help them grow their business with their clients?”

I recommend that all Gig Workers hit pause and find their purpose for your business. Start each day in prayer. Be sure your business stays aligned to serving others.