From Fast Company, the Fast Company Executive Board discusses Miles Everson’s new book, Free Birds Revolution, in which Miles Everson explores the shift to independent work and the challenges to traditional career norms.
For decades, the American workforce was built on the promise of corporate stability—a steady job, a fixed salary, and a clear path from entry-level to retirement. That model, once considered the American dream, no longer works for most people.
Today, more professionals are taking ownership of their careers, embracing independent work, and defining success on their own terms. In his new book, Free Birds Revolution, Miles Everson explores this shift and challenges traditional career norms.
“People feel stuck because they’ve been conditioned to follow a path that no longer leads to security or fulfillment,” Everson explains. “This book is about giving them the tools and confidence to take that leap and create a career that allows them to be authentic.”
FROM CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER TO LEARNING TO FLY
The inspiration for Free Birds Revolution comes from Everson’s own journey. After spending 30 years in corporate America, working alongside some of the most talented professionals, he decided to leave that world at age 54.
After World War II, the U.S. workforce became heavily corporatized, with large companies offering defined pensions, long-term stability, and a clear-cut career path. But those promises have faded.
“The loyalty that once existed between employer and employee is no longer there, and modern professionals are seeking something different—multiple income streams, career autonomy, and the ability to make their own decisions,” says Everson.
Corporate America often speaks about valuing diversity, yet it frequently forces employees into rigid molds. “Instead of asking, ‘What is your purpose?’ or ‘How do your passions align with our work?’ companies dictate a single way of thinking,” Everson notes. “People are expected to conform rather than bring their authentic selves to work.”
Financial incentives for long-term employment have also disappeared. The traditional workplace no longer offers either financial security or (more often than not) personal fulfillment. In Everson’s opinion, it’s time for professionals to stop defining themselves by their employer and instead build careers that align with their true selves.
Read the full story at The Free Birds Revolution: Why independent work is the new American dream
