Why the new employer of choice is no employer at all

“It used to be that people were born as part of a community, and had to find their place as individuals. Now people are born as individuals, and have to find their community.”

People are looking for more meaningful narratives and communities than brands can offer, and companies want to supply this “meaning demand”—but are structurally disincentivized to do so.

The internet and software is only accelerating this trend: as coordination costs get lower, it becomes easier and easier for companies to use outside services instead of building capabilities internally, concentrating knowledge in fewer and fewer organizations.