Today I took the time to focus on balance in my work & life. This investment of time has made me immensely grateful for my beautiful family and friends, the amazing team I am a part of, for my health and happiness and great community I am a part of. This is indeed a beautiful life. There is happiness and fulfillment in living our values

• BALANCE : work / life – future / present
• GRATITUDE : We are thankful for our blessings and embrace both rewarding and challenging circumstances with open hearts.

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. And what you do serves as the proof of what you believe,”

HOW Worknow

On the basis of our shared values; recognising each others talents and working together in a spirit of trust and collaboration.

1. EXCELLENCE : We aim to be number one in our field and constantly strive to improve.
2. SERVICE : Helping people is our passion, exceeding expectations our reward.
3. INTEGRITY : We keep our promises, treat people fairly and value open and honest communication.
4. COLLABORATION : talented people, working together for the benefit of each other
5. BALANCE : work / life – future / present
6. GRATITUDE : We are thankful for our blessings and embrace both rewarding and challenging circumstances with open hearts.

WHAT Worknow

Work Now is a community marketplace to help people find volunteer and paid work opportunities. Join our talent community and create your talent profile to connect with people and work opportunities.

A wise person once told me about the importance of establishing shared values. His advice, when given, was in regards to a personal relationship but being the most inspiring entrepreneurial leader I’ve had the privilege of working with (so far, I expect there will be many more) I naturally applied his advice to working relationships too.

Discovering Shared Values

On the basis of said advice perhaps the most important thing we did in establishing Worknow was to take the time to discuss our values.

Way back right at the beginning, seven months ago, when Jamie and I first began to look at working together we sat down and discussed the values that are important to us. The values that defined who we are, what we do and why we make certain decisions.

This not only helped us recognise that we were highly compatible as business partners it also established our shared set of beliefs with which to guide our venture moving forward. Initially, we listed and expanded upon:

1. Leadership
2. Helping People
3. Community
4. Business Excellence
5. Communication
6. Integrity
7. Gratitude
8. Lifestyle

Of One Accord; Refining Our Values

In discussing with Josh whether he would work with us our values were again one of the first things we discussed.And being the gifted young man that he is, Josh helped us to refine our company values even further and so eight became six;

• Leadership, Business Excellence and Innovation combined under our value of Excellence
• Helping People and Community both focused on the value of Service to Others
• Communication and Integrity spoke of one accord
• Plus we added Collaboration because it is fundamental to everything we strive to achieve

Our founding company values

It is on the basis of these shared values – recognising each others talents and working together in a spirit of trust and collaboration – that we move our company forward.

1. EXCELLENCE: We aim to be number one in our field and constantly strive to improve.
2. SERVICE: Helping people is our passion, exceeding expectations our reward.
3. INTEGRITY: We keep our promises, treat people fairly and value open and honest communication.
4. COLLABORATION: talented people, working together for the benefit of each other
5. BALANCE: work / life – future / present
6. GRATITUDE: We are thankful for our blessings and embrace both rewarding and challenging circumstances with open hearts.

Our team is our greatest strength

I am so thankful to have Jamie and Josh to work with and I have immense faith in our ability to honour the values we have set or ourselves. With our Beta so close, I thought it timely to reflect on why we are doing this. The hard work is about to begin. I can’t wait! xo

New Zealand’s workforce is showing our ability to adapt and do things differently by considering contract work in favour of taking on the lower paid, less fulfilling full-time roles on offer. According to the online survey conducted internationally by recruitment firm Robert Walters:-

White-collar New Zealander’s are preparing to sacrifice the security of nine-to-five salaries to head out on their own as private contractors – in unprecedented numbers.

Nearly two out of three professionals (63 per cent) say they would be happy to take on a contract role, a new survey shows. That is higher than anywhere in the world except in Britain. Read Article NZ Hearld

As companies continue to let staff go and struggle to contain costs in the face of falling profitability both workers and employers are beginning to recognise that full-time permanent employment is not the most effective or efficient way to get work done.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Projects & Contract Work

By outsourcing work to private contractors businesses can get work done and maintain productivity while minimising payroll expense. While employment may offer security of income and contract work is comparatively higher risk, working as a private contractor also promises better pay and the flexibility to live a more balanced, family orientated lifestyle.

Future Models of Flexible Work

At Worknow we support a more entrepreneurial work ethic and are developing ways to help people find and connect with project contract work opportunities.