More people today are eschewing singular jobs for career trajectories that allow for multiple paths—and technology is making it easier than ever.

By WP BrandStudio

September 25, 2020

So, what do you do?

It’s a simple question on the surface, and for some people, it’s an easy one. They might respond that they’re a schoolteacher or an accountant or a nurse, for example. But for many people in 2020, the answer tends to be a little more complex.

The concept of the “multihyphenate,” typically used to describe someone who has several professions or skills (think: actor-writer-director-producer), is becoming more common as people increasingly embrace the flexibility, variety and feeling of fulfillment that can accompany a multifaceted career trajectory. It’s also a telltale sign of a competitive and ever-changing work environment.

A 2019 pre-pandemic report on the gig economy and self-employment revealed that 44 million workers were self-employed at some time during a given week, and of those workers, 22 percent reported working multiple jobs to earn extra money.[1] Research also indicates that Generation Z, which makes up a quarter of today’s workforce, is more inclined to want jobs that let them dip their toes into different skill sets and roles.

Juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, of course, requires the right tools and technologies to support unprecedented levels of productivity while we live and work remotely. Everything from smartphones and tablets to cloud-based collaboration software is making the seamless integration between career and lifestyle viable for more people. Samsung’s Galaxy Note20 5G, for example, can sync between devices and make productivity across multiple projects fast and easy.

It’s this kind of technology that is powering the hyphenate revolution, making it possible for the world’s movers and shakers to innovate, collaborate and seamlessly manage every facet of their lives and, of course, their ideas.

Freedom to do more, be more

Scott Amyx is a managing partner at the venture capital and private equity firm Astor Perkins. He’s also a venture partner at Loyal VC. He’s a VC judge and mentor. He’s a thought leader, global keynote speaker, columnist and author on emerging technologies and the Internet of Things. And really, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

To Amyx, the definition of being a “hyphenate” is really about meeting market demands. “If you look at everything that I write, speak, invest—it’s all around innovation,” he explained. “To me, ultimately, it’s really about market fit. It’s about retraining, retooling and learning something new.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Amyx spent his workdays traveling the world doing keynote speaking engagements and advising institutional investors, industry consortiums and multinational brands on innovation and emerging tech. In the midst of it all, he manages two popular podcasts, writes a regular column on innovation, and has authored two books—Strive: How Doing the Things Most Uncomfortable Leads to Success and the forthcoming The Human Race: How Humans can Survive in the Robotic Age.

He’s able to do all of this with digital tools designed to streamline workflow, delegate tasks and boost productivity. “I’m a big believer in automation, as well as cloud-based collaboration tools,” he notes. “Being able to compartmentalize but also fluidly work across different projects, all of these things are critical.” Features that the Galaxy Note20 5G offers, for example, can help Amyx seamlessly move between devices or sync notes from the Samsung Notes app as he moves throughout his day.

When it comes to must-have attributes in a piece of technology, first and foremost, Amyx considers security and privacy. After that, he says, “what I’m looking for is ease of use, intuitiveness, and least amount of friction to be able to achieve what I’m intending to do.”

Enabling efficiency and the ability to multitask and work across platforms is a core component of this modern way of working, and it’s something tech companies like Samsung are putting greater emphasis on when creating new products. The 5G-enabled Galaxy Note20, for instance, offers the ability to multi-task with faster processing power compared to the Note10 and an intelligent battery that learns how you work and play to optimize battery life. This is a key feature for today’s busy, multi-hyphenate culture. According to a study by Morning Consult, a data intelligence company, smartphone owners consider battery life to be the most important factor when choosing their next device.[2]

Users can also move seamlessly between Galaxy Note20 5G to their PC, which allows you to work on projects anywhere, on whichever device is most convenient. A more responsive S Pen also lets users capture ideas, take notes and make lists—and feel as if you’re writing with real pen and paper. The latter feature can be especially conducive to ideation, says Amyx, who has worked with Samsung on product development and product visioning in the past.

“There’s something unique about a paper tactile product,” he explained. “There’s a lot of science behind the value of writing or drawing on paper rather than typing on a laptop. When we’re brainstorming, that actually helps the visualization process. When I’m doing something that’s incredibly creative, I always start with paper and pen. The more we can start to emulate that, I think that’s a good thing.”

Finding the balance in every day

In addition to improving workflow, powering innovation and boosting productivity, new technology is also providing workers with increased flexibility and autonomy over their careers, not to mention freedom for hobbies or family. A powerful and intuitive digital tool like the Galaxy Note20 5G can be a key part of relaxing at the end of the day or connecting families.

5G connectivity offers unprecedented speed and reliability where service is available. This enhanced performance and data speed makes connecting with friends and loved ones is easier than ever. The Galaxy Note20 5G also features the best mobile display yet—with double the refresh rate of the previous model—turning streaming and gaming into more immersive experiences.

Although the pandemic slowed travel and forced many companies to pivot to remote work, Amyx’s schedule hasn’t let up. But now that he isn’t spending several hours a week on planes and commuting—and with a little assistance from some key technologies—he says he’s actually been able to get more done and find more balance in his home life as well.

“I think my wife is happy because I’m more available to do honey-do’s, so there’s always projects for me to do around the house,” says Amyx, who has also been helping his two teenage kids, one who is applying to colleges, with their goals. Additionally, their family, like many during the pandemic, launched a small organic garden in the backyard that they’ve been tending to. “And then my son and I, we’re both working our second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do,” he adds for good measure.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

The content is paid for and supplied by advertiser. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content.

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