Matthew Mottola and Matthew Coatney - The Human Cloud: How Today’s Changemakers Use Artificial Intelligence and the Freelance Economy to Transform Work

The Matthews have a unique way of getting readers to see the big picture while also helping them identify practical steps for designing the professional and life outcomes of their desires. Rarely do I find a business book thats hard to put down, but The Human Cloud is one of those rare finds.

Betsy Westhafer,
CEO of The Congruity Group,
Author, Speaker, and Podcaster

The Human Cloud is a must-read book to assist you, your organization, and your team in using the power of artificial intelligence to augment workplace capabilities. AI will not replace workers but enable them to work smarter!

Jeanne Meister,
Founding Partner of Future Workplace and Coauthor of
The Future Workplace Experience: 10 Rules For Mastering
Disruption in Recruiting and Engaging Employees

The Matthews provide an explicit playbook to tap into the magic of the freelance economy; The Human Cloud will benefit the worlds most talented individuals for years to come.

Michael Burdick,
CEO of Paro

In order to understand why and how to come out on top, read this book!

Michael Solomon,
Coauthor of Game Changer and Cofounder of 10x Management,
10x Ascend, Brick Wall Management, and Musicians On Call

The Human Cloud is the critical guide to our times... the best first step any leader can take to build the future that puts people first and creates the future of work.

Stephanie Nadi Olson,
Founder of We Are Rosie

Whether you are a freelancer, want to become one, work with one, or have never heard of one, you will be able to feel inspired by this work.

Laurel Farrer,
Founder and CEO of Distribute Consulting
and Former COO of Yonder

Organizations of all sizes have been struggling to figure out how to take advantage of remote and freelance talent. The Matthews do an amazing job of explaining how this trend will play out and how to overcome the usual roadblocks that hold most organizations back.

Tomas OFarrell,
Cofounder and CEO of Workana

Head to the nearest bookseller and buy The Human Cloud. Its smart, readable, explains the impact and opportunities created by these two mega-disruptors, and was written for changemakers like you.

Jon Younger,
Founding Partner of Agile Talent Collaborative

This book is more than just unique insights; it provides tangible steps leaders can start implementing immediately. I cant wait for leaders to read this and bring The Human Cloud to their organization today!

Oscar Rydman,
CEO of Pangora

Take a journey with the Matthews, meet the freelancers they empower, and discover how The Human Cloud creates more opportunities for more entrepreneurs around the world.

Jacquelyn Adams,
Founder and CEO of Ristole and Freelance Writer

The Human Cloud tells you everything you need to know about this booming industry and its enormous potential. Transformation is real, and the Matthews take you on this amazing journey to prove it.

Simran Doshi,
Copywriter and Content Writer, simrandoshi.in

The Matthews show us compelling stories of people who took their careers in their own hands and companies who started profiting from agile working models. A great story as a book and in real life.

Przemek Berendt,
CEO of Talent Alpha

Whether starting companies, leading as an employee, or working independently, leveraging cloud-based technology coupled with a mind shift to outcome-based work is truly the definition of the future of work.

Liza Rodewald,
CEO and Founder of Instant Teams

Freelancing is inevitably completely different from what you think its going to be like when you first plan your escape from corporate 95. The Human Cloud takes you into the stories and experiences of people just like you and me.

Petra Manos,
CEO of The Quantified Web and
Podcast Panelist at The Freelancer Show

Refreshing, yet realistic. The Matthews provide a clear roadmap for where were going and what we need to do to get there.

Katherine Brune,
Owner and Principal consultant of WorkSprout LLC and
Former Employee Well-Being & Benefits Director at SunTrust

Before the disruptive storm of the human and machine cloud-building on the horizon surprises you when it is too late, read the Matthews book now to prepare yourself to thrive in this new economy.

Larry English,
President of Centric Consulting and Author of
Office Optional: How to Build a Connected Culture with Virtual Teams

The Human Cloud lays out the case for using data analytics and AI to make remote workers more efficient while delivering higher qualitythis is the next leap forward in making digital workers happier and more productive.

Chris Keene,
CEO of Gigster

A must-read for anyone looking for more meaning, purpose, and control over their work, and for leaders who want to employ and use talent in groundbreaking ways.

Keith Rollag,
Dean of F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson College

The authors show us how both automation and freelance models converge to create new and increased opportunity for every one of us. A highly readable book that makes complex challenges clear, simple, and tangible.

Michael R. Solomon, PhD,
Professor of Marketing, Saint Josephs University

Packed with useful tips and information, The Human Cloud will not only help you to explore and understand how the entire employment landscape is changing but also how to best prepare, position, and market yourself for the future.

Russ Crowley,
Microsoft Word Consultant, www.russcrowley.com

To you, Grandma, for teaching me how to smile, missing your smile every day.

Matthew Mottola

To my wife, Jenn, for always supporting my various pipe dreams, and to my children, Parker, Chase, and Lacey, who will inherit this new world of work.

Matthew Coatney

2021 Matthew Mottola and Matthew Coatney

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published by HarperCollins Leadership, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC.

Any internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by HarperCollins Leadership, nor does HarperCollins Leadership vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book.

ISBN 978-1-4002-1974-2 (eBook)

ISBN 978-1-4002-1973-5 (HC)

Epub Edition December 2020 9781400219742

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020947367

Printed in the United States of America

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THE FUTURE IS YOU

The 2015 Spanish animated short Alike follows a father and son as they live their lives at work and school. Both characters start out colorful, but as they are forced to sit through the monotonous drudgery of their stifling routines, they begin to drain to a pale white. Their spirit and energy fade, and as the story progresses, their loving relationship fades as well.