Michael Brooks

Michael Brooks is a seasoned entrepreneur, notably recognized as the CEO of goLance, an innovative platform designed to seamlessly connect freelancers with businesses across the globe. Under his leadership, goLance aims at providing a robust marketplace where freelancers can offer their services, and employers can locate skilled professionals efficiently and affordably.

Brooks boasts an extensive background in the tech industry, possessing both the technical acumen and strategic foresight required to navigate the intricate landscape of the digital economy. His commitment to fostering an environment where freelancers can thrive is underscored by goLance’s continuous efforts to improve and optimize its platform, offering users a superior experience marked by ease and reliability.

With a career steeped in the freelance economy, Michael brings to the table invaluable insights derived from years of hands-on experience. He has tirelessly worked to understand the unique challenges faced by freelancers and businesses alike, applying this knowledge to develop solutions that address the needs of both parties. His approach is characterized by a relentless pursuit of innovation, aimed at simplifying transactions while maximizing value for all users involved.

Michael’s leadership style is deeply rooted in a belief in the transformative power of technology to create opportunities and improve lives. He is a passionate advocate for the freelance community, often engaging in discussions and debates aimed at highlighting the significance and potential of this burgeoning sector. Through goLance, he has created a conduit for freelancers to access opportunities, grow their careers, and secure their financial futures, all while contributing positively to the global economy.

Throughout his career, Brooks has consistently demonstrated a knack for identifying trends and capitalizing on them to create and deliver value. His visionary leadership has seen goLance grow and evolve, adapting to the ever-changing needs and demands of the freelance market. His commitment to excellence, coupled with an unyielding dedication to the freelance community, makes him a respected figure in the industry.

In addition to leading goLance, Michael Brooks is also a sought-after speaker and thought leader, sharing his insights and expertise at various industry events and forums. He is deeply committed to contributing to discussions on the future of work, freelance economy, and technological innovation, offering his perspective informed by years of experience and a deep understanding of the market dynamics.

Under Michael Brooks’ stewardship, goLance stands as a testament to his vision, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence. His work continues to impact the lives of countless freelancers and employers worldwide, facilitating connections and transactions that drive the freelance economy forward.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My typical day starts with reviewing transactions. First thing in the morning, I review any high-risk activity on our platform. It’s the first thing I do when I wake up. Then, a glass of water from a charcoal-filtered water system. After that, I’ll make coffee from my Turkish coffee pot in the gas oven.

Then I look at my calendar and get after the day. Typically I’ll have 3 to 5 podcasts per week. I have a series of calls, going over product, security, marketing, sales, and risk.

Being the CEO of a two-sided marketplace means you need to fall in love with constantly analyzing risk and risky behavior.

I speak with our president and chief operating officer several times a day.

Somewhere between noon and 2 PM, I’ll have my first meal.

3 to 4 days a week I will find time to work out.

Around 3:30 PM to take a call from my son who’s in boarding school abroad. My daughter is also in boarding school, but she’s not as good at calling. I usually have to call her.

In the evening, I will pull some protein out of the fridge, drown it in butter, and find new creative ways to cook it on the Traeger pellet grill.

3 to 4 days a week I hit the sauna before bed. Right before bed, I checked my calendar for the next day and the absolute last thing I always do is review platform activity in our risk management system.

That is my most typical of days. If I can work a cigar in, that makes it a special day.

How do you bring ideas to life?

In order to bring an idea to life, I talk about it. Over and over and over again, sometimes only to myself.

I think about it, and then I start building a map. Sometimes it feels like procrastination, but this process should be taken delicately.

When I can see it clearly in my mind, and it’s mapped out on paper, then I start executing.

Execution always involves enrollment. Enrolling other people in the vision and the roadmap.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Health and food awareness among young people.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Drafting delicate communications and giving myself time to think about their impact before sending.

What advice would you give your younger self?

It doesn’t really matter what advice I would give my younger self. He wouldn’t have listened.

While don’t think he would change his behavior or decisions on any advice by anyone; he might accept that the things that happened in his life, good and bad, are going to make him the man that he is to become.

And while there might be a great deal of pain, humiliation, and struggle, largely from his own doing, he will be a better father for it. And that’s all that matters.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

I believe, for the most part, if you take a strong, political, or social position on one issue or another, you are likely going down somebody else’s funnel.

Whether you are strongly for, or against some new news or topic of the day, you’re just validating the control of others in your thinking.

Most arguments are lively debates about acceptable thinking. Real problems are only recognized if you go outside acceptable thinking.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Most people have some sort of painful thoughts with someone they love. Get in the practice of eulogizing the people you care about who have hurt you in one way or another.

I imagine that I’m speaking at someone’s funeral, but I love, that may have hurt me throughout the years.

It doesn’t always fix everything, but it helps you keep your spirit clean and uncontrolled by pain.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

If you find yourself digging yourself in a ditch, stop digging.

I stop what I’m doing and simply do something else. After a little break, I repeat these words:

“What I am dealing with is real, and I am taking the best possible steps I can right now.”

If that statement is true, then I get back to work with a smile.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Selflessly helping others and freely sharing ideas. I love, Love, LOVE coming up with solutions that positively impact people that are seeking to grow.

It also happens to be the undisputed greatest marketing and sales tactic in history.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

I hired people to fill roles instead of duties. I would find good people, elevate them, out of laziness on my part, too quickly and ruin the relationship because they were not well suited to the duties.

Now I look at the results that need to be created, and hire and manage based on those results.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

goLance’s time tracker tool. I can see the work diaries and measure exactly how much the time of others is costing on any given task.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

I live in Puerto Rico. I learn to tip well here. The word “tip” is an acronym for the phrase, To Insure Promptness.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

On the Wings of Eagles. It’s a business/war story.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

Rome on HBO. The attention to detail was out of this world.

Key learnings:

• Accept your mistakes as lessons to make a wiser you
• Be authentic
• Let pain go