Matt Keener Releases EXECUTIVE IN SWEATPANTS

58% of businesses surveyed plan to double their budgets for online workers in 2013 versus 2012, according to a recent study conducted by Genesis Research Associates and oDesk.com. This increase will further stimulate the already bustling freelance sector of the economy, which accounts for nearly $250 billion in annual revenues (as often cited by FreelancersUnion.org). To capitalize on this growing trend, thousands of Americans are applying the strategies outlined in the book, Executive in Sweatpants: A Handbook for Launching Your Work from Home Career, which recently hit #1 on several Amazon best seller lists.

"American workers are now finding their greatest career opportunities in online virtual marketplaces such as oDesk.com," said Matt Keener, author of Executive in Sweatpants: A Handbook for Launching Your Work from Home Career. "A major reason many Americans still struggle to find meaningful work is because they are using tactics from the 1990s and early 2000s. The future for employment is now here...and it's online."

According to the study conducted by Genesis Research Associates, businesses are reaping significant value by staffing part-time and full-time virtual team members. 94% of businesses surveyed agree that within the next decade, the majority of businesses will use "blended teams", consisting of both online and on-premise workers. In general, companies find hiring online workers to be much easier and less stressful than hiring "traditional" on-site employees. The study found that hiring an online worker only takes 2.8 days (median) versus 23.9 days for an on-premise worker. In addition, employers state that hiring an on-premise worker is 68% more stressful than hiring online workers. To view additional findings from the study, click here or visit oDesk's Slideshare page.