Better lifestyle 'pulls' free-lancers

Wherever you go, you find Lone Eagles -- those entrepreneurs, freelance professionals and other knowledge workers (e.g., writers, analysts, brokers, lawyers) who live by their wits and remain connected to the outside world by faxes, modems, express mail and airplane tickets. They are people who can live anywhere because they can export their work from any location.

I first discovered Lone Eagles in 1991 and have been writing about them since. Now there is a new and important study of Lone Eagles led by Washington State University researcher Don Dillman, based on a scientific sample from 78,500 households whose members turned in their driver's licenses as they migrated to Washington.

The WSU study clearly shows that Lone Eagles are significant and heavy users of communications technology and are more likely than other in-migrants to use information technologies. More than four out of five (82%) use computers. More than 75% use voice mail and fax machines -- or fax modems. Close to 60% use computer modems, though even more use express mail or overnight courier services either to deliver products or services (68%) or to receive materials need for work (64%). Only 41% use a conference phone and only 25% use a cellular phone.

It is noteworthy that Lone Eagles based in metropolitan areas use information technologies in about the same way as Lone Eagles who live and work in non-metro areas. This holds true for computers, modems, faxes, and the use of express mail to deliver products or services to remote markets. But the non-metro Lone Eagles are much less likely to use express mail to receive materials for work; are more likely to use voice mail; and are much more likely to use a cellular phone or a conference phone.

The WSU study also shed important light on what motivates Lone Eagles to move. Migrating Lone Eagles seem to be motivated more by "pull" factors (attractions such as the quality of life in the new place) than by "push" factors. The primary "pull" factors or attractions are quality of the natural environment (91%), outdoor recreational opportunities (86%), desirable climate (75%), and safer place to live (74%).

The primary "push" factors are urban congestion (61%), undesirable climate (56%), fear of crime (51%), high state and local taxes ( 48%) and high cost of living (47%). Everything else -- lack of outdoor recreational opportunities, bad schools, long commutes, and high cost of operating a business -- accounts for much less.

Though metro and non-metro based Lone Eagles are generally motivated by the same attractions, there are some important differences: Those moving to non-metro areas are especially motivated to find a safer place to live, to lower their cost of living, and to live closer to relatives.

Not all Lone Eagles move from the big city to the small town. In fact, the WSU study shows that most migrating Lone Eagles -- about 80% -- come from large cities and migrate to large cities. However, even the small numbers who move to small towns and rural areas can make a big difference because of their high levels of education and income, their community consciousness and their link to outside markets and outside networks. Lone Eagles can become catalysts for growth and innovation.