Part Two of a 3-part series on Josh Drean. Josh has worn many hats—Harvard MBA, psychology grad, co-founder of Work3 Institute and now, co-author of Employment is Dead (Harvard Business Review Press).  

In the Part 1 of a three-part series with Josh, we dug into why the corporate world’s obsession with employee engagement surveys is as effective as asking your toaster for career advice. Spoiler alert: Most companies don’t actually want honest feedback from employees.

Here in Part 2, where look deep into the book's journey: how did this provocative and ambitious book come about in the very first place?

“I know this sounds completely random, but do you want to write a book together?” That’s how co-author Deborah Perry Piscione kickstarted Employment is Dead. One unexpected call, a bold idea, and a title sticky enough to catch Harvard Business Review’s attention.

“Can you imagine writing a chapter about a year ago and then having it publish a year later? It’s outdated week to week almost.” While AI and Web3 reshape the workforce at lightning speed, traditional publishing still takes years. To bridge the gap, Josh turned to TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube—engaging with audiences in real-time while waiting for the book’s release.

“Before we knew it, we had 120 pages of this proposal, which was much too long.” What started as an overstuffed pitch ended in a bidding war among publishers. The reason? Josh and Deborah weren’t just talking about changing work culture—they were exposing how outdated employment structures hold workers back.

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