themselves for the paycheck. tom foreman with this week's american journey. >> reporter: when this small tech company began out in kansas, one of the founders, dan carol, knew he needed virtually no permanent staff, just talented temporary workers hired when needed and ready to embrace a new professional mantra. >> i guess the idea that the job you create for yourself is the most stable job you could have. >> reporter: he's not alone. one business study estimates there are already more than 17 million americans who no longer work for companies, but sell their skills day by day. that number could jump to 23 million in the next few years. >> yeah, freelancing is happening everywhere. >> reporter: at the freelancers union in new york, the founder knows all about it. >> it is really a phenomenon where people are hard working, and they're just putting together a bunch of projects and they work in fields ranging from being a doctor to a programmer