This entry is an excerpt from my Marketing Tipsheet that went out on July 4. I’m publishing it here as well because I want to reach as many people as possible with the message. Most of my Tipsheet content never sees the light of day on the internet, so if you want this type of content on a regular basis, make sure you click here to subscribe!

Today in the United States we celebrate freedom. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. 

As business owners, the word ‘freedom’ has a deeper meaning. 

We have the opportunity to create freedom in our lives that most people don’t and never will.

For most of us, myself included, this freedom is why we’re entrepreneurs in the first place. It would certainly be “easier” to go get a job like most people do.

But I want freedom.

Freedom to work where, when, and how I choose.

Freedom to work with the clients and customers that I choose to work with.

Freedom to spend my time how I please.

Ultimately, freedom from my business as I build systems and leverage people to make it run with or without me.

I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last year as I’ve exited the business that I spent six years building. And probably the biggest realization is that I prize autonomy (freedom!) over just about everything else.

And so I’ve made a point of evaluating business decisions largely based on how they impact my personal freedom.

I’ve said no to lucrative projects because they would have forced me to let go of more control over my time than I’m willing to relinquish.

I’ve ‘fired’ clients that aren’t compatible with my approach to doing business.

I’ve leveraged other people’s time to free up my own. And I’m actively building programs that generate revenue without requiring my time and attention.

Most importantly, for me personally, I’ve spent what feels like half the summer on the lake or in the pool with my kids.

So why am I writing this? Definitely not to brag – because I’m still making plenty of mistakes and I have a long way to go before I’ve reached all of my goals. 

I’m sending this email today because ten years ago, when I first took the plunge into entrepreneurship, I didn’t know any of this was possible.

My understanding of “owning a business” was really more like “being owned by my business.” I didn’t understand that building a business could create freedom. My vision was so limited by what I thought was possible and by what I expected my life would look like that I never would have set my sights higher.

CS Lewis wrote (in a somewhat grander context) that:

“We are like ignorant children who want to go on making mud pies in a slum because we cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

That was me in the early stages of building a business. I didn’t know what was possible. I couldn’t imagine it.

Some of you reading this won’t identify – you don’t need this message. Maybe you grew up in a family of successful entrepreneurs. Maybe you did a better job of educating yourself early on. And so you’ve always seen the big picture and understood how to tap into the freedom that entrepreneurship creates.

But if you’re like me ten years ago… if your dream of owning a business has turned into a reality of being owned by your business… if you’ve lost control of your time, if you’re doing work that you hate, if you’re working with customers and clients that you can’t stand, if you’re constantly compromising your freedom… just know that it doesn’t have to be this way.

I don’t care if you’ve been in business for one year, ten years, or thirty years, it’s never too late to radically change direction and start creating freedom.

If this is you, but you don’t know where to begin, send me an email (team@marketingsimplifiedpodcast.com.) I’d love to give you some resources and get you pointed in the right direction.

Make this 4th of July the day you get serious about creating freedom in your business & your life.

Happy 4th!