Tonight when we were in the driveway shooting off fireworks with our sons, I was reminded of an Independence Day a few years back. An elderly couple from England had just moved in across the street. As we were piling in the car that July 4th, my wife asked the English couple if they would like to come with us to watch the fireworks at the lake. They agreed, and then cracked me up as they got in van and said, in typical British style, 'We will be glad to come and watch with you, but we won't be celebrating...' Whether you are in the states and celebrating, or living in another part of the world, we can all celebrate our freedoms. At this time each year, I write an article on 'Freedom from and Freedom to......' It occured to me tonight that it might be a nice idea to write one about our many freedoms we have in the practices we enjoy. So here is my Independence Day gift to you, wherever you live. Freedom from Freedom from boredom in our work - Each Monday morning as I drive to the office here in Tallahassee, Florida, I glance at the drivers next to me and try to pick out the ones that look as if they are about to begin 'a five day sentence' doing something they hate to do. And I once again thank God that I get to do something I love every day. Freedom from managed care and the insurance world - I have not touched managed care or insurance since May 1, 1996. More than nine years later, I am still excited that I do not have to fool with thatcrazy drudgery any more! Freedom from having a job - 'The more you want to do something the less it seems like work' is a quote I get to live out every day. I have my dream job, and cannot imagine doing anything else. One of my passions is a desire for others in the helping professions to feel the same joy and excitement I do each day. An important fact to remember here is that boss spelled backwards is 'double s ob.' Freedom to Freedom to live out our calling - I believe each one of us has shown up on the planet with a purpose. That purpose is to deliver to the world something that NO ONE ELSE could ever deliver. Instead of wondering where in the world you are going to find clients, change your thinking to the FACT that there are so many people out there that need what you have you could never get to them all. Freedom to be creative with what is inside you - So many people tell me that they could never do anything other than meet with clients and could not imagine having any products to offer others. You may have heard me say this before - 'If you can write a 7item grocery list, you can write an article.' And then an article can become a free report, an e-course, an e-book, a presentation, a CD and/or DVD series, etc. We have opportunity to work once and get paid, get paid, get paid, get paid.................. And if that is not something worth celebrating, I don't know what is! Freedom to design your own life - Being able to work for yourself, to work with who you want to work with, doing the work you want to do, when you want to do it, is the best way I know of to be in a position to design the life you would like to live. My challenge to you, and to me, on this Independence Day is to take these rare freedoms, and make the very very most out of them that you can in the next year. Then we will meet back here this time next year to CELEBRATE! |
