This post was most recently updated on February 23rd, 2014
What is freedom to you?
Is it a picture in your mind that has you lying around the beach all day? Does freedom mean not working for someone?
Does it bring you a quality of life that allows you to be with your loved ones, take a walk any time of the day, and spontaneously do the things that make you happy whenever you want?
I’m a free woman and have been for many years since becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Since carving out a distinct presence on the internet, I am growing and enjoying every bit of it. I simply follow my passions (and I have a few) and like magic – things click.
What makes me feel rich? Freedom. It is not the amount of money I stockpile in a bank account, but doing what I want, when I want, and having the money to do it.
One of my favorite whims is to work to the wee hours of the morning when I am so inspired. I simply balance that with “sleeping-in” the next morning.
Many people believe that working for someone creates a safety net. I just don’t fit into that mold and never did.
Freedom does require responsibility, though. Getting my blog out on time, syndicating my peers, developing new products to meet the needs of my followers. These are but a few of the responsibilities I must take in order to maintain my freedom.
Discipline is an essential ingredient to living in freedom.
As a teacher, mentor and leader, I know I must work be true to my disciplinary senses. If you want the freedom to work whenever you want, you must create and adhere to a schedule within which everything gets done. Freedom is no “easy-street”. But when you are following your passion and “working” for yourself, it’s the only road worth travelling.
In my future blog posts, I want to give you some helpful hints on how you can get into the game of Freedom.
Hey Donna, great post on freedom. I think too many people get caught up in all the stuff they see other people have and think they need it as well when in reality the freedom to choose to do what they want and when they want is really what would make them happy, more often than not. A huge mansion is great, a fancy exotic sports car is awesome – but if you’re not in control of your schedule and can’t ever enjoy the house or drive the cars… what’s the point? Great post Donna! (I get that inspiration late at night sometimes as well – it’s much quieter when everyone else is sleeping, right? Why not? 😉
Hans, I couldn’t agree more! Freedom is in the inside. Sometimes I feel like shouting out “I’M A FREE WOMAN.” Actually one day I was inspired to do that on my back porch. Maybe the neighbors think I’m a bit off beat, but who cares!
Twitter: marquitaherald
June 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm #
Hi Donna,
This is really a terrific article! Ah, and freedom is what it’s all about for me. My “clock” is exactly the opposite of yours – in fact, I was up and drinking my first cup of coffee at 2:30am this morning. But then by 3pm this afternoon I’ll be curled up with my puppy and a good book (cause it’s raining today!) and THAT is my idea of a great day – because I can still remember when I worked at a “regular” job and had to practically beg just to take a little personal time. Yep, for me, THIS is what it’s all about 🙂
Oh, you sound like me….curling up with my dog! What a great day we can make ourselves!
Hi Raisa, Great to see you here. I know you very well and you know all about the discipline you need to your freedom.
Hugs,
Donna
Hi Donna,
I like how you describe “freedom” and I agree with your concept.
I also believe that many do not take into account the large dose of discipline to achieve and maintain the long-awaited freedom.
As always I really enjoy reading you and your post are a great source of inspiration for me
A hug
Raisa
Great post, Donna! I really like what you said about how freedom requires discipline. I think that there are times when we have to do things that we don’t want to do because it gets us out of our comfort zone, but I motivate myself to do things when I don’t really feel like it by reminding myself that I can have some easy time now for a very short time and a lifetime of difficulty or a short time of discipline followed by an easier life after that. So, I’d like to think that I pass the “marshmallow test” on this one 😉
Hey Steve I love the way you call it the “marshmallow test”
Great Reply. Thanks, Donna
Hi Donna,
Yes, freedom is wonderful, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have to work. You just get to choose what you do and when you do it. That’s what I like about being an entrepeneur. Whenever I think about how nice it might be just to work for someone else and let them pay me, I can’t stand the thought of living by someone else’s schedule and losing the possibility of unlimited earning potential.
Thanks for your insights,
Donna Turner
Isn’t it Donna? We do have to work even harder than working for someone else. But it is ours! We can attain ANYTHING!
Donna,
This is a very nice post! I agree, just like everyone else said, we all need be deciplined! I add to that, slow down and stay focused! That’s my biggest problem!
Linda
ps. I look forward to networking with you!
Yes Linda, I agree staying focused takes a lot of practice. I’m currently in a group that meets once a week, to do so. It is an up-hill battle, but I like to keep training my brain.
Thanks
Donna
Thanks Eldon! So many people miss that point and drop out or get overwhelmed. I posted this as sort of an encouragement for people who are standing on the wire.
Donna
Hi Donna,
I think the concept of “freedom” is what motivates many Internet and network marketers to seek the incomes that make financial independence possible. However, a big key to success is what you said above:
“Discipline is an essential ingredient to living in freedom”
That’s where so many “miss it”. You have to have strong self discipline to achieve and maintain true time and financial freedom. Thanks for pointing out how important that discipline truly is.
Eldon
Hey Donna,
Great post my friend. I love the idea that freedom is discipline. It takes a person with a great heart and discipline to have true freedom. Thanks for being the example for us all.
Make it a great day!
God Bless,
The GREAT Edward!
Hi Edward!
Thanks for your kind words. I read “Rich Woman” and in one of the things she mentioned was discipline. She said that either go to church or join the army. That was one of my AHA moments of the importance of discipline.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna,
Freedom to me is having time and money freedom. I would love to play golf or guitar all day, or maybe take walks on the beach with my wife. And one day I will have Freedom.
I am looking forward to your tips.
Jaden
Jaden, take little breaks during that busy day of yours. Take your wife out to lunch. It could be as simple as that. Each day take at least one hour of your time and devote it to the freedom you have working for yourself. That will not only refresh you, but reinforce your road.
Gotta go to the dog park now,
Donna
I can very much relate to working hours in the early morning (am’s) when I am so inspired. Yet since I am so slow the next day I do it only when the stuff are just bursting out and it’ll be better for me to write vs. stay in bed 🙂
The first thing that comes to mind when I hold this question of “what is freedom for me” is having the time and space to do the things that makes me happy. It’s that breathe I take and feel a mixture of excitement, peace and joy.
Thanks for this post Donna.
Will come to visit again soon.
Sigal Zoldan
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Master Results Coach
http://blog.sigalzoldan.com
http://AttractYourTrueLove.com
Sigal, I see we are on the same page. Peace and Joy are the things that fulfill our lives. Being “free” to do so is the answer. Working for ourselves does take that push sometimes, but if we respect it as our responsibility, we are in joyful work. Thanks Donna
Freedom is not as easy as saying, “I will do what ever I want to do.” Many aspire to it, but it is nothing less than anarchy. Freedom has no redeeming merit without responsibility. Here again, there are huge segments of the population who are not willing to be responsible. It would be easy to argue that everyone is irresponsible in many different ways. More to the point, people around the planet argue about the very meaning of responsibility on a daily basis: responsibility in families at home, responsibility in the workplace, responsibility for the environment, responsibility for ……. the list is huge. The voices are loud about who is irresponsible: the people in debt / the credit card companies; the billionaire CEOs / the unemployed “scum”; ……. So, sure I like working for myself and with it comes the ability to set my own hours and so on. But that is limited by the fact that in reality I am far from free. I work harder than I have in the last 45 years. I am not really “free” to find a job if I wanted to because there are almost no jobs beyond the minimum wage for the “average” person. Bottomline, the reality of freedom is there are tradeoffs for everyone. Alternatively, freedom is a perspective or mindset that ignores the tradeoffs (impacts on others).
Now that should stir up a pile more comments. 🙂
I love it Richard! Freedom IS responsibility. Here I enforce to all that if you want to work for yourself, you will be putting in many more hours than your 9-5 job (if there is any left ha ha) But the point is if you are doing something that suits your passion and are enjoying doing it. The hours will fly by quickly.
It’s an enjoyable thing to do whereby your dedication to it makes you feel free. Thanks for your mind-provoking comment. I can always count on you Richard for that, because you always share your SELF. Thanks again, Donna
The entrepreneurial mindset has bit me and I too want to experience “Freedom”. Freedom to just do the things I want to do and really only be answerable to myself. Setting goals that are in line with everything I want out of life and making the necessary steps to achieve them. What a “Concept”. I like the sound of it and have embarked on the journey via getting involved in Network Marketing. I just have to stay the course and continue to believe that I too can make it.
Thanks for your informative post and I also look forward to reading more.
Charles
Hey Charles, never give up. You may at times get frustrated, as with any project we do in our lives, but don’t give up. You can take time out and re-align your thoughts. But come back.
Many times we are in our cocoon, but come out with a wide set of beautiful wings.
Blessings,
Donna
Hello Donna,
Man did you ever hit the nail on the head with this post.
I beleive, passionately, in everything you wrote about regarding FREEDOM, so much so that I recently started my second blog under that domain name.
I was struggling trying to stay motived with my first blog. I was hoping to connect with internet newbies, since I was one. But, I just lost interest in the blog after a while.
I was about to give up blogging, when I came across David Walker of the Blogging Boss.
David simply said, blog about what you are passionate about.
Plus, I also had some PLR products and while reading through them I discovered my passion all along has been about “Freedom”,
I used to say, I want time freedom, then I realized, all’s I’d have to do to get time freedom was to stop going to work and, walla, time freedom. But I’d probably go broke very soon there after.
So, I’ve now changed that to, I want financial freedom, then I could afford the quality time freedom I truly desire as well as all the things you mentioned that freedom affords.
Bottom line is, freedom gives you options.
Really great post.
Cheers,
Willie Robertson
A lot of us out here share the same motivation and passion. The problem is people stop and don’t act upon it. No matter what slows me down, I never give up, even when life matters get in my way. Stay Strong and I know you will be successful.
By that I mean FREE!
Donna,
What is freedom to me? Like you said, being able to do what I want, when I want to and with whom I want. Freedom is also being responsible and accountable. When we are responsible and accountable we are in charge and in control. Finally, freedom comes to those who are able to choose, choosing the way things are and, more importantly, the way they are not.
RICK
You Said it Rick! I love being in control of my choices!
Hi Wilena, Being home all day can give you the chance to be “free” especially on the internet. There is so much to do and so much to learn.
Be well,
Donna
Hi Donna:
I love this quote: “Discipline is an essential ingredient to living in freedom.” You are absolutely right, freedom does not come easy!
Thanks!
Kevin
No it doesn’t Kevin. One must be disciplined in order to get all those thoughts in our head out. I call them post it’s in the brain. It’s nice to jump up anytime and get rid of them.
Donna,
I am not the only one who enjoys weird hours to work? Excellent! I sometimes get up at 4, 5, or 6 in the morning to work for a few hours. Then I might take a nap at 2 or 3 in the afternoon if I need it. I could never do that for an employer.
Andy
Andy, you said it! We have the freedom to work when the world is quiet and we can think. This is why I love working for ME.
Donna
Twitter: WillenaRose
April 20, 2011 at 3:29 am #
Freedom means different things to different people. My schedule is pretty much up to me, because I am home alone all day. But I look forward to the day when I can LEAVE home at will to do what I want when I want. 🙂
And to do that, daily discipline is so important.
Great post, Donna! Thanks for sharing.
Willena Flewelling
And you will Wilena! Once you get there you will never turn back.
Well Said Janette! To be “Free” we must live according to our values and especially morals. Thanks for the head’s up!
Hi Donna,
So true about freedom. You’re not truly free if you must answer to the big man. That said, there are people who work for the big man and feel truly free. Freedom, to me, is being able to live the lifestyle that’s in congruent with my values.
Thanks for sharing!
Janette
Oh how I luv this post Donna…I can literally relate to everything you shared as I too consider “Freedom” to be rich! I look forward to the day when I too can set my own schedule and like you, would have way more options than most do! I look forward to reading your future blogs 🙂 Christine
It takes practice. But what I always say Practice makes perfect. I think that was ingrained in me while I was in third grade ha ha.