Today is Independence Day here in the US, and it marks the day that we won our independence from the British. If you think about it, it was a pretty moxie-filled thing to do, and that alone makes it worth celebrating! Interestingly enough (to me, at least), there are many countries that celebrate their independence from the rule or oppression of another (you can see some of them here), and it does my heart good to think that, almost year round, there are people celebrating independence.
This year, I thought about my own independence. Specifically, the independence I created for myself when I left my last "job," and started my business. I had the good fortune to be fired on a fine September day. And although I didn't know it at the time ('cause all I could do was cry over the injustice of it all), a couple of weeks later, my own independence day would come. That was the day I looked at D and said, "I don't want to work for anyone ever again. Here's what I plan to do instead."
What I laid out then has changed in years since, but one fact remains: I'm free.
And if you are a business owner (as most of you are!), you, too, are free. If you've never consciously focused on it, take a minute with me right now to do that. Think about when it was when you made the break (it could be mentally or physically) from "working for" someone else, to being in control of your own destiny. Do you remember exactly when it was? If so, that's your personal Independence Day. That's the day you walked away from what was holding you back and recognized that you have (among other things) the:
- Independence to do things your way
- Independence to be an equal to the clients who work with you
- Independence to do what you want to do when you want to do it
- Independence to take as much vacation as you care to
- Independence to be socially responsible in business
- Independence to go out for lunch and a massage in the middle of the day
- Independence to take the day off to take care of your sick child, go with him on a field trip, or take him on a picnic—just because
- Independence to set your own standards and have people meet them if they want to work with you
- Independence to work from the beach all summer
- Independence to have your office space the way you most want it to be
- Independence to say "no" to things you don't want to do
- Independence to expect to be paid what you're worth
- Independence to be authentic in business
- Independence to structure your business in a way the contributes to your having a high-quality life
- Independence to operate a green company
- Independence to choose your clients
- Independence of knowing you'll never have to work a "job" again.
- Independence to have moxie in your life!
- Independence to …what else would you like to add to the list?!!?
Bit O’Moxie:Whether you do it today, or on another special day, claim your own Independence Day, and create an independence statement to empower you and in celebration of the moxie it took to do that. Whether you realize it or not… it's HUGE!
In case you want an example, mine would say something like, "September 23: Claimed independence from the tyrannical, bullshit-filled corporate world in 1992," or, "September 23: Liberated in 1992 from working another day in her life for people who didn't appreciate her," or maybe, "Freed at last, in 1992, from asking permission for what no rational adult should ever have to ask permission to do."
What would yours say?
If there's a long time between today and your own Independence Day, go ahead and celebrate today (what fun--you can then celebrate again when your own day rolls around!). Take the time to acknowledge all the goodness that's come to your life since you became independent. Whether you're new to this, or an old hand with a full practice, reflect on just what you left behind, what you've gained by doing so, and remember to celebrate all your successes, too!
Amen Stacy!
Mine would say, December 20 (it was nice of them to lay me off just a few days before Christmas, wasn’t it?:-)) 2004, I was freed to use my strongest skills everyday, to work with only people who I love to be around, to take a day off without having to come up with an excuse, to work with my dog sitting at my feet, and to never, ever have to wear pantyhose again!
Posted by: Sharon Sarmiento | July 05, 2006 at 06:19 PM
My independence day was October 2000 when I was laid off from a Big 5 accounting firm. I called my husband to give him the news and his reply shocked me...he said it was great news. Over the coming weeks, he convinced me that I could build a business doing the things I loved most while staying home with the people I loved most. It was liberating!
Posted by: Ann | July 07, 2010 at 08:27 AM
What a great post, Stacy! My own Independence Day was June 16, 2008. That was the day I left the corporate world for good, and am declaring my Independence from corporate beaurocracy, unfair treatment, oppression, abuse and lies. I celebrate every year.
I would like to say happy Independence Day to VAs and business owners everywhere. We all rock!
Posted by: Kris Jamieson | July 07, 2010 at 09:29 AM