Freedom is not the goal; the goal is purpose.
Becoming free
In 2021, I fired myself as CEO of Amazing, again. At Lifeboost, a second, even larger company, my business partner Charles is the CEO.
I was free.
I had significant income from two businesses, both of which required little from me to keep growing.
After a few years of studying value investing, I learned to invest semi-passively, which brought in a third stream of income and helped build wealth.
With the freedom I’d sought for over a decade, I could spend my time and money however I wanted.
The outcome of unlimited freedom: Buying a feather duster
While I wouldn’t willingly trade complete financial freedom for the lack of it, I wasn’t much happier than when I was neck-deep in challenges building my first business.
I read a book by a minimalist monk who took pride in cleaning by hand with a broom and a feather duster.
“Ah,” I thought, “this is where I can find meaning.”
I began washing dishes by hand, slowly.
I bought a feather duster.
After a few sweeps across my home office shelves, I thought,
“What the $&#@ am I doing with my life?!”
That was the turning point. I decided to pursue not freedom, not more wealth, but purpose.
Seek purpose
Was Martin Luther King Junior free?
He could have led a much simpler, quieter, more comfortable, freer life.
Instead, he gave up his freedom to fight for others.
King pursued his mission with a relentless schedule that included campaigns, protests, speeches, and marches. He was also arrested 29 times.
Though he died at only 39, he achieved something far greater than freedom for himself: purpose.
What would you do with freedom?
If you had the freedom you desire, what would you do with it?
Can you do that, at least in part, now?
Your purpose doesn’t have to wait.
If you don’t know what to do with freedom, I suggest watching this clarifying 4-minute video with Steven Pressfield and Oprah.
—Matt