What Does Independence Mean To You?

If you are in the USA, today is the official Independence Day.

As I write this, after watching a beautiful fireworks display last night, in my very small town, (why they do this on the 3rd, I still wonder?), I've read a lot from people asking the same question today...

What does Independence mean to you?

As a parent, do you ever think you'll feel "independent" or do you even want to? Even as my daughter graduated from medical school and my son from college, I realize I have no need to feel "independent" from them and still love it when they come home, call and ask questions, and share their lives.

As an entrepreneur and author however, independence means a great deal to me and always has.

I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs - my grandmother started a company, at a time when women always stayed home, that eventually became the largest of its type in the country. My mother and father purchased a store, and my mother built that business even after my father passed away.

Since you already know I love learning new things, and how to help others learn them faster, I am reading a fascinating new book called The 4 Hour Work Week where the author shows you:

* why less is more
* how to achieve whatever your personal indenpendence, whatever that means to you
* how to escape the 9-5 grind if you want to and how to show your kids to do the same
* how to ask yourself the tough question during your day: Am I being active or productive?

There's so much more here that people like Jack Canfield, former teacher and creator of Chicken Soup For The Soul, now best selling author of The Success Principles: How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be, says it's truly time such a book was written and it's destined to be the manifesto for everyone.

We'll see about that - although Tim does believe in outsourcing what you can and showing you how to free up your time so you can enjoy life now and not put that off till later... maybe we'd all agree with that part.

What do you think? Leave your thoughts and I'll post them for our learning community...