Natalie’s challenge today is:  “What’s your definition of freedom in business and adventure in life?”

• The definition of freedom in business is “easy”:  freedom in business is having the ability to pursue what you want when you want.  However, the bigger issue is what do you need to have this freedom?  The answer to that is three fold.  First — and foremost — you need the right attitude/belief that you are actually free.  Without this, you’re absolutely sunk.  There’s folks out there with more time, money and ability than most of us that don’t feel free; and, accordingly, they’re not.  Attitude is number one.  Second, you need to understand that your business does NOT own you, you own it.  While some would argue that if you’re doing what you love, you’re not working; and, as a result, I’m dead wrong on this point.  I disagree.  The question is with regards to “freedom in business“.  The key here is business.  With a business, you’re ultimately beholden to a set of customers.  Freedom in business is understanding that it’s just that:  a business.  Now hopefully, your business matches your passion and you’ll stay after that passion even if the business goes away.  Third, and last but not least, you need a secure source of income.  Egad, he’s brought up money!!!  Indeed.  Money’s not evil in itself.  In fact, Jacob Needleman in “Money and the Meaning of Life” would argue that money is a gift from God.  Without it, commerce would not have developed and we would not have grown as we have on this earth — imagine if we were still bartering.  I don’t think we’d have a Suitcase Entrepreneur guiding us through this challenge!!!  The reality is you need to make sure you have a path to financial security/financial independence to truly be free in your business.  Now the exact number is a much different issue — and in many cases, it’s a lot less than we normally think.  Check out Chris Guillabeau’s stuff for some more insights on this topic.
• Now we turn to “adventure in life”.  Unlike freedom in business, I don’t think there’s as strict a definition in this instance as one person’s definition of adventure is another’s idea of boredom and a third’s idea of lunacy.  In my mind, the closest we can come to a universal definition of “adventure in life” is that thing/those things that allow us to lose ourselves for some period of time.  For some that’s writing, for some running, others use hallucinogenic drugs, some put their lives at risk, some play bridge, some chase love.  The key in my mind is that there’s something for you that allows you to be totally absorbed and lose yourself.  Personally, this topic is super challenging to me as I’m a control freak (what do you expect I’m an engineer!!!).  And I’m particularly controlling with my mind.  I hate to let it go / I want to always be pursuing the rational.  Ironically, my new adventure is “doing nothing” — which for me is doing a big something that’s more than a bit scary!

Kudos to Natalie for the questions so far.  If you’re following along and accepting the challenge, you’re likely learning a ton about yourself.  That’s something special that we all should appreciate.

If you want some more information on the challenge, check out the post on day three at:

http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/blogchallenge/blog-challenge-day3