What Does Freedom Mean to You and Your Business? Here’s How to Create More Space for That
January 10, 2021
What does it mean to find freedom in your life? To me, freedom is about ignoring the “shoulds” and doing what makes me feel “me." It’s what brings me peace of mind, which starts with knowing what I want.
What does it mean to find freedom in your business? Personally, I believe business can be easy. In fact, it can be anything you want it to be because it’s yours. Finding your freedom is going to look different because we’re all unique, and so is the way we run our businesses.
Freedom falls into a wide variety of categories, but for the most part, it awards you time, money, or boundaries. For some, this looks like financial success or making six-figures. For others, it's the ability to take a vacation whenever or not work on the weekends. Or it could look like setting boundaries around client communication or passing on a potential lead. Maybe it’s all three for you.
I reached out to my Instagram community to ask, “What does freedom in life and business mean to you?” I want to share some of the answers because they are so good:
Spending time with my dogs
Autonomy
Working less than 30 hours a week
Creating when I feel inspired
Being in charge of my daily schedule
Not second-guessing my decisions
Learning to not care how people see me
Flexibility to take care of life and business needs
Not having to ask permission to take time off
Going wherever I want whenever I want with whoever I want
Finding a work-life balance
Loving what I do
There are endless ways to define freedom as a business owner, so I want to share my three tried-and-true ingredients to discover what it can look like for you and your business. Because when you know what makes you feel free, you can create more space for that.
1. Write down a list of what you want
Do you know what you want to make time for or be able to afford? Write it all down – the goals you want to hit, the way you want to feel, how you want to heal, and where you want to be in a certain amount of time.
How specific should you be? That’s where I turn to human design. The direction of the bottom right arrow on your chart reflects the way you manifest. If you’re not familiar with this, here’s a great place to start (just don’t forget to get your chart first). Also, this video can help if you’re thinking, “How does this relate to business and manifesting a life of freedom?”
If your arrow is pointing to the left, be as specific and detailed as possible when envisioning what freedom looks and feels like for you. The key is knowing you deserve and are worthy of everything you desire. If it’s pointing to the right, you’re designed to focus less on the details and more on the general idea behind what you are calling in. The key is understanding the feelings and experiences you want to bring into your life.
Either way your arrow points, put your vision out there (literally or figuratively) and work backward from it as a way to manifest your freedom. It’s much easier to go from where you want to be and how you want to feel than to arbitrarily set goals.
When you’re confident in the direction you’re going, business (and life) is easy, enjoyable, and fulfilling. And it gets to be that way.
2. Limit time on activities that don’t contribute to your goals
What’s not so easy? Breaking old habits that don’t serve you any longer.
My suggestion is to keep your eye on the prize when you’re deciding on what activities or tasks aren’t bringing you closer to your end goal. This is where having that list of what you want comes in handy.
A great place to start is to limit the time you spend on social media. I recommend one hour (or less!) per day, but I get it. It’s addicting, so if you need to set a limit on your phone to hold you accountable… go for it.
Here’s the important part: Celebrate when you do make time for what you want. When you accomplish what you want. When you’re able to afford what you want. When you have time for what you want.
The best way to make time for what you want and find more freedom in your life? Set some boundaries, baby!
3. Set intentional boundaries
Boundaries are all about consistency. You have to commit and dedicate yourself to clearly communicate your expectations. If you don’t, people won’t respect them.
A boundary I recently set which brought a lot of freedom into my business? I don’t take meetings on Fridays.
This means I’m free to take off on a long weekend trip. I’m free to sleep in. I’m free to use the time to create content, work on my business, or just relax and read a book all day. When you set business boundaries like this, you realize it’s healthy for you to guard your time. There’s no reason you need to answer a client email on a Saturday morning if it doesn’t get you closer to what you want.
I know it feels impossible to create and enforce boundaries because it takes unshakable confidence in yourself and your vision. It’s especially tough if you’ve never done it before or if you don’t believe freedom is possible for you.
To that I say: Finding freedom IS possible for you.
Don’t believe me? Probably because you haven’t heard someone tell you before. Let me be that person who tells you. Block out the noise and figure out what makes the most sense for you. Do that and you will find freedom in both life and business.
Ready to stop hustling for work and create your own version of freedom through a healthy work-life balance and unwavering confidence in yourself? My Beginner to Business Badass course is for designers at the beginning stage of their career who are ready to build and grow a fulfilling business. I can’t wait to support you, you badass.
