Entrepreneurs are Freedom Fighters

By On · 42 Comments · In Mobility

Today I realized my life’s purpose while I was cleaning my George Foreman grill. Coincidence? I think not!..kidding I know it was. Anyways, as I scraped burnt chicken goo off the griddle it struck me: I’m a freedom fighter… my life’s purpose is to gain as much freedom as I can and to teach others how to do the same.


Are you a Freedom Fighter?

The reason I was contemplating my life’s purpose was because today someone very close to me said “You are obsessed with money” and it really upset me. No one wants to hear that and of course I got defensive at first but then I realized… I had been focusing on the means not the goal this whole time.

The means = Money

The goal = Freedom

What is your goal? It is critical to your success that you actually spend some time thinking about the real goal behind why you want to be an entrepreneur. Maybe it isn’t freedom, maybe for you it is security, revenge or propagating your belief system. Regardless of what your goal is, whether it seems silly or not – the point is that it matters to you and resonates with your very being.

When I had my epiphany with George Foreman the feeling that rushed through my whole being assured me that this was the real thing. I know now without a doubt that I will live my life fighting for freedom both for myself & for others. Freedom of religion, freedom of location, freedom of finances, freedom from negativity and freedom to pursue one’s dreams – thankfully my entrepreneurial journey meshes with these goals perfectly.

I have found my WHY... now I want to know yours…

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  • http://SourcesOfInsight.com J.D. Meier

    That's the key — finding your why.

    It's easy to mix means goals with ends goals. One of the ways to find your ends goal is by going through a list of values, until you can whittle down to your top 5. There is a canonical set of about 34 values that's timless and cultural-independent.

    Another approach is to do a goals exercise, but focus on how you want to feel … it helps you jump past the means, and cut right to the chase. A lot of our goals are really about increasing our feelings of safety, or freedom, or confidence … or feeling good … etc.

    Probably the most effective way I know is the Golden Circle. It's a leadership tool we use at Microsoft to figure out your *why* and *How.* It's pretty insightful because it flips the typical what, how, why … to why, how, what. By leading with your why and knowing your how, you can take your game wherever you go.

    You can see an exploration of my why using the Golden Circle technique in my post, “why do you do what you do”

  • http://www.socialrockstar.co.uk Brandon

    Nice article Maren. Very thought provoking, the name Freedom Fighter makes you sound like you're some sort of camouflaged jungle warrior (like in the movie Predator).

  • http://www.wilsonusman.com/ Wilson Usman

    I hate to be a copy cat, but that's what I am too a “freedom fighter” or as I call it “freedom finder”. Yes my goal is to find as much freedom in everything I do, to be able to spend time with my loved ones, and do the things I love doing the most.

  • matthewneedham

    I'm affraid that I too am a copy cat Wilson… for too long I thought it was about having money, but then I realised is that money is used to keep score. In league games, the teams that win the most games get to be the champions, not the ones who score the most goals.

  • http://www.BloomingDreams.ning.com Demisha

    I think this article is very important for all Entrepreneurs. If you don't know your WHY then your journey will go way off course. My WHY is very similar to yours, Maren Kate. I want to help others get freedom and live out their dreams as well. I want people to know that everyone can chose their own path to live the life that they visioned for themselves. Most people don't accomplish freedom because they're afraid of being different (Escaping the 9 to 5 lifestyle). DIFFERENT is my favorite word!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.twitter.com/bswec Brandon W

    I also seek Freedom. Money is just the means to the end. If someone says I'm obsessed with money, I respond, “No, I'm obsessed with Freedom. Money is only the means to the end. Do you have an idea for a different path to Freedom that doesn't involve living in a shack in the woods?”

  • http://experimentsinpassiveincome.com Moon Hussain

    I'm a Freedom Fighter too now ;) I've been using my George grill a lot lately. Besides being sexy and red, it keeps spitting out perfectly grilled chicken (marinade the chicken and freeze it in freeze; thaw hours before when ready to cook on grill).

    All that aside, I haven't forgotten what you proposed. I'll be taking a road trip for a week and then my schedule should be open. Looking forward to talking to you!

  • http://jeremyaragon.com/ Jeremy Aragon

    You are the female version of me I swear! You have a gift my friend and now a super committed fan so if you start slacking on your blog posts I along with the rest of your fans will voice our dis-pleasure….LOUDLY heehee, you rock Maren and I told my girl how classy you were when we met up @Starbucks ,which is rare these days. Keep hustling homey!

  • http://jeremyaragon.com/ Jeremy Aragon

    “You are obsessed with money”
    I hear that all the time…only prob is…I'm BROKE ahahahaha, irony is everywhere

  • http://www.writersaddict.net/ Ryan Hanzel

    Hey Maren, not to be a copy cat but my ultimate goal is freedom also. The freedom to be home with my family each day after work and the freedom to feel relaxed (well financially). I really like to have the elbow room in life with no one else trying to slow me down.

  • http://40daystochange.wordpress.com/ ami@40daystochange

    Money is important – because it's a tool. It's not an end in itself.

    So long as you know your WHY – and you focus on your money as a means to that WHY, well, what's wrong with that? One caution – make sure your freedom is freedom TO and not freedom FROM something!

  • ralphcarlson

    It's more than the money for me. I want to help people get their why.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    That is awesome Ralph, have you read the book “Start with Why” amazing!

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    hmmm.. that is interesting, elaborate please? How do you mean your freedom is to something not from?

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    I think in the end a lot of people would LOVE their ultimate goal to be freedom but have just never thought of it – our culture is so obsessed with “money” and a bigger car, house, etc. being the “End” not realizing that all these things are just products of money…

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    that is fine :) i need the motivation!!

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    Lol, just redirect it and explain to them your WHY instead and then people seem to go “aaah” and get it.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    ooh mine isn't sexy or red :( mine is plain silver – stupid grill. Anyways, glad you are taking a 'break' from everything – get in touch when your done :)

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    Love it!! I absolutely adore your response to that comment, that is very true. There are two kinds of freedom – the type where money is no object as in you have none and live of the land (if that is even possible today) and the other where money is no object because you have more than enough of it so you can do what you want – not what you 'must' with your life.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    I am honestly thinking that almost ALL true entrepreneurs seek Freedom over Money… gotta test this theory but it seems to reside to the very core of the real entrepreneur in a way it doesn't with others.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    Yep, money is used to keep score – that and to be able to do some of the things you want – I think for my kind of 'freedom' it is vital but for some others it may not be the currency of choice, maybe time or affection is more vital.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    Love it, it seems like every entrepreneur is deep down – whether they realize it or not they are fighting for freedom not money – money is just the currency involved.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    I really wanted to use an image of a camouflaged freedom fighter in the post but then i was like – eeeh – maybe not the best move :)

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    Golden Circle from Simon Sinek's book “Start with Why” is AMAZING it has totally redirected the way i do things and now that you mention it I want to read it again :)

  • http://jeremyaragon.com/ Jeremy Aragon

    you can run but you can not hide ;)

  • http://jeremyaragon.com/ Jeremy Aragon

    i personally know many un-happy people that are living a comfortable yet miserable retirement if that makes sense. They tell me how they wish they would have 'lived' more when they were busy securing their retirement and 'future?'

  • http://jeremyaragon.com/ Jeremy Aragon

    I have re-read this post like 3 times now because… I'm a fan i guess ahhaha, no but its one of those posts that I like to ponder for a few hours. So now for my WHY.

    My WHY is freedom driven also, gotta keep the trend goin :) Freedom to create. I'm a plumber/HVAC/carpenter/bugman by trade but natural people shaper by night! What I mean by that is this, people are my passion because we are all so unique and everyone has an incredible story to tell. So often though these stories sound like they could be so much … better? if they had a little 'background' help or motivation or education, whatever the missing or lacking ingredient is. I'm that guy and if I'm not then I know him/her because I'm a great networker ;)

    And if I'm not mistaken Maren here seems to be the best blogger out there in my world because I used to read Yaros blog everyday but now I have to 'find' time where as with the 9 to 5 I 'make' time, make $ense?

    I read this blog everyday because I recently met with Maren and she is the real deal. Possibly the coolest chick in Reno (when shes here) second only to my girlfriend who is probably my biggest WHY :)

    thanks for keepin the bomb posts coming Ms. Maren Kate the great hahahaha

  • lejonratchford

    The problem is when you let money become the ultimate goal. Why do we want to be rich? Is it to show people you are better then them? I have this you don't, or is it used to help others. I went to a Christian concert the other evening and they asked 200 people to give 20 monthly to help pregnant mothers and infants. My plans for success years ago was I wanted the fancy cars the jewelry (never had trouble with women, but being a pimp is over rated nothing but a f***** head ache) and being popular. My focus was all wrong now I have a family a fiance (sometimes a headache but I love her) and that's what is all about in my eyes. Like Robert Shemin said, let your money buy you time, time to spend with your love ones or do the things you love. I respect what you said Maren, fight for what you believe in. Great Blog!

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    That is an comment thank you so much for sharing your story!! It is inspiring to see that others understand this concept as well :)

  • stevemontano

    Maren this article really resonates with me. Thank you so much for writing it! The number one reason I do what I do is not only for my freedom but the freedom of my family. When somebody's reason is to be free it becomes so much more than just making money. But when somebody's reason is to help your family to be free even before your own freedom, it becomes a cause, something much bigger than yourself and the motivation is even stronger. The fact that you have given it absolutely the most perfect title, “Freedom Fighter” even more so solidifies my reason why and the flag that I carry for my family. :) You rock Maren and are a real inspiration!!

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  • http://www.sexycopy.org k0zm0zs0ul

    Agreed, freedom is my ultimate goal as well. I like the freedom to choose how I spend my time, whom I spend it with, and where I spend it. I like the security that comes with knowing my bills are paid and will continue to be paid on time every time. I like the ability and freedom to take a day (or week or month even!) off from working to spend my time with family, friends, and doing things I love to do. :) So if that's obsessed with money… call me money hungry! ;)

    C

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    Isn't that an amazing feeling? Just the security blanket of knowing – not hoping that everything is not only paid for – but that you can do what you want – I love that part of entrepreneurship and pursuing freedom more than anything else.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    It really does – it can be a life changing to realize that you aren't going after money (even when you think you are) that you are going after freedom and if it took 10,000 rocks to be free then I would be chasing rocks.

  • http://twitter.com/TGOfficeEscape TheGreatOfficeEscape

    Some people want money because it gives them nice things. Some people want money because it gives them freedom. All people want freedom because it gives them peace.

    Sharing this slice of freedom and peace with others is extremely rewarding. I love helping my friends get to a place where they are happier professionally. It's why I write, and I'm sure it's why you write too :)

  • stevemontano

    …wow, well said! I'll continue chasing rocks. Never give up! :)

  • http://www.girlstartup.com Girl Startup

    I want freedom and then money so I can be surrounded by pretty things. I'm a libran, we like aesthetically pleasing design…and that costs money ;)

    It's interesting nearly every reply here, has “freedom” first, interesting :)

  • http://40daystochange.wordpress.com/ ami@40daystochange

    thinking of my own experience – don't just run away (seek freedom FROM) a bad situation – seek out your goal (seek freedom TO . . . become an entrepreneur, set your own hours or path, or create art). I guess a better way to put it would have been – visualize or solidify your ideal – and head that way, rather than running away simply to escape without knowing where you're going TO. Too many words, I've probably muddled things even more.

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    All people want freedom – you are SOO right, hence making it a worthy goal :)

  • http://www.Escapingthe9to5.com/ Maren Kate

    I like it :) too true

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