Can 9-5ers truly achieve freedom?

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Hey, hope you're well.Here's your digest for this week. Hope you find these, inspiring and encouraging.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

Can 9-5ers truly achieve freedom?

(approximately 6 min read)

There’s an all-too-common perspective I see in a lot of entrepreneurially minded folk.It’s subtle, it’s sneaky, it’s dangerous and it’s just flat out wrong.For those who choose to attempt doing their own thing, there can be any number of motivations at the root.Some want money, some fame, others control, and others for the thrill of seeing an immaterial idea come to fruition.But underneath all of these motivations is a fundamental thread connecting them all - freedom.Almost anyone who attempts self-employment or business building does it because they are in some way, trying to achieve a freedom that they feel is otherwise unattainable in traditional employment.Be it the “freedom” to choose what to work on, when to work, where to work, how long to work, and how much to charge for said work.The truth is, most people want some or all of the things listed above.Also true is the fact that attaining any one of them comes with a significant amount of work and risk, not to mention attaining 2 or more of them.I’ll call the attainment of all those freedoms (what, when, where, how long and how much) “Stacked Freedom”.And so, for those whom the impulse to Stacked Freedom is stronger than the fear of the associated risk and toil, the choice is clear - build something of your own. Because the truth is, achieving “Stacked Freedom” is almost impossible via any other route of work. And so enters that sneaky idea I referenced at the beginning.The idea that “freedom” cannot be attained in conventional 9-5 employment.What exactly is freedom? And by implication, what is the absence of freedom?If the entrepreneurially-minded define our chosen career paths as the path to freedom, what does that imply about those who choose more conventional career paths? To those who choose the “9-5 grind”?Can freedom not be found in conventional employment?A subtle disdain for the 9-5 grind then creeps in and by extension, a looking down on those for whom it is their reality.It seems as though in today’s world, the “9-5” has become a pejorative insult. Even if some haven’t explicitly said it, there can take root a subtle attitude in one’s heart. A looking down on those who aren’t “brave enough” to escape the routine. As I sit down to write this newsletter today, I find myself pondering a fundamental truth that often gets overshadowed: the indispensable value of both entrepreneurs and workers in our society. It's a topic close to my heart because, as someone who wears multiple hats – from a budding entrepreneur to a musician – I deeply understand the need for and synergy between these roles.Here are a few thoughts I'd like to share with you:Complementary Forces

Everything in your life and mine was created by entrepreneurs and employees. The laptop I type this on. The coffee you drank this morning. The mug you drank it out of. The clothes you’re currently wearing. The chair you’re currently sitting in, or location you’re standing in. EVERYTHING required imagination and execution. Entrepreneurs and workers are like two sides of the same coin.While entrepreneurs bring innovative ideas and drive change, employees execute these ideas, ensuring they come to fruition. It's a beautiful dance of creativity and dedication, each step dependent on the other. 

Building Blocks of Progress

Imagine a world without entrepreneurs. It would lack the spark of innovation, new ideas, and the driving force behind progress.The comforts we’ve all become so accustomed to would be non-existent.From medicine, to transportation, to communication, all are the product of innovative minds.Now equally, imagine a world without workers. Without the dedication and hard work of employees, these ideas would remain mere dreams, never materializing into reality.Together, entrepreneurs and employees form the backbone of societal advancement.Creation Mandate

“…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” - Genesis 1: 27-28“Have dominion” is a call to create. And creation requires both the thinking and the doing.So embedded in the creation mandate is a call to innovate and execute. In it, is space for and celebration of both the entrepreneur and the employee.And thus, as this is God’s design, there is “freedom” to be found in both.There are many more scriptures I could point to; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, Proverbs 14:23, Psalm 128:2, 1 Timothy 5:8.__________Unfortunately, society often tends to glorify entrepreneurship while overlooking the invaluable contributions of the workers.However, true progress stems from acknowledging and honouring both roles equally.Every successful venture is built on the shoulders of both entrepreneurs and employees, and it's time we recognize and appreciate their joint efforts.So what about the “freedom” question?Can 9-5ers truly achieve freedom? A most resounding “Yes”. While it is true that entrepreneurship may provide certain upsides not accessible to employees, the same is also true in the opposite direction. There are massive downsides to entrepreneurship that employees are shielded from.Thus “freedom” comes from having an honest conversation with yourself, and earnestly trying to do that which God has called you to do.For some, that’s being a diligent, hardworking employee. For others, that’s being an entrepreneur. And yet for others, it’s both at different seasons of life.The point is this; Freedom comes when you are faithful to the specific calling God has placed on your life. Whether you're a visionary entrepreneur or a diligent employee, your role is essential, and your contributions are indispensable.So here's to the entrepreneurs who dare to dream and the workers who bring those dreams to life.I pray we always recognize and honour the equal importance of both.

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