I’m fortunate to have worked as a free agent for most of the days since this journey began March 6, 1992.

My brother runs his own business; my father and grandfather also worked independently.

Dad’s death at 64 (I was 29) focused me on independence, which has driven me ever since. His diagnosis and early departure liberated me to leave Chicago and remain solo throughout most of my career in communications, a field where that is not always practical or easy. 

Suddenly “energy” gained importance to me — being aware of it and occasionally pushing myself to increase my energy levels. [More on that tomorrow.]

I also learned that I wanted to guide myself and not to live life on a schedule driven by an employer or anyone else.

So I built my own ship and have been sailing it for the better part of 31 years.

Among the dominant desires of people working for themselves (I looked it up) is freedom, sure — but more like “sink or swim on your own merits.”

Certainly I place high premium on having the freedom to react in the moment, without limitation. 

Daily, this simply means creating your own schedule. But it’s really about the ability to assert yourself and know that it has to work. And at the same time my independence has allowed me to explore paths I might not otherwise have been able to.  

It’s also exhilarating not to have a safety net the way an employee would.

So: Independence to be able to improvise a direction… pursue that direction… and “own” the result (delight, fulfillment, sense of accomplishment). 

Freedom and uncertainty. Hustle and confidence. Accountability.

It’s having a strong sense of who you are and a clear picture of where you are heading.

Most of all, working for myself for so long has enabled me to link my identity to my profession and strive for success in both.