I just returned home from leading an incredible workshop in Boston. But, the best part was I was able to do a little sight-seeing before I left. I drove the Freedom Trail (which was how the abolitionists helped free the slaves), I visited the graves of the Founding Fathers, I toured the original Capitol. It was an amazing experience, especially happening right before our Country’s birth on the 4th of July.
And, it got me thinking about freedom and how grateful we are to live in this Country and experience freedom. Especially freedom of the press. That particular freedom has made all the other freedoms we enjoy possible. Freedom of the press is why women vote and a huge reason why we have the civil liberties we have. But, most importantly, I invite you to reflect upon what freedom of the press means to you as an entrepreneur and leader. One of the top ways people are able to find out about your work, your business, your message and more is through the media. In fact, I am a firm believer you can’t have a movement without embracing the freedom of the press. Without the media, you’ll struggle to get the word out about your movement.
There are many countries who don’t enjoy our level of freedom of the press. In those places, it’s not allowed to have a point of view that’s different than their government. They can’t talk about what they want to talk about, only what the government allows them to talk about. Without that freedom of being able to speak out, even if your views aren’t popular, diminishes our ability to make a difference. This is especially true if you are doing something in your business that has never been done before. You need the freedom of the press to help you spread the word.
So, this Fourth of July, I would like to encourage you to fully leverage that freedom. Embrace how lucky you are to live in a country with the freedom to say what you want and be seen as an expert, even if your views are against the grain. When all is said and done, the freedom of the press is the key to unlocking YOUR freedom as an entrepreneur.
Happy Fourth of July!
