
Financial Independence.
The Declaration of Independence.
An Independent Spirit.
We esteem independence. Our society celebrates freedom. As we should. But, do we miss the point?
We’re not seeking absolute independence. Well, we may be seeking it, but we won’t find it. It cannot be obtained.
We want to free ourselves of dependency on foreign oil. In order to do so, we become dependent on something else (i.e. biofuel, coal for electricity and/or our domestic supply).
It is not independence. It is a transfer of dependency.
Consider the recent demise of Bear Stearns. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said the collapse of Bear Stearns was due to a lack of confidence, not a lack of capital. Even one of the largest brokerages in the world is dependent on something as uncontrollable as our confidence.
This global truth funnels down to you and your business as well.
What is your business dependent upon?
Vendors?
Trends?
Investors?
Is your dependency upon something trustworthy? Is it a healthy dependency?
What about you? What are you dependent upon?
The security or status of your home?
The love of your family?
The convenience of credit cards?
The comfort of food or drinking?
The trust of a friend?
The strength of your faith?
Is the object of your dependency worthy of your faith in it/them?
What is the result of your dependency? Does it help you build on your life, or dig a hole? Does it undergird your hope, or chain down your dreams?
What is worthy of your dependency?
'Casual Fridays' is about what happens when work is less about appearances and more about the humanity within. How do we strip away office politics, corporate jargon and red tape? Wouldn't we rather clothe ourselves in creativity, ideas and productivity? It's an ideal at least worth chasing.
Steve
April 11th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I can always depend on you to provide a provocative post.
Or can I?
DUST!N
April 11th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
It depends.
Bret
April 16th, 2008 at 7:29 am
GREAT question at the end…”What is worthy of your dependency?” Ask yourself, ask your spouse, ask your kids. And I plan on digging deeper than my dependency on coffee, spellcheck and ESPN. Thanks for your post.