Freedom

What a wonderful country we live in! We are blessed with so many freedoms and opportunities that people living in many parts of the world can only dream about. These freedoms have a long trail stained in blood, sweat, tears, and fear. There are bridges on the trail where challenges were conquered. Communities born in the fertile soils, built with abundant resources drove commerce and industry. None of this would have been possible without leaders willing to take risks and responsibility.

As you celebrate the freedoms you enjoy this weekend, take a couple of minutes to think about the correlated responsibilities and the impact they have on your business, your customers and the people affiliated with your company. You can buy the title of owner, be assigned the title of boss but you must earn the title of leader. It is the leader who makes a difference.

If you own your company, you have the freedom to choose what business you will be in, how you will run that business and who you impact with your business. These freedoms also bring the responsibility of making good decisions, creating structure, maximizing entrepreneurial opportunity and personal responsibility in the way you execute your work. The measures and rewards are not only success, loyalty and trust but perhaps most importantly, the desire of others to follow and emulate you.

This weekend, as we celebrate the independence of our country, the freedoms we enjoy and all of the fun the holiday will bring, we also celebrate leaders. Choose to be a leader worthy of followers and continue the building of opportunity and freedom as a legacy that those who follow you will celebrate.

Have a wonderful celebration this weekend.