In the United States, we recently celebrated Independence Day on July 4th. That got me thinking about independence, what the word means, and how independence or the lack of it affects and impacts small business owners. So often I hear business owners say, “I’m just so busy I don’t have enough time for my family.” Or “I can’t take time off. There is just so much to do.” Or “Taking a vacation is so difficult. I have to work long hours to make sure everything is done before I leave. Then when I get back, I have to work long hours to catch up. What’s the point of going?” This series of articles will help you consider how you can achieve more independence and freedom FROM your business while still having a viable business.

First, let’s define “independence.” For the purposes of this article, independence is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “freedom from outside control.” Put into perspective this article, think of independence as freedom FROM your business.

Research shows that more than 50% of entrepreneurs, especially small business owners, start their businesses because they want more freedom. Surprisingly, money is not the main motivator. They want more freedom to:

Independence from your business is important to maintaining your sanity, your family life, your health, and to building a scalable business. So, what does independence FROM your business look like?

It means you have accepted the responsibility for continuity, quality service, financial stability, and growth even though you are not constantly involved and hands-on in the daily operations. It means you have accepted the responsibility to build and lead an organization of people who are trained to handle business affairs and manage the systems to ensure they are functioning effectively.

If you want freedom and independence from your business, accepting responsibility means more than just saying “I accept responsibility for my business.” It means:

This applies to the solopreneur as well as the small business owner with employees. Regardless of your structure and size, there are ways to achieve freedom FROM your business and still be successful.

Stop by next week for Tip #1 to help you gain freedom and independence FROM your business.