Are you master of your own destiny?

“You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.” – Napoleon Hill

This week millions of Americans and Canadians will be celebrating Independence Day and Canada Day. I’m in Vancouver, Canada just now filming my new online course which will be released over the summer and all this talk of national independence has got me thinking of personal independence and freedom.

If independence for countries is about self-government then independence on a personal level is about have the freedom to live life on your terms. To be the master (or mistress) of your own destiny. But here’s the rub….

CAPTAIN OR PASSENGER

Being the master of your own destiny carries risks. For a start it’s hard work. When you set out on any journey there is a chance that you might not arrive at your intended destination. However the other option is to let someone else decide the destination, steer the ship and make the decisions. For many this ‘low-risk’ option, of being the passenger instead of the captain, is preferable.

Like millions of others I decided that 2013 was as good a time as any to quit the 9-5 and reclaim my independence. It’s about having the freedom to create the businesses, products, music, art and services that make in impact in the world. It’s about having the independence to travel, to experience, to succeed and yes, to make mistakes. If you decide to escape cubicle nation and reclaim your independence then people will generally respond in one of two ways….

Those who fear independence will be jealous, scared, ridicule you or give reasons why you’ll fail. Those who cherish freedom will cheer you on, support you, provide encouraging words or resources and perhaps even be inspired by your actions. It’s easy to recognize which camp people fall into and I encourage that you fasten yourself to the mast, politely smile at the naysayers, embrace your supporters and keep moving towards your destination.

So how you can you regain your independence?

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If you want to be an artist then get up an hour earlier to paint something new.
If you are an aspiring musician then burn the midnight oil working on your new songs.
If you want to write a novel then commit to writing a page a day, everyday. By the end of the year you’ll have your first draft.
If you want a career as a travel writer, then book that trip, become a digital gypsy and start pitching stories to editors.
If you are entrepreneur build version 1.0 of your product. It won’t be perfect but the feedback you get will be invaluable.

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In my own case I had to find a way to create my new startup around a regular job that saw me getting into the office by 8am and not leaving until 7pm. So I worked on my own startup from 6am-8am, from 8pm until midnight and every weekend. Now a heads up….

In the next couple of weeks I’m going to be launching my first online course for musicians. My team and I are making the final edits so keep an eye out for an email from me all about it.