Our thinking and choices create our independence

Susan and Tammy had been together since the first grade. Through school and high school they were in classes together as well as the sports and a few parties.

Both went to college and got their degrees in marketing together.

Susan now works for a retail company at the local mall doing her shifts on weekends and rotating holidays.

It's July 1 and Tammy is doing some shopping for the long holiday she has planned when she sees Susan.

"Great to see you Susan, you're looking good!"

"Thank you Tammy, what is new with you these days?" asks Susan.

"Oh the kids and I are going on a ten day tour over the 4th holiday. We're going to follow some of the original landmarks of the Revolutionary War so the kids can get a feel for what the Fourth of July really means." Tammy responds with a smile.

"That sounds absolutely great! How is it you can get so much time off and afford such a trip?" inquires Susan with anticipation.

"I guess it has been some time since we've talked. Actually I took my own Independence Day about a year ago.....That's when I changed careers and went into a commissioned sales position and have not looked back since." is Tammy's reply.

"Oh my, you went on straight commission in a new position? You have kids and a mortgage, how can you make it?" exclaimed Susan.

"That is what so many people have asked me since I made the change. You know what, I call it my independence day because now I make almost all the kids events and games because my schedule is mine. As long as I am producing and hitting the goals my company tells me to be at the kids events! That's what I call freedom!" says Tammy in an excited voice.

"Wow, that's great. I make a few of the kid's events on my days off, but most do not fit the schedule." says Susan. "What about your income, you never know what you'll make. What if you didn't get a sale? I'm looking at a part time job next door to make ends meet!"

"Yes, that was a concern when I made the change, yet when I talked to the other salespeople and saw what they did, that fear went away. In my first six months I made as much as I did in my old position and I have no limit to my income!" exclaims a wide eyed Tammy.

"I would be terrified; we need to have a steady income just to cover the expenses. I could never take that chance." Susan replies in a concerned voice.

"You know Susan, a couple hundred years ago a group of people decided to take a risk and separate from the king. Now the king wasn't very happy about this and sent his army over to put these people in their place. I wonder how many of the people were terrified at the possibilities. But to the kings dismay the people fought back despite their fears and after a couple years of fighting the people won and the king left them alone."

"One of the main leaders was a man named George and the people wanted to name him king! But George understood what they had fought for and refused to be a king, he did become the first president and helped to establish the type of government that allowed people to make choices and take chances."

"Because they were allowed the freedom to choose and to take chances, this group of people became the strongest and wealthiest nation on the planet. They made sure everyone had the freedom to make a new choice everyday. Even those who had nothing or were more disadvantaged than others still had the freedom to make a new choice everyday!"

"These people believed so strongly in this freedom of choice for everyone that hundreds of thousands of them went to war to keep this freedom of choice available to them and others. Many times this was in other countries and fight for others freedom, not just their own."

Tammy continued, "A year ago I thought hard about this idea of freedom of choice each day. I realized that if anything was to change in my life and my family's life, it was going to be because of my choices. If thousands of solders have died to give me this freedom of choice, who am I not to utilize it? I went looking for a new career the next day!"

"That is a different way to look at it that I never thought about before." replies Susan. "If I think about what freedoms I have, if I choose to use them, there's more opportunity than one can imagine!"

"Here is the interesting thing about this," says Tammy, "The more I utilize my freedom of choice, the more freedoms I realize are available to me. The really neat thing is that all I have to do is choose, act and be responsible for the choice!"

"You have really changed Tammy! I've never seen this excitement and adventure in you before! Are you on some kind of drugs??" asks a shocked Susan.

"Absolutely I'm high on the drug that freedom of choice gives you! Now getting up everyday and knowing I can make a choice. That choice can be the same as yesterday or be moving in a completely different direction and no one can really stop me except myself!" an excited Tammy replies.

"This excites me and scares me at the same time. I feel somewhat guilty for not taking advantage of this freedom of choice. Did you feel this way to?" asks Susan.

"Yes" replies Tammy, "I had some reservations and fears to deal with. Yet when I once made the choice I took responsibility for it and made it work. Now I have more income, more time and more freedom because of those choices!"

"Tell you what Susan, when I'm back let's get together and talk about what choices you could be making. I would love nothing better than both are families taking a ten day trip together next July 4th!" says Tammy with a gleam in her eyes.

"Yes, I will be looking forward to it! You have a fantastic trip. This has been one great conversation, my head is spinning about what choices I could be making!" exclaimed Susan.


To all our readers, the best of wishes for this Fourth of July holiday. Please remember what it is about and the freedom of choice it gives you.

Hug your kids, salute the flag and thank a soldier!

It is about a freedom of choice that we have that many others do not. Are you utilizing your freedom of choice to its fullest?

Harlan Goerger
National Director of Training


© Harlan Goerger 7/2007