Freedom allows people to do the work they love, freedom allows people to operate in their purpose, freedom allows people to rest, freedom allows people to enjoy moments, design products that people actually need and want, raise kids, have great and meaningful relationships around them, and so many other things.
We were meant to walk in freedom. Without it, we feel stifled.
There are adventures waiting for each and every one of us — corporations included. This is not simply life strategy, this is not a life coaching tactic — this is where life AND business strategy collide. The needed convergence of the two creates space for the freedom for people to truly create. Yes, we have more funky office spaces with pinball machines and ping pong tables and coffee bars, and flexible schedules — but that alone won’t drive innovation.
We, in our human nature, need one another (iron sharpens iron) to build great things that make sense. And we need to understand what things stand in the way of us operating in freedom.
It’s kind of like running Blue Ocean Shift | Strategy for people, not businesses.
If we can do this foundational work first — and then conduct a blue ocean strategy, you would see shifts that would be life changing and game changing in businesses.
How to Start Unlocking Freedom:
The 5 Levels of Why: Ash Maurya, founder of Leanstack, created this framework — it’s as simple as taking something (anything) and asking “why” 5 times.
This is a business model framework — but don’t discount this if you’re not currently in a business role — the model still applies. One of the most important capabilities we can work on developing in ourselves and our tribe around us is the ability to connect the dots between things, people and events.
If we are able to learn to recognize associations, connections and patterns between things, we unlock all kinds of opportunities: partnerships, friendships, self awareness, discernment, and new ideas.
It’s really simple, this concept isn’t complicated and it doesn’t have a fancy name (and it doesn’t need to). Simply asking “why” 5 times, peels back the layers of the onion, and when you as an individual or a business team have to answer these questions and you don’t have the answers, it makes you think. And sometimes it’s hard, sometimes you don’t want to ask why this many times because you’re afraid of not having the answer yourself, having the wrong answer, or having an answer that’s not solid enough for your liking — BUT — if you never ask the questions, growth can’t come and do its thing.
You can’t get into those wide open spaces where the air is clearer up there to see the view of the whole village from the mountaintop.
2. Identify + Combat Roadblocks:
Here are some things that might prevent you (and your team) from completing this exercise:
fear
pride
opportunity loss
resistance to change
fixed mindset (rather than a growth mindset)
Business journaling is a key element in uncovering roadblocks that may exist. When people put pen to paper, things get real. They recognize roadblocks, they start to connect dots and make associations between things that they hadn’t known before, and they validate thoughts when they write them down.
Sharing in a brainstorming session once these key elements been identified allows for further testing of assumptions discovered and validation. Validation allows for recognition, and once you’ve worked through these two phases of discovery, you’re then ready to create an action plan for freedom in development.
3. Create the Plan:
You’ve now uncovered the roots of the problem or existing market opportunity (through the 5 why’s), and identified roadblocks that stand in the way of growth. The final phase of operating in freedom requires you and your team to connect the dots and create a plan of action.
Write out any associations that exist between the “why’s” and the roadblocks
For each one of those associations, list out potential solutions and define action items
Have a plan for accountability and progress updates (we need to be reminded more than instructed)
The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion. — Albert Camus
Be so free that they can’t keep up with you — this creates winning business models.