Inspiration strikes at the most unlikely of times. While reading “The Complete Guide To Boston’s Freedom Trail” by Charles Bahne, I came across an interesting fact – check it out:

“Many years after the American Revolution, Levi Preston, a member of the Danvers militia, was asked why  he had marched to fight on the day of Lexington and Concord. Was it the Stamp Act? The tea-tax? “Intolerable oppressions?” No, no, none of that. “Young man”, Preston said, “what we meant in going for those red-coats was this: We had always governed ourselves, and we always meant to.”

A little known fact was that Massachusetts residents had been accustomed to governing themselves for over 150 years prior to 1775. According to Bahne, the Puritans were “wealthier and more literate than colonists elsewhere” and they owed “no debts to anyone, they ran their own affairs.” Furthermore “The citizens of Boston had substantially more liberties than their counterparts in London. Political lifestyles had grown so far apart that people on opposite sides of the Atlantic were, in effect, speaking different languages.”

Prior to reading these passages I had thought of the American Revolution as being sparked by taxes and oppression. Sure these were contributors, straws that broke the camel’s back, but they were not the main driver. The underlying motivation behind the revolution was to maintain individual freedom. Having read this I could not help but think back on my recent experience as an entrepreneur. My experience is that the same motivation that drove the American Revolutionist is the same motivation that drives the entrepreneur, I will elaborate further.

The True Entrepreneur
When first starting out as an entrepreneur and meeting others in my new peer group one of the most striking (and startling) characteristics I had encountered was the fierce independence of the entrepreneur. I have always considered myself more independent than most, however the independence of established entrepreneurs was downright amazing. When I say established I really just refer to the length of time – it has nothing to do with financial resources or financial viability. I noticed that the longer someone has been accustomed to being an entrepreneur, the more fiercely independent they are likely to be. There are exceptions to every rule, however this is what I have encountered on my journey.

Many entrepreneurs would rather starve than work for another. They will  risk losing it all. Sometimes this happens, more often it does not. Generally what occurs is that the entrepreneur reaches “the edge of chaos” the point at which they are going to lose it all and something happens. I am not sure how, or what – it is unique to every circumstance, however some part of their past effort pays off and “the switch flips” and they either become wildly successful or earn enough to weather the next storm. When the true entrepreneur does lose it all they do not become discouraged, or if they do it is not for long, they quickly begin implementing their next idea in order to rebuild themselves.

An interesting aside is that the events of me striking out on my own and my meeting my new peer group did not occur at the same time. When I started the entrepreneurial journey I had maintained my previously close relationships and thought that many existing relationships were of the entrepreneurial flavor. In hindsight this was not the case. Many individuals that I thought of as entrepreneurial were people who had discussed starting a business – they had the desire, but did not act out of fear. Some others had a sideline performing a hobby for some extra cash to augment their day job. These individuals would quit their day job when the sideline provided enough income to do so – of course this never happened as there is never enough money to feel safe and it is never a good time – they become trapped by the “golden handcuffs” of a stable gig. It is a self defeating cycle that the true entrepreneur is highly aware.

It was not until later that I met what I consider true entrepreneurs. The individuals who risk it all to pursue their dream, and will pursue this dream regardless of consequence. They will trade in the comfortable middle to upper middle class American lifestyle for their freedom and eventual reward. But say worst case the financial reward never arrives – the ability to pursue ones passion in life and maintain true freedom is enough reward in and of itself for the true entrepreneur.

It is truly a different world and the closest comparison I can make are the movies “Fight Club” and “The Matrix”. In both movies the main characters leave their comfortable environments for austere conditions. In the movies it was conscious choice, but each knew that they were leaving a false lifestyle, that someone was not right for them, to pursue something grander. In order to get there they had to suffer greatly along the path. Once they knew the truth and tasted freedom they could not go back. Although some did go back, or least attempted to, but the true individuals who cherished freedom above all else stayed the course. So it goes with the American Revolutionist and the true entrepreneur.

The Greatest Motivator
What motivates someone to risk it all? What motivates an individual to come close to the edge of chaos multiple times in their life? Freedom.

The American Revolutionist valued freedom above all else. Why? Because they had tasted it. They owed “no debts to anyone, they ran their own affairs.” Because they had grown accustomed to this the rest of the world did not understand them, they in effect “spoke different languages.”

The same may be said for entrepreneurs. As I had previously discussed entrepreneurs are fiercely independent. They strive to owe “no debts to anyone” and therefore run “their own affairs”. Freedom is an amazing quality, and once achieved is difficult, if not impossible to let go of. Many believe they have freedom, but they have not achieved true freedom. They are beholden to a boss, creditor, spouse, children, etc. Truly free individuals strive to owe nobody anything and manage their personal relationships so they are on, at least equal footing.

A side explanation is required here. When I discuss the aspect of a spouse or children, I am not saying that one cannot achieve freedom with spouse and children – many successful entrepreneurs do. In fact, many successful people attribute their spouse and family to be the key to their success. What I am referring to here is the method of how these relationships are managed. Families of entrepreneurs have a stomach for the risk required to pursue this path. If they do not, relationships may reach the breaking point.

For the entrepreneur wealth is the reward for their labor of love. Their business is their baby and they cherish it dearly as a mother cherishes their child. They value their freedom above all else and their business is a means to achieve such freedom. Once achieved though, freedom is tightly clutched and will not be conceded even under the most trying of circumstances. In the end their freedom is always maintained – it has to be, but this comes at a price.

The price of freedom is hard work, giving up creature comforts (for a time), stress, instability, changed relationships, and lack of understanding among the general population. Entrepreneurs are a tiny segment of the entire population but each has paid the price – and this strengthens the bond. As with the above referenced movies, entrepreneurs can spot other entrepreneurs just as easily as they can spot those who are not entrepreneurs. Similar to any other exclusive club, members are apparent as are non-members.

The price of freedom is high but well worth it!

-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding