Independence is more than fireworks and flag shirts. It’s the audacity to strike out on your own. It’s the grit to chase an impossible dream. It’s the belief that freedom should lead to opportunity—and that we each have a responsibility to do something with that.
That’s the American experiment. It’s what the founding fathers wanted. What freed slaves hoped for. What generations of immigrants risked everything to reach. What women continue to fight for. The promise of possibility.
And that’s what I’m thinking about today.
This time of year, I see a lot of posts encouraging mid-year check-ins. They ask you to evaluate your goals, your plans, your performance. That’s fine. But here’s a different kind of check-in:
Am I using the opportunities in front of me?
Or am I pretending there aren’t any—because acknowledging them would mean it’s time to act, to risk, to build something new?
Let’s break it down.
Opportunity is defined as: a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
Not easy.
Not fast.
Not fair.
Possible.
We live in the land of opportunity—not the land of guarantees. And if you ask anyone who’s ever built something worth building, they’ll tell you, “No one ever promised easy or fair.” But if you want it, you can chase it. The chance to make it is right here.
As a Navy veteran, I’ve seen firsthand what service and sacrifice look like. I’ve met people who gave everything for the idea of freedom and the hope that it could lead to something better. I don’t take that lightly.
This Independence Day, I’m recommitting to using my freedom to build, to serve, and to go for it—in life, in business, and in the quiet moments when no one’s watching but me.
If you’re a leader, a business owner, or someone chasing something better, ask yourself:
Where are you holding back? What opportunity have you been sitting on, waiting for perfect circumstances?
There will never be a perfect time—just a possible one.
And that’s enough to begin.
Happy 4th of July. 🇺🇸