Independence Day

“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

How true is that!?! Throughout history we’ve proven that to ourselves. Our victories have all been labors of love (for country, for family, for success, for a cause) and most of our defeats came from getting way too comfortable, overconfident or lazy. Look at the state of our economy. There’s a time when every one of us relied on credit, took more than we needed or felt entitled to more regardless of what we did to earn it – and so here we are.

Freedom has to be earned and that’s not easy – it never has been. Our forefathers knew this. How did we get so off track?

As an American the odds can be stacked against us and yet traditionally, in the business world, rarely does one completely fail when we’ve done all the right things. Tremendous opportunity still exists.

People are still finding great jobs because they work hard at it and present well – this is not luck. Businesses are surviving despite consumer confidence levels – this is not luck. Sales are still being made despite longer sales cycles – this is not luck. No matter how stuck we get, eventually most of us can figure out a way to right ourselves (or ask for help) and move forward with the lessons we’ve learned. It’s who we are. God bless America!

It’s when we think it’s going to come without sacrifice or that we’re simply entitled to such freedoms, or that these freedoms weren’t intended to be shared, that things get out of whack.

This Holiday, may you embrace a renewed perspective on the blessing of freedom in this amazing country in which we live. Happy 4th of July from The ESM Group.