Freedom vs Autonomy

Dispatch #001 | Read Time: 4 mins

I’ve always seen life as a fun adventure. Freedom has consistently been one of my top values. I value freedom above everything else.

But here’s the thing: you won’t achieve absolute freedom. And neither will I. Every entrepreneur at some point perceives a cruel lack of freedom in their life—too many constraints, too many obligations. That’s often why we start businesses in the first place.

Now go ahead, ask around. Are entrepreneurs free? Are they truly happy? Are they fulfilled?

The vast majority of entrepreneurs struggle to pay bills. And most of those who can pay their bills are enslaved to the very thing they’ve built.

So yes, freedom. It’s the siren call of our times. Every man wants it. Every entrepreneur craves it. You want it. I want it. But what if the freedom we’ve been chasing is an illusion, a mirage that keeps us trapped rather than setting us free?

I remember attending a three-day business conference by Julien Musy in Barcelona, Spain, not so long ago. (It is such a vibrant European city that I wish to visit again soon, by the way.)

The room was filled with web entrepreneurs, creators, and info-preneurs. Julien asked the audience to raise their hands if the big motivation behind our projects and businesses was the yearning to be free. I looked around… all hands were raised. Mine included.

Total freedom is the key to happiness, or so I thought.

But what is freedom?

Have you ever asked yourself this question?

Fundamentally, freedom is the state of being free from external constraints. In other words, we reach freedom once we do not have a single constraint. The often-shared dream among entrepreneur communities is to reach a level of financial independence that liberates you from all the constraints of life.

Well…

Here’s The Big Problem

Let’s face it. We’ve been sold a myth. Pursuing total freedom is a cage, trapping us in unbalanced perceptions and systemic limitations. To wish to have no constraints whatsoever is simply unrealistic in this world.

• You want mental clarity → you’ll have to meditate and eliminate distractions.
• You want a fit body → you’ll have to exercise regularly and dial in your diet.
• You want a strong spiritual connection → you’ll have to meditate, pray, and reflect.
• You want your woman to trust your strength → you’ll have to stay disciplined and reliable.
• You want to understand feminine nature → you’ll have to be present and empathetic.
• You want a fulfilling union → you’ll have to communicate wholeheartedly and respect shared values.
• You want unlimited leads → you’ll have to master client acquisition and execution.
• You want to deliver quality products → you’ll have to set high standards and systems.
• You want a smooth operation → you’ll have to use efficient processes and tech.

Every upside has its downside. Every downside has its upside. That’s duality. Chasing absolute freedom is a childish ambition that leads to suffering. Total freedom is a concept that leads nowhere.

The Power of Constraints

Contrary to what you may think, constraints are powerful. They sharpen our minds, strengthen our bodies, and hone our spirits.

To become a better man:

• It’s the focused study that builds knowledge.
• It’s the resistance in training that builds muscle.
• It’s the daily practice that deepens spiritual connection.

To build a fulfilling relationship:

• It’s the discipline and responsibility that build trust.
• It’s empathy and presence that nurture understanding.
• It’s the difficult conversation that fosters deep connection.

To build a profitable business:

• It’s the consistent outreach that generates leads.
• It’s the strict quality control that ensures excellence.
• It’s the streamlined processes that enable smooth scaling.

So friction is often the spark that enables growth. And here’s the twist: what you truly want isn’t absolute freedom.

You want autonomy.

The happiest moments of my life were when I had control over my time, my location, and my activities. I still had things to be done, responsibilities, obligations, goals, and constraints. But I had autonomy. I had agency over my experience of life.

Autonomy is the true goal.

When you think about it… you want the power to create your own rules, constraints, and the challenges that make life meaningful.

Many ‘rich’ people often wish they worked less. Many ‘rich’ people often wish they had more freedom. Many ‘rich’ people often wish they were honest about stress. Many ‘rich’ people would trade revenue for less work.

You would be right to ask, “How rich is that?”

Autonomy is the freedom to decide your constraints. Autonomy to do what you want and freedom from things you don’t want. We all have limited time in this life. We’re all going to die, sooner or later. A rich life is a life lived on your own terms.

How Do I Achieve Autonomy?

One word: Sovereignty.

To have autonomy over your time, your location, and your activities, you first need to be in a state of power, of excellence. In today’s society, your freedom is systematically undermined through economic dependency, pervasive technological control, and cultural conditioning.

Economic systems create a reliance on wages and debt, limiting financial independence. Big tech companies exploit personal data and manipulate mass behavior, eroding privacy and autonomy. Societal norms and media influence shape our perceptions and choices, confining us within invisible boundaries. These systemic forces collectively diminish people’s ability to live autonomously, making true freedom an elusive goal. Recognizing these attacks is the first step towards reclaiming your sovereignty and striving for meaningful autonomy.

Here are the three pillars of what I call The Sovereign Way to help you focus on the right things:

1. Self-Mastery: Excellence over your experience of reality.
   • Mind: Cultivate focus and intelligence.
   • Body: Build strength and health.
   • Spirit: Understand the universal laws of reality.
2. Relationships: Excellence over bonding.
   • Masculine: Develop as a capable man.
   • Feminine: Understand female nature.
   • Sacred Union: Use the powerful alchemy of masculine and feminine.
3. Business Mastery: Excellence over a life of service.
   • Acquisition: Master marketing and sales.
   • Delivery: Create valuable products and services.
   • Operation: Use technological leverage to escape the trap.

I’ll cover each pillar in depth in upcoming Dispatches.

Quick Note on Money

Money buys you freedom in the material world. It’s not going to make you happy, solve your health problems, make your family great, make you fit, or make you calm. But it will solve a lot of external problems.

As Naval says, it’s a reasonable step to go ahead and make money. To maintain your freedom, don’t upgrade your lifestyle all the time. If you make a little bit of extra money, keep living like your old self.

I’ll share more practical insights on money soon.

Conclusion

To truly live a sovereign life, you must redefine your understanding of freedom. It’s not about the absence of constraints but the autonomy to create your own. The Sovereign Way aims to guide you toward this autonomy by mastering your mind, body, relationships, and business.

Naval writes,

To your freedom!

-V

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PS: Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

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#1. Ready to leverage AI for Entrepreneurial Success, the Sovereign Way? >>> Join other entrepreneurs in mastering AI for business growth and autonomy.

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#2. Get One-on-One Coaching on achieving personal and professional fulfillment. Book a session.

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