July 4, 2009 30 Comments

A Different Kind of Independence

Shannon Vargo and Chris Brogan For well over a decade, I have declared a very personal independence. It started when I built my first website (using WYSIWYG software on a tripod.com domain). I used my site to share my perspective, to publish my own works, to add my voice to the web of people.

As years passed, I leveraged my independence of voice into an independence of thought and changed the way I did business at work. I improved myself. I put in thousands and thousands of hours of extra work that wasn’t required of me until I performed better and demonstrated better perspective and vision. By 2006, I declared an independence from the way I did business, and joined an entrepreneur’s business.

You can choose independence. You can opt to live your life by your own guidelines. It takes one very consistent trait, and one learnable skill: persistence and self-confidence.

Everything I’ve accomplished in the last few years comes from hard work, self-education, and a lot of effort put into my self-esteem. I threw away concepts like that one were we think “they” keep me from succeeding. You can’t win a race looking sideways.

Where has it taken me? I’m 1/3 of the way through my trajectory. I’ve got SO much more coming to share with you. But from where I’m sitting, I’m pretty damned happy to be independent, and working towards interdependence.

Happy Fourth, America. Hello to the rest of the world, too.

On the way out, I’ll share some snaps of just a few of the people I think rock their own kind of independence:

David ArmanoLuis Suarez from IBM
Colin BrowningDan Bricklin
Whitney HoffmanAngela Misri and Amber Naslund
Christopher S Penn LaughingShashank Nigam from SimpliFlying
Tim Hayden from GamePlanAaron Fulkerson from Mindtouch
Jeff and SteveBreakfast with Geo
Justin LevyJustin Most Days

To show a select few.

Related posts:

  1. Does This Kind of Ad Still Work
  2. Yellow Highlighter: All Kind Food
  3. Spirals of the Downward Kind
  4. What Kind of Challenge
  5. New Kind of Barrier Broken

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sylvia-Hubbard/514751851 Sylvia Hubbard

    i enjoyed this, Chris. happy 4th back at'cha!

  • jeffcutler

    Chris,
    There's no greater freedom than only having to answer professionally to the face staring back in the mirror. In the 17 years I've run my company, there have been financial challenges, bumpy roads and trying times. But never have I questioned my choice to navigate the world independently.
    For those who haven't tried it, give it a shot. The absolute worst result is having to go back to your old master.
    The best result will be the feeling of independence that pervades your soul daily. Like an explorer, a visionary, a teacher, a leader…you will often be unable to share the feeling in words, but your actions and inner glow will show others how valuable independence can be.
    Have a great day!

  • startabuzz

    Answering only to myself has, truly, been the most gratifying thing in my professional career. Starting my own business was terrifying and, since doing so, I've never worked harder in my life, but I would never alter my decision. At the outset, I had lots of naysayers and those who said, “Why are you doing that? You can't do that.” (or some variant thereof). Proving them wrong and declaring my own independence has been singularly satisfying. I love what I do and can stand up and *know* that I'm good at it. It's a great feeling. Happy Independence Day!

  • http://www.loususi.com loususi

    very cool post … thanks for once again just sharing each and every pixel of your soul here on the web + giving some of the best advice i've ever seen …

    besides the persistence + self-confidence, not explicitly stated here, it seems extremely important ( from what i get from your blog on a fairly consistent basis ) to make everything you do about others … look at some of the amazing photography you've put up in this post … it stands as a testiment to the sort of community you are involved with, the kind of community you've created for yourself, and the continual praise you sing to the social aspects of both the web + the real-time world filled with so many talented + amazing people

    i recognize a few of the people in your collage … i can tell they all recognize you + all that you've given + continue to give

    you pay homage to the 'people I think rock their own kind of independence' … here's to independence! here's to the people! + here's to the web, made by the people, for the people … the original theoretical promise of democracy ( as perhaps only fulfilled through any online means necessary ) …

    Happy Fourth!

  • http://twitter.com/VirtualLee Barb McMillen

    Wonderful personal piece about achievement – and I loved the photos at the end. Very Nice.

  • http://twitter.com/patgrahamblock Pat Graham-Block

    Happy Independence Day! I appreciate your transparency in sharing your formula for success which includes having to work on your self-esteem.

    Our opinions of ourselves are everything and without having the faith, confidence and fortitude to put ourselves “out there”, we will forever be dependent on others to “be happy”, which is a losing proposition – because no one can make use happy. It's an inside job.

    Thanks for BEing on my life – if only virtually! :-)

    Pat

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  • partywedo

    May the “Fourth” be with you and all those who seek to declare independence!

    Future freedom comes after someone like you or me, pays a personal price to win the day.

  • http://www.aleurosolutions.com/ KSL

    Really nice post. Love the recognition of interdependence Chris.

    For me Independence is what we have when we allow ourselves freedom of thought, freedom to consider anything and everything (“free you're mind and the rest will follow” … sort of…).

    Interdependence is a simple truth – whatever we choose to do with those thoughts we will impact others. As more people become aware of our interdependence, more aware of each other; we can help each other go further, get stronger, crush preconceived boundaries.

    Cheers to using our powers for good.

  • http://altitudebranding.com/ Amber Naslund

    Independence to me is more than just freedom of professional career, though that's a big part of it (and a big reason why I up and quit my comfy corporate job a few years ago and have never looked back). True independence to me is knowing that, no matter what happens, I have the strength to stand up when I get knocked down.

    The self-confidence thing isn't the easiest part, and I think we have self-confidence in different proportion in different areas of our lives: work, relationships, etc. I know that I have to work on mine every day.

    But a big part of both of those is being surrounded by people who challenge and inspire you. Interdependence, indeed. I'm so happy to call you my friend and a colleague I admire the hell out of. Don't forget that grappling hook.

  • http://www.pathtorhythm.com/ aissadore

    Great post Chris. Congrats to you and thank you for blazing your trail and offering your perspective.

  • Facebook User

    Chris, this is a great post, as always. A nice way to celebrate independence and announce what makes this country great, the true pioneers. Nice job. Happy 4th!

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  • DvinMsM

    Thank you for this inspiring treastise on Independence Day. It was made especially more relevant by the fact that I was downsized from a large corporation earlier this year and it was the best thing that's happened to me. Corporate policies and being a slave to shareholders meant my position could not be creative or innovative, in fact it became downright stifling. So today I am too am celebrating my next journey fueled by my new found freedom to do, be and say whatever my passion is and hope to be as successful and gracious as those social media trailblazers, like yourself, who have welcomed me into this community.

    Have a great day with your family!

  • http://www.NorthernNH.com/ Robin

    As always, I love your blog and grateful for all that you share. Thank you for the continued inspiration. Happy Fourth of July to you!

  • http://technbiz.blogspot.com paramendra

    Happy Fourth to you. Onward to greater independence.

  • http://www.morningside.ning.com/ Dana

    What an OMG experience you are Rock on and 4th to ya big guy!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Penny-Gilligan/1047732606 Penny Gilligan

    Good for you, Chris – Happy 4th!!

  • http://detroit.fwix.com Jamie Favreau

    Happy 4th of July!

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  • http://www.georgeanastudio.com/ Georgeana Ireland

    I too have chosen this path- thanks for sharing~ Georgeana

  • http://www.wichmanmonuments.com/ grave headstones

    i like the post very much. its is so good. i like the topic of freedom and all the pictures that you have added in this blog.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Aaron-Roe-Fulkerson/2732674 Aaron Roe Fulkerson

    Damn am I handsome! :-)

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    I enjoyed this.

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  • marjlle misyoso

    kapuy
    …………………………………………….

  • cute marve

    hay naku

  • Leemarki

    hi………………………………………………………..
    i came from korea
    nice to meet you

  • http://www.coopersbarnyard.com Frankie Cooper

    I found inspiration by this to get these traits to improve myself by learning to be persistent and self-confident. Now it’s time for some hard work, self-education and effort to make it happen.