Can freedom be bought? This question has been on my mind lately, and I believe it’s worth exploring deeply. When we talk about freedom, there are several interpretations — legal definitions, financial independence, or the liberties secured through others’ sacrifices. But I’m interested in something more personal: the freedom to authentically be yourself.
Last year, someone asked if I would ever consider leaving BGW, my company. When I firmly said no, they pressed further: “What about for a lot of money?” My answer remained unchanged. I told them they could offer me $3 million annually, and I still wouldn’t take it.
Their surprise was evident. “Why?” they asked, genuinely puzzled.
My answer was simple yet profound: I’m free to be who I am, where I am. That kind of freedom cannot be bought.
The Evolution of Personal Freedom
I’ll admit that earlier in my career, I might have had a different answer. Many of us go through a phase where we believe “everyone has a price.” But I’ve come to understand that if you have a price, what you’re holding isn’t a conviction – it’s merely a preference with conditions attached.
The ability to be authentically yourself in your work environment is rare and precious. I was reminded of this again recently while working with our larger team at Ascend in Boston. Sitting among colleagues where I can be my genuine self, and where they’re given the same freedom, I recognized what a tremendous blessing this is.
No, you can’t buy that freedom from me. It’s not for sale.
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The Cost of Conformity
For too many years, I wasn’t free to be who I was in my professional environments – or at least I didn’t feel that way. The pressure to conform to someone else’s idea of what I should be was constant and draining. Many professionals face this same challenge:
- Adapting their communication style to match corporate expectations
- Hiding aspects of their personality that don’t fit the company culture
- Pursuing career paths that please others rather than following their own passions
- Compromising on values to “get ahead” professionally
Each of these compromises comes with a cost that’s rarely calculated in our career decisions. We focus on salary, benefits, and status while overlooking the price we pay in personal authenticity.
Finding Your Non-Negotiable Freedom
Now that I’ve experienced the freedom to truly be who I am, I recognize its immeasurable value. This realization prompts important questions for all of us: Do you have a price? Are you experiencing genuine freedom in your work and life?
Finding environments where you can be authentic isn’t just about comfort – it’s about effectiveness, fulfillment, and long-term sustainability in your career. When you’re constantly wearing a mask or playing a role, you’re operating at a fraction of your potential.
The most valuable freedom isn’t financial independence, though that certainly helps. The most precious freedom is the space to be genuinely yourself without fear of judgment or rejection. Once you’ve tasted that kind of liberty, you understand why some things truly aren’t for sale.
I encourage you to evaluate your own situation. Are you free to be who you are where you are? If not, what would it take to find or create that freedom? Because while many things in life can be purchased, authentic self-expression in a supportive environment is priceless.
That’s the freedom worth protecting – the one that isn’t for sale at any price.
