Independence Day: The Spirit of America and Entrepreneurship
After adopting the final draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the document was read in public in cities throughout our young country. It was a time of celebration and patriots exploded in cheers. While historians call our early ancestors, patriots, I call them entrepreneurs. They were visionaries who sailed to an unknown land to build their dreams.
It truly was something to celebrate. John Adams wrote to his beloved wife Abigail, (who by the way was at home running the family business), “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
And so we celebrate around the country on this special day with fireworks, parades, community festivals or simple backyard barbecues. Personally, I think it’s a time to celebrate more than just the independence of our country: It’s also a time to be thankful for our personal independence as well.
While things certainly aren’t ideal in our country right now, it is still the land of opportunity. I rail against the fiscal policies of our government which stifle entrepreneurial growth, and I argue against the burdensome regulations that affect our ability to grow our businesses. Nonetheless, I have to admit that I am living a life where I get to do the work I enjoy, when and how I want to do it. That is the benefit of being an America. The opportunity to build wealth and to create your own destiny remains despite the economic and political turmoil.
So however you’re celebrating Independence Day, take time to be grateful for your own entrepreneurial opportunities. Here’s to our independence!
