Is running a one-person company really that liberating?

At first, I too wondered what this topic had to do with starting a one-person company, but freedom is actually my life's goal. As a Sagittarius, the pursuit of freedom is quite simply the driving force behind everything I do.

I believe many choose one-person companies precisely for this freedom—freedom of location, freedom of time, unfettered and unrestrained, able to work entirely on one's own terms.

Yet recently, I've begun to realise that true freedom isn't merely the state one imagines, but rather a state where one can shield oneself from external distractions and live entirely to one's own rhythm.

It feels like finding the track one truly belongs on—a track where, without any external force, one can gallop freely. That sense of complete autonomy is what true freedom feels like.

Freedom is not doing whatever one fancies

Many people misunderstand freedom, believing it to be acting on impulse without restraint.

But consider this: a car without brakes careering wildly down the road—is that freedom? No, it is chaos.

A person without restraint, who binges daily, stays up late indulging in pleasure, and gives free rein to their desires—do they feel free?

In the short term, it might feel exhilarating, but in the long run, they will lose their health, lose their clear mind, and ultimately become a slave to their desires.

Isn't that ironic? What appears to be freedom ultimately leads to the loss of freedom.

I've gradually come to realise that freedom and rules are not opposites at all.

Rules exist precisely to attain a higher level of freedom.

Like a kite aspiring to soar through the skies, it needs that string to guide it.

A kite without its string doesn't fly higher—it simply plummets to the ground.

That string is the rule.

True freedom lies not in shedding all constraints, but in forging your own rules and discovering the path that is uniquely yours.

True freedom is the capacity to choose.

I believe the essence of freedom lies in the power of choice—not merely having options, but understanding why you choose as you do and possessing the ability to bear the consequences of those choices.

This encompasses two dimensions:

The first is external, termed ‘freedom from’—freedom from the constraints of X.

For instance, you work diligently to be free from the burden of poverty, enabling you to choose what you wish to eat without being deterred by cost.

You exercise to be free from the burden of illness, granting you the liberty to go where you please rather than being confined to a sickbed.

The other is internal, termed ‘freedom to’ – the liberty to pursue a particular course of action.

This is the more fundamental aspect: your capacity to choose what kind of person you wish to become and what manner of life you wish to lead.

Many people only manage the first layer, desperately trying to escape what they don't want, yet rarely pause to consider what they truly desire.

When external constraints lessen, they become lost instead, for the reins within their hearts remain firmly in others' hands—held captive by societal expectations, family scrutiny, and friends' judgements.

Thus, you'll observe many individuals whose decisions aren't grounded in ‘what I like,’ but rather in ‘what others deem good,’ ‘what appears impressive,’ or ‘what brings prestige.’ Such people, even when presented with countless options, lack the capacity to choose, for they possess no personal standards within themselves.

How to Find Your Own Freedom

Having said all that, it might sound a bit abstract. So how does one actually go about it?

I've been exploring this myself and have a few tentative ideas to share:

First, look inward and clarify what you truly desire.

This may seem straightforward, yet proves far more challenging than you might imagine. You'll discover most of our desires stem from external standards, with little time spent in solitude. But you can try: set aside 10-20 minutes daily for quiet reflection or a walk, and simply ask yourself: if I didn't have to consider anyone else, what single thing would I most wish to do today?

Persevere, and you may gradually begin to hear your inner voice.

Then comes establishing your own little rules—that is, self-discipline.

Don't make self-discipline sound too daunting; it needn't involve such extreme measures as suspending your head from the rafters or pricking your thigh with an awl. Start with very small things.

For instance, commit to reading ten pages a day, stick to exercising twice a week, and resolve not to take work home with you.

These small victories of control will make you feel you're steering your life rather than being pushed along.

Finally, it is about taking responsibility for your own choices.

Once you've made a decision, do not harbour regrets or complaints. If the outcome is favourable, savour it; if it is unfavourable, treat it as a learning experience. When you can accept all outcomes with equanimity, you will no longer fear making choices. At that point, freedom will be within your grasp.

Freedom is not a destination—it is not something you attain by reaching a certain place or accumulating wealth, only to rest on your laurels. Rather, it is a dynamic process, a state that demands constant practice and pursuit.

Ultimately, freedom is simply the act of living with clarity.