Blueprint weekends always fire me up.
I just came off one of our Freedom Blueprint Weekends, where a small handful of our newest members gather – usually as couples – to design a blueprint for architecting the next phase of their life, career, and investments.
When people imagine building wealth or pursuing financial independence, most start with the flashy stuff: big returns, investment magic, hitting the million‑dollar mark, or “the lottery” outcome. That’s tempting. But if you begin with those alone, you’ll miss the foundation -and you’ll likely build something that doesn’t sustain you.
Begin with Real Life, Not ROI
For most investors, more ROI will not result in more freedom or options in their life.
Yet in my experience, when you ask most investors what they want, they say something like “better returns… but with as little risk as possible.”
Freedom doesn’t begin with Return on Investment. It starts with real life: with conversations you haven’t had, with what your heart is whispering but your schedule is ignoring.
We all underwent significant training that allows us to earn a higher then average high income. We work hard. We take risks. We accept liabilities. We serve clients, customers, patients—whatever your world demands. And yes, providing something better than “average” for your family is noble. But here’s the catch: most of us never really exit that treadmill, because our lifestyle, our spending, our “standards” rise – and sometimes shoot past – what we can sustainably do without stress.
Related article: The Problem Isn't the Grind – It's the Direction
We tell ourselves: “I’ve earned this.” “I deserve this for the sacrifices we made.” There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labors. But what if those fruits aren’t what you really want?
What Freedom Is—and What It Isn’t
Let me be clear: freedom isn’t the same thing as retirement. It isn’t selling everything and going to the beach—or playing golf every day (unless that is what you love). It’s not just about having a bank account with a lot of zeros.
True freedom gives you options. Choices. Peace of mind. The ability—not just to do anything—but to decide what you’ll do, when, how, and on your own terms.
In our community, many people are rediscovering what their efforts were all for: not just higher income, but life design. They want less stress. More flexibility. To work fewer days. Maybe bring in an associate. Or sell a piece of the business so they’re not chained to the daily grind. Some fail a few times trying these pathways—and that’s okay. Failure is part of finding what works.
The “Enough Number”
One of the most powerful concepts we explore is what I call your “enough number.” This isn’t vague or spiritual—it’s a specific dollar figure. “How much do I need so that I have peace of mind?” “How much allows me to sleep at night?” “How much puts me in control of my time and my energy?”
Once you know your enough number, you can make strategic decisions:
- Do you want to change your practice model so you deliver less but get more?
- Is it time to bring in an associate so you’re not doing all the work?
- Maybe you want to sell part of your equity or shift your role—and you’ll try things, learn, adjust.
There isn’t one right path. There are multiple pathways. And knowing your why—what makes you tick, what gives you energy, what depletes you – is essential. Without that, you drift.
High Income ≠ High Freedom
Higher income often comes with greater entrapment. The more you earn, the more others expect. The more responsibilities you accumulate. The more you feel tied to maintaining a lifestyle rather than living intentionally.
Ask yourself: Are you earning more but feeling less free? More successful but more obligated? More visible but more anxious?
If that’s you, it might be time to decide that enough is enough.
Related Article: Talk of Raising Retirement Age is a Sign That Investors Need to Change Strategies
Don’t Do It Alone
One critical lesson from our Freedom Blueprint Weekends: you don’t build this alone. This is especially relevant when it comes to your spouse or partner. The power comes when you both really understand the blueprint: what your shared “why” is, what each of you values, how risks affect you both, what you’re willing to let go of, or double down on.
These are conversations many couples have not had in years, or even decades.
The alignment of the early years naturally gives way to a status quo. Even for those who have relatively healthy relationships.
Getting realigned on a vision for the next season can be life changing.
And, do it with people who have walked this road. Mentors. Guides. A community that’s honest, that’s tried hits and misses. Because you’ll make mistakes—and you want to make them where the costs are understood, manageable, and recoverable.
Building Your Blueprint
To start building your Freedom Blueprint:
- Pause and reflect. What conversations have you avoided with yourself or your partner because they seem uncomfortable? What choices are you making just because “that’s what we do”?
- Define your “why.” What lights you up, what drains you, what legacy do you want? Be raw and real—not what you think you should want, but what you actually want.
- Figure your “enough” number. What’s the income, the schedule, the lifestyle, the responsibility level that supports your peace, your agency?
- Explore pathways. Cut back days? Hire help? Bring in partners? Share equity? Explore role changes? Each move is a small test.
- Join a community of people who’ve done this. Share stories, compare notes. You’ll get encouragement, guidance, accountability.
Final Thought
High income is a tool. But it is not the destination.
Freedom – and especially agency over your life – is built only when you couple income with purpose, choice, and clarity. When you decide what matters to you – what you’ll do, how, with whom – and then build around that, not around external expectations or default assumptions.
If you feel trapped (despite being successful, even wealthy) know you aren’t alone. And know: you can draw a blueprint that leads away from the treadmill, toward something deeply meaningful. It doesn’t require magic. It requires honesty. Discipline. A willingness to accept that sometimes letting go is more powerful than holding on.
Here’s to building your Freedom Blueprint with clarity and courage.
