WHAT REALLY IS FREEDOM (II)

... continued from a previous post:

 

          In the pursuit of real freedom, you must master yourself in the specific field you know is your life’s goal.  Armed with a broad understanding in that field and moving towards achieving definite goals you have set; your independence both in choice of what you want and finance becomes a reality.  There is no such thing as luck and chance when it comes to being free.  I have always told people both at formal and informal meetings that it is when preparation meets opportunity that success occurs.  With success comes a level of freedom where you can make choices without consulting someone else.

          I will give you a good illustration to drive this point home.  Let us imagine that while you were browsing through the day’s newspaper, you stumbled on an advertisement for the post of a Civil Engineer in one of the construction firms in your city.  If you never read Civil Engineering in your college years, and acquired a degree in that field, no amount of luck can earn you that job even if you apply.  Why?  You were not prepared for that job because you never read that course in school!

          In life, no amount of luck will take you to the top if you have not adequately prepared to get the freedom that abounds in life.  While we were looking at the life of George Best at the beginning of this chapter, it occurred to me that he enjoyed a measure of freedom in his finances and choices (even though the choices were wrong) because he worked on his football talent and took him to the level he got.

          I will close this piece with the story of Diego Armando Maradona.  He is touted as the Best Footballer of all times.  He debuted in professional football in 1975 and played his farewell match in November of 2001.  Throughout a quarter of a century, Maradona influenced a multitude of people including some of the top footballers today.  Parallel to his brilliant skill, the Argentine soccer player has stirred global controversy of unmatched magnitude.  Regardless of his addiction to cocaine, he failed doping tests and his wile on-pitch actions, Diego Maradona is still regarded as the most skillful footballer of all time.  From a technical point of view, Maradona’s match is yet to be born.  He is a complete master of the ball and keeps it under his control at all times, even while running at full speed.

          Maradona exercised unrestricted freedom and fell headlong into drugs and life generally on the fast lane.  Besides his two daughters (Dalma and Giannina) from his former wife, Claudia Villafane; he has a child out of wedlock by the name of Diego Armando Junior from Christiana Sinagra while other women are suing him for child support.

          The question before you now is this:  what kind of freedom do you want?  Real freedom or freedom for self-indulgence that has no responsibilities attached?  The education and knowledge I am advocating you get on your road to real freedom is to ensure the sustainability of your freedom when you eventually get there.  The next chapter presents us with more reasons why freedom is not free…