What does freedom mean to you?

In my opinion I would say that, it's important for me being able to manage my time and chose where I am working from. Actually I am my own boss, we are two co-founders working remotely it works very nice for now.

The downsides would be that I feel quiet alone working from home and that I need to be very determinate to keep working every day and finding new goals to keep going forward. But I guess it's part of the adventure and that it will change as the project grow, because we will be able to have an office etc..

In a way it's different from working for someone else because whatever you achieve to build does not belongs to you, but it depends on contract you have. So the difference is really based on what type of contract you have with the other person.

gosh, such a GREAT question. I think about it all the time.

I've thought about so may different things.. teaching, coding for someone else, SaaS products, consulting.

Right now I consult and it's not right... and I think I've figured out what freedom means to me.

It's when my value is ABSTRACTED away from my personal self.

The idea of being valued for who I am means that I constantly have to prove myself to others.. whether that be through teaching, consulting etc

Ultimately, it's about not having a boss.

You could argue, with a SaaS your customers are your boss. But the important part is the abstraction. Customers don't care about "me", they care about the "product".

For me, having that abstracted away, where I can prove value via a product and not via having to show my own self worth is key to what I feel as freedom.

I'm just tired of having to show potential employers etc "why" I'm worth it. I'd rather someone just love a product I buid.

Doing whatever I want, whenever I want and without having to explain myself to anyone.

In my experience it is very different to being employed.

I've been working for myself for 7 years now and love it more than ever. I've travelled all around the world, live for most of the year in beautiful locations like Thailand and work on things I'm passionate about, for customers I care about. Everything is on my terms and work for me is an absolute joy.

In saying that, it obviously didn't happen over night and took years of hard work, discipline, struggle, stress and sacrifice in order to achieve. It's certainly not for everyone. I still regularly put in a lot of hours, but I love it and the reward is very sweet. I could never go back to employment.

To earn a regular income, comparable to an employed salary, on my own time without being employed by a company who makes money from your work & efforts.

To be able to "work" when I like.
To start the day a bit later so I can do a workout...nip out to do some chores for several hours here or there.
Make up some hours at 7pm when I am free and/or bored.
Or work right through the night if I'm "in the zone".

Be able to just have days off for convenience or a break away somewhere.
To not have to answer to anybody.

In a sense this COULD be accomplished by being employed in a remote capacity for a VERY relaxed company who put trust and belief in their employees. But this is highly highly unlikely and just having a boss in itself really doesn't equate to freedom either for me.