Most people start a business because they want freedom.

• The freedom to control their own schedules.
• The freedom to choose what they work on each day.
• The freedom to pursue their dreams, goals, and aspirations.

But for many entrepreneurs, the reality looks very different.

Over 90% become trapped as owner-operators, stuck in the daily grind of their business.

Instead of gaining freedom, they create a job for themselves—one that’s often more demanding than a traditional career.

True entrepreneurial success isn’t about working harder—it’s about achieving the right kind of freedom.

That’s where the Five Freedoms Framework comes in.

Introducing the Five Freedoms

Dan Sullivan, founder of Strategic Coach, developed a well-known framework called the Four Freedoms: time, money, relationship, and purpose. It’s helped countless entrepreneurs define success and live more intentionally.

But after years of coaching business owners and reflecting on my own journey, I’ve come to see freedom through a slightly different lens. While Dan’s framework is valuable, I believe there’s a missing piece—one that serves as the foundation for everything else.

That’s why I created the Five Freedoms Framework, a model designed specifically for entrepreneurs who want to build a thriving business without sacrificing their well-being.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Energy – The foundation of all freedom. Without energy, nothing else matters.
2. Money – Financial stability and growth to support the life you want.
3. Time – Control over your schedule to focus on what truly matters.
4. Choice – The ability to say yes to the right opportunities and no to the wrong ones.
5. Purpose – Aligning your business with a meaningful mission.

Each of these freedoms builds on the last, creating a pathway to a truly fulfilling entrepreneurial journey. But none of them can be achieved without one crucial ingredient: attention.

Why Attention Is the Key to Freedom

Your attention is what connects all five freedoms.

• If your attention is scattered, your energy will be drained.
• If your attention is reactive, your money and time will slip through your fingers.
• If your attention is misaligned, your choices won’t lead to true purpose.

That’s why mastering your attention is the first step to achieving real freedom as an entrepreneur.

Let’s start with the foundation: energy.

Freedom of Energy: The Starting Point

Energy is the most overlooked yet essential freedom. Without it, no amount of time, money, or opportunity will matter.

In 2020, I spent an entire year studying The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. One of the exercises in the book is writing a personal mission statement.

When I wrote mine, I included a commitment to having complete freedom over my time, energy, and money. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why I put "energy" on that list—it just felt right.

Years later, I realized it was the most important part.

For too long, I was so focused on growing my business that I neglected my health, relationships, and mental well-being. I thought I could "fix it later," but later never came.

Many entrepreneurs fall into this same trap. They burn themselves out, thinking that working harder will create the freedom they want—when in reality, exhaustion only leads to diminishing returns.

Small Shifts, Big Impact

Reclaiming your energy doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul.

For me, something as simple as walking a few miles a day and doing light exercise made a massive difference. Those small commitments gave me:

• A clearer mind – Better decision-making and problem-solving.
• Stronger focus – The ability to work on high-impact tasks instead of busywork.
• Sustainable productivity – More energy to build systems and scale my business.

If you’re feeling drained, start small. The goal isn’t to add another overwhelming task to your to-do list—it’s to create habits that fuel your energy rather than deplete it.

Where Is Your Energy Going?

Take a moment to reflect:

• What drains your energy most during the week—physically, mentally, or emotionally?
• Are you prioritizing activities that replenish your energy, or are those the first things to go when life gets busy?
• If you had unlimited energy, what would you spend it on?

The Energy Audit: A Simple Mindfulness Exercise

One of the fastest ways to start reclaiming your energy is through an energy audit. It takes less than 10 minutes a day and reveals patterns you might not even notice.

Try this for a week:

1. Track Your Energy – Write down your energy level (1-10) at three points during the day: morning, afternoon, and evening.
2. Identify Patterns – Note which activities, people, or situations leave you feeling drained vs. energized.
3. Make One Change – Commit to removing or minimizing one energy-draining activity and replacing it with something that recharges you.

Small adjustments compound over time. Protecting your energy is the first step toward unlocking all the other freedoms.

What’s Next?

Next, we’ll dive into money and time—two freedoms that entrepreneurs often chase without a clear strategy. I’ll show you how attention plays a crucial role in mastering both.

Weekly Words of Wisdom

Success isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Protecting your energy ensures sustainable growth that aligns with your values.

Go beyond the grind,

The Real Jason Duncan 🚀

P.S. If your energy isn’t where you want it to be, take my Business Burnout Test to see where your attention might be slipping. Start here: businessburnouttest.com