Today, I am going to show you how to escape the three most common myths, traps and illusions about personal and professional freedom and make the right choices in the proper order to reclaim your life and work.

By doing so, you will be able to avoid getting fixated on the wrong things that keep you back and build your path towards sustainable success.

Unfortunately, most people today feel stuck. Even though they may seem to do everything right, such as chasing their passion, embarking on noble missions, or hustling for passive income, they feel like they're going nowhere.

They feel they are moving forward, but they are stuck in the same place and become frustrated.

If you look at your immediate circle of people you know, you will easily find examples of individuals who quit their jobs to become "free" but are still trapped, or those who left everything behind to pursue their true calling and crafted a powerful mission statement.

That extends to financial freedom as well. I am sure you know people who opted for passive income because they wanted to live life and stop working 9-5 or 24/7. Still, most of them struggle financially.

This is because freedom does not come for free. It has a cost, just like everything else in life, work, and business. Most people become so mesmerised by the freedom's calling that they ignore its most fundamental prerequisite: mastery.

This is the fundamental thing most people get wrong: mastery comes before freedom, not the other way around.

It's very noble to identify a mission and set sail to accomplish it. However, without the necessary skills and leverage, you risk ending up disappointed because not only can you not achieve it, but you also struggle to understand why you can't, despite having the freedom to make it happen.

Passion is also an overrated concept. For once, most people (and this is scientifically proven) don't have ONE passion, that ONE true calling to pursue (me included). People who have a passion and build their lives around it are the minority - in fact, there are very few, and they are usually the ones glorified by the media and social media. Even if you belong to that minority, you will struggle to build a healthy, free, creative, and abundant life and work around your passion without mastering the skills that unlock that path.

It's the same with passive income, as well. People quit their jobs to become free and live on streams of passive income without actively working, only to realise those streams are dry and remain so if you don't have the leverage and skills to bring them to life.

Existential thinkers such as Sartre and Frankl argue that meaning and freedom are not found, but instead created through action.

The Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome preached that real freedom is not built on impulsive steps but on inner discipline (which builds mastery).

Neuroscience tells us that dopamine fuels the desire for novelty (freedom is a form of novelty). Still, if it is not paired with deliberate action, it leads to burnout and disappointment.

Let's get this straight: Freedom doesn't come first. Mastery does.

Why Mastery Is So Fundamental

Mastery is the gateway to freedom, like a locked door opened only by competence.

A chef's skill means they can cook anything, anywhere. They don't have to work at a Michelin-star restaurant.

If you master the art of decision-making, you can gain control over your life and work by engaging only in things that are aligned with your values and priorities.

By mastering content marketing, a solopreneur can break free from the constraints of the social media algorithms.

Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers of all time, talked about Eudaimonia, his vision of a flourishing life rooted in excellence. It’s not enough to pursue pleasure or temporary relief from work; genuine flourishing comes from the disciplined pursuit of mastery.

Excellence isn’t a luxury. It’s the soil in which freedom can take root and bloom. A life of excellence is a life of purpose, and purpose is what transforms fleeting freedoms into the kind of boundless, soul-deep liberation most people only dream of.

Centuries later than Aristotle, the Self-Determination Theory talked about true autonomy, the real sense of freedom. It’s not enough to simply desire freedom or chase passions blindly. You need to develop mastery in your work and life first.

Competence is the quiet foundation that allows autonomy to stand tall. It’s what transforms the illusion of choice into genuine self-direction and the spark of enthusiasm into sustainable momentum. Without it, freedom becomes little more than a restless chase that never reaches its destination.

That's why so many people get stuck, imprisoned in their own "freedom".

Like a solopreneur quitting their 9-5 job to pursue real freedom by creating a one-person business, but then falling into the same autopilot mode that trapped them in the first place.

Without mastery, you are always one step away from overwhelm and failure. Mastery gives you leverage, creative choice, and confidence.

Nietzsche taught us that true freedom is not just an escape from the world or its rules (for example, simply quitting your 9-5 job to go solo, pursue your passion, embark on your life's mission, or stop working by relying on passive income).

It's the self-overcoming that happens when you rise above your own limitations. The Will to Power is not about evading responsibility or breaking free from constraints for the sake of it. It’s about turning struggle into strength, mastering yourself so fully that you can shape your own path, your own values, your own destiny.

It’s the fire that forges mastery, the refusal to settle for mere comfort when you can become so much more. Freedom, in Nietzsche’s vision, is not passive; it’s an act of relentless becoming.

Mastery Is The Ticket To Play Your Own Game

If you want to follow others, be my guest. All you have to do is put yourself in a state of "artificial" (not real) freedom, believing that just because you've broken free from rules and limitations (such as pursuing passion, mission, or passive income), it can help you flourish.

To play your own game, with your own rules, you need mastery.

• A painter with daily practice can creatively break the rules.

• First, you build a new habit, let's say reducing your calorie intake with every meal. You can then improve your meals by adding healthier food options.

• A martial artist can only improvise in a fight after years of drilling the basics.

• A jazz musician can only bend the melody when they’ve mastered the scales.

• A leader can only challenge conventions after first mastering the systems they want to break.

Freedom is the reward for mastering your craft.

Why Freedom Without Mastery Feels Hollow

This is the Illusion of Freedom. Without mastery, it's just chaos with no grounding.

Would you travel around the world with limited money or poor language skills? That would make you panic 99% of the time, and you wouldn't enjoy anything.

I know many people are quitting their 9-to-5 jobs to become solopreneurs, so they are free to choose who to work with and the projects they want, but they lack the skills to execute.

The worst thing is that most people chase those "freedom" investments despite them failing. They don't want to admit that they screwed it (and screwing is fine as long as you are flexible and agile enough to change or pivot).

And, worst, they are scared of other people's opinions, criticism, and judgment ("They failed again! It was a matter of time").

As Sartre said, freedom without purpose (and mastery, I would add) is just an existential weight.

Here's another perspective that expands on that by linking freedom and mastery to the meaninglessness of human existence in the vast, chaotic universe.

Albert Camus' "absurd" writings claimed that life is filled with contradictions—meaning is never guaranteed, and existence itself can feel pointless. But freedom without mastery is like an absurd play without a script: chaotic, directionless, and ultimately hollow.

It’s one thing to break free from imposed systems or dead-end jobs; it’s another to create something that matters in the face of life’s meaninglessness. Mastery is what transforms freedom into significance.

Otherwise, freedom is just an empty gesture—a hollow echo of what could have been.

The Trap of the Single Passion

We’re told to “find our passion,” as if there’s only one true calling that will unlock our potential. But most of us don’t have a single passion. We have many, and they evolve. Clinging to just one can leave you stuck, resentful, and unfulfilled—because life doesn’t fit into that narrow box.

Aristotle’s idea of eudaimonia—true flourishing—comes from nurturing many virtues and interests. A good life is never about a single passion; it’s about letting curiosity lead you in new directions and embracing growth from every angle. That’s how you stay alive, flexible, and grounded in what matters most.

Science backs this up. David Epstein’s Range shows that generalists, not specialists, adapt faster and thrive longer because they draw from a broader toolkit. Neuroplasticity research agrees: your brain grows when you challenge it in new ways.

So, don’t cling to one passion—follow your curiosity and experimentation. That’s how you’ll find your edge and build a life that’s truly yours.

The Myth of Mission Without Mastery

Most people think that having a mission is enough—that if they find their “why,” everything else will just fall into place. But here’s the truth: without mastery and leverage, that mission is just a fantasy. A clear mission sounds noble, but it’s powerless without the skills to back it up and the tools to amplify it.

Stoicism, especially in the teachings of Epictetus, tells us that freedom is earned through discipline and self-mastery. If you haven’t mastered your craft or built the leverage to share it, you’re at the mercy of chance. A mission alone won’t save you—it’s the hard work and the systems you build that transform that mission into real impact.

Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory reinforces this: true confidence comes from demonstrated competence. It’s not about simply believing in yourself—it’s about doing the work, stacking the wins, and proving you can handle what you’re here to do. Don’t chase a mission without building the leverage and skill to make it real. The mission isn’t enough; mastery turns your mission into your reality.

The Illusion of Passive Income Without Effort

Passive income has become the holy grail, a dream of freedom without effort. But here’s the harsh reality: at the start, there’s no such thing as “passive.” Everything worth having takes effort, especially if you want it to last.

Kant’s categorical imperative reminds us: freedom isn’t free—it’s your duty to contribute and do the work. Shortcuts might get you quick wins, but they don’t build the solid foundation of mastery that you’ll need when things get hard. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, you’re just chasing illusions.

The Marshmallow Test and Ericsson’s 10,000-hour rule both prove the same point: mastery—and the durable freedom it brings—comes from effort and discipline. If you want real, sustainable passive income, invest in building the skills and systems that can stand the test of time. Earn your freedom by investing in mastery first—no shortcuts, no illusions.

3 Things To Focus On Before An Easy Exit

Before you expect an easy exit, focus on honing your skills, diversifying your interests, and creating leverage—these are the real drivers of freedom and fulfilment. Here’s how to start:

• Identify your core skills and commit to deep practice. Don’t settle for “good enough”—double down until you become a master. Mastery isn’t a buzzword; it’s the key to making your mission real.

• Embrace diverse interests to fuel your growth and adaptability. Let yourself explore widely—new challenges and experiments spark breakthroughs and keep you nimble.

• Delay gratification by prioritising disciplined effort over quick wins. Put in the reps, build the foundation, and trust that real freedom will follow when you’ve earned it.

These three steps—mastery, exploration, and discipline—aren’t shortcuts. They’re the only real way to create leverage that lasts and a life you truly own.

A final thought

Real freedom isn’t a shortcut—it’s the prize you earn through the disciplined pursuit of mastery. Like the blacksmith who can forge anything after decades of honing his craft, true flexibility in your life and work only comes from deep, focused effort. This mastery of process is what unlocks real agility—adaptability isn’t luck, it’s earned through practice.

As a solopreneur, your skill mastery gives you the power to choose your future and pivot when needed, the freedom to build the life you truly want.

As Taoism teaches, effortless action, or wu wei, emerges naturally from harmony and skill, not from skipping steps.

So here’s your call to action: Show up, practice, master—then, and only then, can you break free.

What’s next?

It’s all about mindset and strategy. As ancient Greek and Roman philosophers taught, we can only control our minds, thoughts, and actions. Focusing on this can help you avoid unnecessary struggle, get unstuck, and move forward faster.

If you need guidance getting unstuck and making crucial mindset shifts, I can help, especially if

• you want to quit your 9-5 job and create your one-person business, but you struggle to pivot (and then regret not making the leap)

• you are a currently struggling solopreneur (stuck in failure, regret and a flawed mindset that doesn’t serve you)

This is why I created the new 1-hour short video course, “5 Game-Changing Mindset Shifts For Success.” In this video course, I show you how to make the 5 essential mindset shifts to overcome your self-blockages as a solopreneur and thrive.

This is what you will learn and practice:

• The Power of Mindset

• The 5 Most Problematic Mindset Flaws

• How to overcome the Imposter Syndrome (versus self-doubt)

• How to embrace failure as a learning tool (versus fear of failure)

• How to cultivate a Growth Mindset (versus a static fixed mindset)

• How to boost your positivity (versus the negativity, which doesn't serve you)

• How to set healthy boundaries (versus being a people pleaser at work and life in general)

PLUS, you get a free PDF guide with 5 unconventional yet proven and effective exercises for practising the mindset shifts and preventing relapse.

Unlock the course below.