What does independence mean to you? Some people remember their first job or first apartment. Others think about the sovereignty of nations.

Here's what the dictionary has to say:
In-de-pend-ent
Adjective
1) Free from outside control; not depending on another's authority. Self-governing, not belonging to a political party; not influenced by others.
2) Not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence, capable of thinking or acting for oneself, not depending on something else for strength or effectiveness; freestanding.

I especially like number two. Those are powerful words, and they resonate clearly with how Project Management empowers people. When you have a consistent, clear way to approach and solve problems quickly, you are effective, strong and freestanding.

On July 4 we celebrated Independence Day in the United States. This month I challenge all of our readers around the world to use Project Management to free yourself from whatever is holding you back.

Don't Wait for Life to Happen to You
Too many of us wait for life to hand us a defining moment. The truth is that defining moments happen when we decide to make the change ourselves. When you talk to people who have accomplished something significant, they almost always begin to tell you about the plan they developed and then followed with passion and perseverance. Success doesn't just land in our laps. Instead, it's the realization of our vision. Whatever it is that we want to accomplish, both large and small, we all have our bucket lists. The difference is some people actually cross things off that list, while others wait for the opportunity to appear.

Project Management connects the plan with the opportunity. So, what do you want to do? Is there something you want to tackle once and for all? Is there a lingering project that has never been accomplished?

It's different for all of us. For some of us, it's our health or our finances. Whatever it is for you, we've developed PDU classes that help you earn your PDUs while at the same time accomplishing goals that are personal and meaningful to you. Sometimes, all we need is the structure to accomplish something that's been on our to-do list for too long.

Project Home Improvement helps you complete the home improvement project of your choice, bringing to life the Project Management phases and processes.

On Par Project Management lets you get in 10 rounds of golf while learning about Project Management and The PMBOK® Guide.

Project Prosperity shows you how to use the capital you already have to achieve your goals.

And if you're like me and you're thinking about creating long-term security and peace of mind, take power of your power with Project Energy Independence. Learn how to reduce the risks of increasing power costs for your home or business. Self-sufficiency is true independence every day of the year.

Download our complimentary PM Career SmartStart Guide.
Still looking for some more ideas? If you're thinking about how you want to make a difference in your life or your career, you can also download our PM Career SmartStart Guide. It's a great way to carve out your own path of independence.

Make Your Own Fireworks
Fireworks don't just have to be for historic celebrations. They can be a regular occurrence when you look back at what you've accomplished. It just takes getting started. Go!

About the Author
Michelle LaBrosse, PMP, is an entrepreneurial powerhouse with a penchant for making success easy, fun and fast.  She is the founder of Cheetah Learning, the author of the Cheetah Success Series, and a prolific blogger whose mission is to bring Project Management to the masses.

Cheetah Learning is a virtual company with 100 employees, contractors, and licensees worldwide. To date, more than 30,000 people have become “Cheetahs” using Cheetah Learning’s innovative Project Management and accelerated learning techniques.

Recently honored by the Project Management Institute (PMI®), Cheetah Learning was named Professional Development Provider of the Year at the 2008 PMI® Global Congress.  A dynamic keynote speaker and industry thought leader, Michelle was previously recognized by PMI as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Project Management in the world.

Michelle’s articles have appeared in over 100 publications and web sites around the world. Her monthly column, the Know How Network is carried by over 400 publications, and her monthly newsletter goes out to more than 50,000 people.  Her radio program, Your World Your Way, is a weekly broadcast that is an inspiring and practical look at how Project Management fuels success.

She is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Owner President Manager’s (OPM) program and also holds engineering degrees from Syracuse University   and the University of Dayton.

She lives in Nevada with her family and likes to rejuvenate in Alaska where you’ll often find her kayaking, hiking, and riding her motorcycle.

PMP is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute.

What’s your take on this subject?  Leave a comment and get the conversation going.