Like most Americans, I spent the Fourth of July weekend enjoying friends, family and, of course, great food. And as I watched the fireworks displays with my kids, I began to think of just how lucky I am to live in this great land and how grateful I am for the courage of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence 229 years ago. They set into motion a chain of events that literally changed the course of history. They also set a great example for the rest of us in how to gain freedom in our own lives.

Let's face it. While Americans don't have to struggle for political freedom, we are by no means a free people. Millions of people are held in bondage to the circumstances of life. These people desperately yearn for financial independence, freedom from alcohol, drugs or tobacco, or just independence from feelings of failure, hurt, jealousy, anger, you name it. Fortunately, our Founding Fathers left us the keys to unlocking these chains in their actions on that fateful day. They did three things that are essential to reclaiming your freedom.

The first key to freedom is that they finally got fed up with their current conditions. They decided that they were no longer willing to live under a system of taxation without representation. Therefore, they pledged their lives, their property and their sacred honor that "enough was enough."

If you ever hope to free in your life, you're going to have to do the same thing. You must reach the point where you're sick and tired of being sick and tired; where you stand up to yourself and say, "I am no longer willing to live like this. Regardless of the costs, I will be free of this thing." And this is true whether your jailer is a lack of money, a lack of time, a lack of confidence or whatever. You must reach the point where you're willing to risk it all in your break for freedom.

The second key to freedom is that you must declare it. It wouldn't have done the Founding Fathers any good to silently wish for their independence. It wouldn't have even been enough for them to sign the Declaration of Independence if they didn't then rush copies to the colonies. In doing so, they made clear to the world that they would be free and in the process, enlisted the necessary support from other colonists and even the French.

Make a Declaration of Independence (Part II)

Your freedom requires the same type of bold declaration. You must be willing to tell the world that you run a successful business, quit smoking cigarettes, have your temper under control, or what have you. For most people, this is the really hard part. How do you declare that you run a successful business when you haven't even earned your first customer yet? How do you say that you've quit smoking when you haven't even gone a full week without lighting up? How do you tell people that your temper is under control when you yelled at your kids just last night?

The answer is simple: Because you must! You will never break free of your bonds until you declare your freedom. Remember, when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, they were still British subjects. They had not so much as raised a hand in rebellion. Yet, they knew that they would never be free until they declared their freedom. It was only after posting the document in the colonies that the money and resources began to arrive to form an army.

I can't imagine they would have received much support if they had circulated the "Hope of Independence." Think about it. Would you have sold your land and sent your son off to war to support a group of men who hoped they could succeed in gaining their freedom. Of course not. And neither will anyone invest in your business or underwrite your screenplay based on a "hope." You must convince them that you will succeed. Of course, this requires that you first convince yourself.

Here's where the third key to freedom comes into play. You must eliminate retreat as an option. The Founding Fathers knew that when they signed the Declaration of Independence, they were also signing their death warrants. There was no turning back. They couldn't call King George and say, "Oops! We goofed! Can we get a 'do over'?" If they were captured by the British, they would be executed for treason - period. In fact, five of the Founders eventually met this fate.

I can tell you from experience that you need this type of leverage to succeed. I've been able to build DASH Systems, Inc., in part, because I had to. I couldn't retreat back to the brokerage business, even if I wanted to. I had to move forward with a new way to make a living (and hopefully, a difference as well).

Now, please understand that I'm not suggesting that you get yourself into a situation similar to mine. What I am suggesting is that you close off all avenues of retreat. If failing to break free doesn't hold any real consequences for you, then it won't hold any real power either. You need to make it a do- or-die situation. After all, it is a do-or-die situation. You can either break free of the ties that bind you and truly live or die in a state of bondage.

Two centuries ago, the Founding Fathers made their choice. What's yours?