Economic Freedom in an Unfolding World

Let’s not sugarcoat it—job security is a myth. A nice idea that used to mean something, maybe.

But today? It’s a corporate bedtime story.

According to MyPerfectResume, 81% of Americans are worried about holding onto their jobs. That’s not a statistic. That’s a signal flare that the ground is shifting beneath our feet.

So what now? You’ve got two choices:

1. Cling to a crumbling system that sees you as a replaceable cog.
2. Build your own darn machine.

Here’s the truth: in times of chaos, agency is your only currency. And solo entrepreneurship—the lean, nimble, you-versus-the-world kind—isn’t just a career move. It’s an act of rebellion. It’s you saying, “I don’t need permission. I’ll build my own freedom.”

I walked away from a traditional media career in 2007, the same year the economy began unraveling, and started a freelance business. Since then, I’ve interviewed hundreds of solo entrepreneurs. Many were forced out. Others walked out. But nearly all of them said the same thing:

“Best decision I ever made.”

Take Jonathan Johnson, laid off during the Great Recession. He now runs not one but two million-dollar solo businesses: PPEKits and DirectGov Source.

Or Tiffany Williams, who started selling T-shirts for Yorkshire Terrier lovers on the side when she heard rumblings about layoffs at her company. That niche hustle evolved into CEO InsidHER, a full-blown entrepreneurial network for women. These people didn’t wait to be rescued. They built escape hatches, in many cases going from layoffs to launchpads.

The data backs it up. MBO Partners reports that 72.7 million Americans worked independently in 2024, nearly double from 2020. That includes freelancers, consultants, gig workers, and full-time independents.

So it’s clear that the sovereign worker revolution is already underway. Are you in?

Let’s address the elephant in the room: gig work sometimes gets a side glance. Uber, DoorDash, Rover— some consider this work for people who have run out of options. And yes, there are real challenges. But here’s the real story:

These platforms are launch pads. Not landing zones for most people who want to build a million-dollar business.

They highlight three things that are paramount for a successful solo business:

• Customers
• Cash flow
• A crash course in discipline

Sure, you might only receive a cut. Sure, you’re often dealing with a middleman. But they also can offer you experience with a low-risk, high-agency business model.

Want proof? Plenty of workers use gig apps to learn the ropes, then spin off into their own independent brand. Others keep one foot in the app world while expanding their own direct-client base. Either way, the goal is freedom, not fame.

The million-dollar, one-person business isn’t a unicorn. It’s a template for radical self-reliance.

These businesses exist across every sector—fitness, e-commerce, coaching, real estate, creative services, and beyond. They don’t have employees or investors. What they do have is:

• Low overhead
• High margins
• The opportunity to capitalize on strategic tools like Fiverr, Figma, and Fulfilled by Amazon

Forget the startup hype cycle. This isn’t about explosive scale. It’s about controlled growth, sustainable systems, and maximum autonomy.

This is what real free enterprise looks like — not bloated corporations gobbling subsidies and laying off workers to goose stock prices — but individual creators and builders trading value directly with the market.

They’ve come from individuals operating in freedom, thinking independently, solving problems, and reaping the rewards of their effort.

Solo entrepreneurs don’t wait for systems to change. They create their own leverage through simplicity, speed, and self-direction. And in doing so, they embody the purest ideals of the free market: voluntary exchange, personal responsibility, and human ingenuity unleashed.

Want to know the most dangerous number in business? One.

One employer. One client. One stream of income. That’s not a business but rather a ticking time bomb.

The most successful solopreneurs have this figured out. They don’t put all their eggs in one basket. They create financial redundancy.

Think:

• Courses
• Webinars
• Affiliate income
• Physical products
• Premium services
• Strategic partnerships

Holistic nutritionist Meghan Telpner left her clinical practice to build an online school that has reached thousands.

Eyebrow expert Joey Healy didn’t just shape brows. Instead he created and sold his own brow product line. When the pandemic hit and his studio shut down? His product sales kept the lights on.

Ask yourself this every week:

“How can I create income that doesn’t require my daily presence?”

Recessions. Layoffs. Automation. AI. All of it is rapidly coming for traditional jobs.

So how do you stay relevant?

You outmaneuver the machines. Offer what algorithms can’t:

• Emotional intelligence
• Complex problem solving
• Relational depth
• Brand voice
• Human-level trust

Yes, AI can write a blog post. But it can’t build your reputation, manage nuance, or navigate high-stakes conversations. Not yet. And probably not ever.

Start positioning yourself now as the human layer in a world of cold automation.

Let’s be real: most people don’t want to hustle 24/7. They don’t dream of mansions and Lamborghinis. They want time, autonomy, and peace of mind.

They want to pick up their kids from school. Sleep in on weekends. Work from anywhere. Clock out early on Fridays.

That’s the magic of solo entrepreneurship, namely, that it allows you to write your own rules. But here’s the catch:

You’ve got to get financially literate. Understand cash flow. Taxes. Pricing. Profit margins. Otherwise, your dream business turns into a shiny new cage.

Freedom is not handed to you. It’s earned—with strategy, clarity, and daily discipline.

Ready to jump in or level up? Ask yourself these hard, honest questions:

1. What can I monetize today with zero outside help?
2. Am I solving a real problem that someone will pay me for right now?
3. What systems or tools can I use to stay lean and mean?
4. Can I survive a 60-day income drought emotionally and financially?
5. Does my business design match my personal definition of freedom?

If you can’t answer yes to most of these, don’t worry. That’s your starting point.

The world is unraveling. That’s not pessimism, it’s the pattern. Old systems are cracking. Traditional ladders are collapsing.

Here’s the good news: when things fall apart, there’s space to build something better.

And who’s building it?

You.

The artist. The coder. The consultant. The herbalist. The yoga teacher. The startup renegade.

One person. One plan. One powerful decision to stop outsourcing your destiny.

Start small. Start scrappy. Just start.

Because this economy isn’t going to save you.

But your own audacity just might.