It’s Presidents Day!
Presidents Day is supposed to be about leadership, legacy, and, at its core - freedom.
But here’s the thing: freedom isn’t just handed out. It’s structured. It’s built. It’s designed.
Much like this very scattered holiday, where different states celebrate it in different ways (some taking the day off, some ignoring it, some turning it into a shopping spree), freedom can feel like something you should have—but don’t actually experience.
And that’s because freedom, real freedom, doesn’t just happen.
It’s not about doing whatever you want, whenever you want. It’s about removing the distractions, decisions, and obligations that pull you away from what actually matters. The highest performers aren’t just “free.” They built their own systems to create that freedom.
That’s exactly what we’re talking about in this week’s newsletter: The Freedom Framework.
Because if you don’t structure your life for freedom, you’ll always be at the mercy of someone else’s schedule, priorities, and expectations.
Read on to see how the best do it.
Most people live in reaction mode bouncing between obligations, endless tasks, and commitments they didn’t actually choose. The people who move differently? They design their lives with precision.
They don’t work more.
They don’t chase every opportunity.
They don’t let other people’s priorities dictate their decisions.
They build systems that protect their time, energy, and impact.
That’s The Freedom Framework.
What Most People Get Wrong About Freedom
We’ve been conditioned to believe that freedom comes from more.
More effort. More hours. More grinding.
It’s a lie.
The people who move differently know:
You don’t win by doing more. You win by doing fewer, better things.
Every decision has a cost. Say yes to everything, and you say no to your own priorities.
Busyness is a trap. If your calendar is full, but your results aren’t growing, you’re not working—you’re just filling time.
High performers don’t have more hours in the day. They have a system that filters out everything unnecessary before it hits their to-do list.
If you don’t have that, you’re stuck playing someone else’s game.
Step 1: The $10K Test
Every decision you make either compounds your value or diminishes it. Most people are stuck doing $10/hour work when they should be focused on $10K/hour moves.
Ask yourself:
Would this task be worth my time if I were charging $10K per hour?
If not, why am I doing it?
If the answer is guilt, habit, or obligation, it goes on the "Stop Doing" list.
Action: Do This Right Now
Write down everything you’ve worked on today. Every meeting, every email, every task.
Circle the things that actually moved you forward. Be honest.
Look at what’s left. That’s what’s draining your time without giving you returns.
Now, cut one thing. Right now. Not later. Not next week. Now.
You don’t have time to waste. Stop doing work that keeps you occupied but doesn’t move the needle.
Freedom isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing fewer, better things.
Step 2: The Power of Constraints
People think freedom means no structure. They’re wrong.
The fewer choices you make daily, the faster you move.
Set time constraints. If a meeting can’t get solved in 15 minutes, it shouldn’t be happening.
Cap your commitments. If it’s not essential, it’s extra.
The fewer decisions you make daily, the more energy you have for the ones that matter.
Step 3: The “Hell Yes” Rule
If it’s not a Hell Yes, it’s a No.
Every weak “yes” waters down your strong ones.
Most people are drowning in half-hearted commitments. Cut them loose.
Your energy is a limited resource. Stop wasting it on things that don’t move the needle.
Step 4: Controlled Inputs, Exponential Outputs
High performers don’t waste energy. Every action compounds.
Track your inputs. Is what you’re doing leading to results, or just keeping you busy?
Build in leverage. The highest-value people find ways to get more from less.
Make the right work automatic. The best don’t rely on willpower. They set up systems that make success inevitable.
To be the best you don’t have to work harder. You just have to do the right work.
This Isn’t About Work. It’s About Life.
If you don’t control your time, someone else will.
If you don’t define your priorities, someone else will hand you theirs.
The Freedom Framework isn’t a work strategy. It’s a life strategy.
It’s how you:
Make sharp, clear decisions without hesitation.
Stop feeling exhausted by things that don’t matter.
Take full ownership over where your time and energy go.
Freedom isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build.
What’s Next?
Next week: The Power of Systems—How to Get What You Want Without Burnout.
Motivation won’t save you. Systems will.
The people who rise? They don’t rely on discipline to get things done. They build structures that make their success inevitable.
If you want to see how that works—be here next week.
And if you’re reading this, you already know you’re in the right room.
The people who read this are already ahead. The ones who apply it are unstoppable.
Bonus for You: The Freedom Framework One-Pager
I put together a one-page guide on The Freedom Framework. Just a quick, no-BS breakdown of the four steps you can use today to start reclaiming your time. This is a limited order so make sure you download it now
Find it under downloads here : https://stan.store/jackyec
If this made you think, forward it to someone who should be in this conversation. The right people will understand.
- Jackye