Independence day is my favorite holiday of the year. In my personal opinion how to celebrate the holiday is it is up to individual interpretation. Beside the "normal" celebrating it is my annual half-way point where refreshing and realigning is my main goal. Secondly, its time for catching up with family and friends on all levels. My family and friends remind me I need to disconnect from my wifi connection and live life. A couple years ago I looked at the holiday like just as an escape from the daily grind but that all changed when I really found what I love to do on a daily basis. I enjoy my balance of "real life" (as my friends put it) and my online responsibilities. I hike, run, travel, work out, ride horses, pretend to be an "experienced" yogi, and tango on Tuesdays. I think it is a good healthy balance or at least the best I can manage at this time. I love having my personal independence to express my expertise and test boundaries in online marketing.

If you love what you are doing it is not work and technically I stopped feeling like I was "working" about three years ago.

We all need to escape
That little voice in your gut tells you when you need a vacation. My vacation is this weekend. My family says I need to log-off. That's really, not going to realistically happen anytime soon. In actuality, my responses are slower online due reduced online time. My time is balanced more like 80% off line and 20% online. I use my online time to read up on individuals I feel fit the algorithm as top leaders in the industry. Individuals who have ideas that make you think. Some are friends and some are friendships to be made but all have great minds. Normally, my 9-5 doesn't allow me to fully read their blogs during the week. So, this turned out to be the greatest weekend to deep dive into my Google reader.

Realigning my own strategy
Sometimes you need to re-access what is right in front of you. Today is my Independence day from the unsuccessful repetition of daily life. Time to lose old habits that aren't getting me anywhere and make new acquaintances in the next couple months.

A time to brainstorm
What are the trends in your industry? How do you make them better? Where is the world evolving to? Will you make your mark? What drives you? Who around you is important and who do you want to get to know?

Here are some of the individuals on my reading list and why:

@chrisbrogan He is incredibly talented and half of the time I read his posts and think "damn, why didn't I think of that?"
@jaybaer Who new you could develop email and social media strategies in such a manor.
@mackcollier The blog master. I read his posts and think hmmm that might me cool on my new blog.
@armano Can we say Visuals? I "heart" pictures
@ambercadabra Uhm... I nominate her officially "Miss. Community". If you don't know her you should.
@leeodden Creative SEM guy.
@dannybrown 12K for 12K and more.
@lewishowes His ideas are spot on. Have you seen his book Linkedin Working.
@riasharon Babies and kids.. gotem? you should speak with Ms. Sharon.
@kirstenwright Great graphic designer.
and more.. I can't give them all away.. its a process:)

There are lots of individuals I'd like to meet and have coffee with. After all a relationship is always created with a a hand shake.

My Independence from the daily grind starts tomorrow. For tonight:
#1 Finish my drink. A delicious summer mixture of Patron Silver and Newman's lemonade.
#2 I will blog more often because I like it:)

Questions:
What are you declaring Independence from? How do you refresh? What does independence mean to you?

Photo Credit: My BFF Joseph. He is the true meaning of an friend and he and his kids keep me well rounded and on my toes. From kid-related crazyness to just fun it is all good.