Unemployment rates are higher than they have been in a long time, and that is a good thing for many people. You may think I am nuts for saying the words “unemployment” and “good thing” in the same sentence. In fact, I would have thought I was nuts too, until I attended a conference this weekend where I heard Loral Langemeier speak.

Loral brought up a point I have read in several other books on financial freedom recently. She said that people who are employed are too afraid to give up the security of their weekly paychecks to start their own business. And being a successful business owner is one of the few ways you can truly find financial freedom. Otherwise, you will always be using your skills to build someone else’s dreams.

I am not telling you to quit your job, especially if you don’t have a business plan or even an idea to go after already in place. But it is something to think about.

Did you know a vast majority of people turn down opportunities everyday because they fear change? They fear letting go of the security their job provides them. I recommend saying “Yes!” when an opportunity arrives, and then figure out how to achieve it. Remember “who” also spells “how” when the letters are mixed around. There is someone out there who can mentor you and teach you how to accomplish your opportunities when they arrive.

Did you know that 80 percent of self-made millionaires started out at the bottom and built their own business? Did you know the average self-made millionaire has been broke two-three times along the way to success? They were not afraid to give up. They had a dream, and they kept trying until they made it. You can too.

The steps to creating your own financial freedom are fairly simple.

Step 1: Understand Your Relationship to Money

If money is controlling you, or your life, you will never be able to get to the next step. James Malinchak eloquently described this situation this weekend when he said, “No one cares about your bills except you and the people you owe.” Stop letting money control your life, and make a plan today to get to financial freedom.

Step 2: Determine Your Freedom

Everyone needs a goal to strive for in order to reach financial freedom. In order for you to “retire” you need a continual passive income streaming in that is able to support you each month should you never work again. Do you know what that number is? Add up all of your monthly expenses to come up with the number. Then start looking for ways to reach your financial freedom.

Step 3: Understand Your Relationship to Debt

Perhaps my favorite part of the conference this weekend was when Loral asked the audience how many people were in credit card debt. Then she said, “I applaud you. You wanted a good life, but you had a small income. So you put the rest on a credit card.”

With that statement, she highlighted two important points. You have to have a dream to work towards, but you should never live outside of your means. If you have credit card debt, make a plan today to get it under control.

Step 4: Develop a Cash and Money Making Plan

If you have mastered the steps above, then it’s time for you to develop a cash flow and money making plan. This plan should not only include how you intend to make money, but it also needs to include how you are going to spend money. Without a plan, it is very easy to start overspending when money starts coming in.

Those are four easy steps for you to follow to start getting your financial goals together. They are a starting point. If you are unemployed right now, consider looking for venture ideas to start your own business. If you currently have a job, start looking for ways to build your own business. Working for someone else isn’t a bad thing. But you have talents to offer the world, and you might just be surprised what other people are willing to pay for your business ideas.

[Ed. Note: Loral Langemeier has several books out about how to save money. To learn more about her books, click here.]

Author's Bio: 

Dr. Tim Reynolds founded Living Every Minute in 2009 to allow him to share his passion for finding success in every minute with others. He dedicates countless hours each week to helping other people change their lives through mentoring, life building, giving inspirational talks and writing for his free weekly newsletter.

Life wasn't always the picture of perfection it is now for Dr. Tim. In fact, he was the first member of his family to graduate high school. He joined the military shortly after graduation, where he graduated from the Special Forces Q-course in July of 1982. He served as a Green Beret medic on an A-Team, as the Battalion medic and eventually as a Special Forces Battalion Surgeon for the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served both enlisted and as an officer for 17 years.

After getting out of the military, Dr. Tim decided he wanted to go to college to be a doctor. His guidance counselor told him he was too old. He would be 32 before he finished his degree. He told her, "I'm going to be 32 either way." He went on to graduate college with honors.

It was his passion for helping people that inspired him to become a medical doctor, and in 1993 he graduated Summa Cum Laude with an MD degree from the University of Utah. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Texas A&M Scott and White in 1996 and is board certified in emergency medicine. He is the managing partner for HealthCARE Express, a group of urgent care clinics rapidly expanding across the United States.

Prior to starting HealthCARE Express in 2006, Dr. Tim held numerous positions across the medical field, including: medical director of the Wadley Regional Medical Center Emergency Department and level II trauma center; president of E-Med Services, LLP and of E-Med Billing Solutions, LLP; associate clinical professor for the Area Health Education Center at the University of Arkansas; and founding member of the Greater People’s Clinic of Texarkana Board of Directors.

In addition to his medical experience, Dr. Tim is also an entrepreneur and successful businessman. He is currently the chief executive officer of TL Reynolds Properties, LLP, a real estate investment company; and he is a managing partner of JJET Developments Ltd., a real estate development company.

Dr. Tim has served on numerous other committees and boards throughout both the medical and business communities and is published in various journals and publications. He is sought after as a presenter at many national conferences.

In his leisure time, Dr. Tim enjoys spending time on his Ranch in Atlanta, Texas, where he lives with his beautiful wife, Pam, and their five amazing children. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, is a SCUBA rescue diver, and a pilot. He also enjoys body building, golf, and hiking.

Dr. Tim is a world traveler, having visited over 40 countries on six of the seven continents. He is a firm believer in Living Every Minute of life and teaching others to do the same.

Learn more at www.LivingEveryMinute.com