This is a summary of the book “The Freedom Frameworks: infinite possibilities to achieve career independence on your own terms” written and self-published by Jack Cohen in 2024. The author argues that you are your own asset and that skills, experience and relationships are key to professional success. He draws on his vast business experience to propose freedom Frameworks for you to thrive in your career. The goal and the path are for us to articulate and we can only invest in ourselves. Setting quarterly priorities and meeting them, learning to read people and team dynamics, facilitating collaboration by establishing a common context, viewing experiences as objectively as possible, learning from mistakes, and being honest with oneself are some of the other suggestions in his book.

To pursue your dreams and cultivate freedom, face your demons, which often arise in the form of resistance. Identify these fears and work with them to develop the courage and confidence to progress. Clarify your dreams by asking yourself who you want to become and on what timeline. Reframe resistance as helpful, like facing defeat to improve your tennis game. Defining who you want to be and planning your path forward is crucial. Visualize your intended future and take notes on your current reality. Bridge the gap by outlining specific steps to move toward your desired future. Invest in your most valuable asset: yourself. Economic independence provides the freedom to make career choices without immediate financial pressure, relying on your most valuable asset: yourself. Invest in building skills, gaining experiences, forming relationships, and getting things done better. Connect the dots between past and present, applying new knowledge to improve your skills and earning power.

To turn your value into greater earning power, be reliable, responsible, and accountable. Develop skills, experiences, and relationships to become more capable, adaptable, and interesting. Balance depth with breadth and push yourself outside your comfort zone. Surround yourself with supportive people, such as volunteering for industry groups or seeking mentors for long-term growth. Set quarterly priorities and protect them from distraction. Use the Red, Blue, and Black methods to prioritize activities for 90-day goals. Reassess and readjust allocations quarterly to make the most of finite resources. Set due dates and do dates for different projects and establish "border protection" to maintain uninterrupted focus. Learn how people behave to improve communication and team dynamics. Understand different behavioral styles, such as control, power, influence, and authority, and understand how people make decisions. People do not care how much you know until they know just how much you care about them. By understanding how people make choices, you can better understand and manage your time effectively.

Team success requires a common context and accountable team members. The "issues clearing model" helps address conflicts constructively by stating the facts of the situation, how the facts make the speaker feel, what judgments or conclusions they have drawn, and what the speaker would like to have happened next. Viewing experiences as neutral as possible is essential, as the story we tell ourselves determines our feelings.

Create curiosity and ask better questions to improve decision-making. Use the "Shark Theory" to avoid analysis paralysis and take small steps forward to reach the tipping point. Learn from mistakes, embrace your journey, and be yourself. Focus on overdoing rather than overthinking and compare where you are now to where you used to be.

Embrace your development journey, even when it's slow or feel lost, and tap into your grit to see your goals through. Trust in yourself and don't be afraid to stand out from the crowd. Be honest with yourself, mitigate your weaknesses, and be caring yet direct with others. Manage any liabilities in your temperament through self-awareness and practical strategies.