by: Stephanie Gonzalez, CEO & Managing Partner “The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of freedom.” It was fortuitous for me to hear this sentiment this past week. The theory of freedom holds a unique place in our history; especially at the present moment for our country, this first week of July. I try to imagine what it must have felt like to be in the shoes of our forefathers in the events and wars leading up to 1776. The battles they fought reached beyond the battlefield. They made sacrifices I cannot fathom. They held a ‘fatherly’ determination – for themselves, their families, and the community they were a part of – and an unwavering persistence to create a new order. The concept of freedom carries different meanings and emotions for every one of us. The melting pot that we are a part of today forms a patchwork quilt blanket of stories filled with heartache, triumph, and everything in between. These facts are not meant to stir controversy or conversations around our history or our socio-political state. Instead, I ask – for you – to stop and think about what freedom means to you; in every role that you hold in your professional and personal life. And, ask – of you – how will you foster an environment at work, home, or play that grants this gift to you and all those around you? From inception, North&Co. has actively taken part in a revolution to redesign the way typical and traditional brokerages operate. North&Co. and all of its members continue to advocate for freedom, independence, and the liberation of the unique spirit that resides inside every one of us. Our unity is strong. At the center of our brokerage community, you will find devoted licensed independent contractors (our sales agents and teams). Generally, independent contractors are self-employed and can sometimes wake up feeling unemployed. Our agents are business owners and as such, they embrace the opportunity to create, refine, and execute their unique business models every day. Every morning they discover new ways to bring value (AKA employment) to their friends, clients, and community. Creation and transformation spawn from freedom. That is why it is imperative to be a conduit for it. You are a creator. You are free. Keep standing-post at the gates of your freedom and guard it closely. And, know you are not alone in the journey. You have an organization to lean on and to lean into that has your back and exists to create, champion, and celebrate whatever kind of freedom you desire.