Freedom and a lesson from a toll booth operator

Steve Kallock Jan 4, 2013 · 3 min read

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

My encounter with a toll booth operator over the Christmas holiday and a reminder of freedom

I had an interesting reminder from a toll booth operator on Christmas Day.

My brother and father live outside Pittsburgh.

And every week after Christmas, I like to hop in the truck and head up and see them.

It is the perfect time to sit back and reflect on the year that was.

The drive from Canton, Georgia to Greensburg, Pennsylvania is 11 hours.

And that is only stopping for gas and bathroom breaks.

It gives me time to think, listen to inner circle audios, and reflect.

It was ironic that I was thinking about freedom when….

….I came across a toll booth operator in West Virginia.

It was sad to me that a toll booth operator and others were working on Christmas Day

One of the tolls on my way to my brother’s house had a toll booth operator.

That in itself was a bit of a shock.

Most of them are automated now.

I know the ones here in Georgia are automated.

But now that I think about it there is a toll booth operator in the CHANGE booths in Georgia.

Someone has to be there to make change.

If not, the lines would back up into eternity.

And people travel 365 days a year and 24 hours a day.

So it make sense that someone would be working in the toll booths on Christmas Day.

In fact, many people need to work on Christmas Day.

I don’t know why that is sad to me.

I guess because I want freedom for everyone.

The Toll booth operator reminded me what truly is important

We talk a lot about Freedom here at Empower Network.

Freedom to do what you want.

Freedom to make as much money as you possibly can.

Freedom to work with a team of ‘like-minded visionaries.’

Freedom to NOT work on Christmas Day….

….unless you want to.

This toll booth operator was doing what she needed to do to make a living.

I absolutely respect that.

I have respect for anyone, that has to work hard on any holiday, to make ends meet.

But the simple fact that she had to be in such a small space, alone, on the biggest holiday of the year, was a reminder to me of what freedom is.

Sometimes you have to know that you can’t trade freedom for money.

And being able to jump in the truck and spend 6 days with my family can not be bought.

For any amount of money.

Are you a toll booth operator trapped in your own toll booth?

So maybe this is a long way to go to make a point.

And hopefully you are still with me here.

This visualization hit my in the head and brought awareness to my own confinement.

We are all in our own toll booth.

Maybe not literally.

But if you are honest with yourself, what is confining your life at the moment?

What is keeping you from breaking through?

What is holding you back from greatness?

For me, it was fear.

And the moment I dealt with that and owned it – I was free.

I was no longer the toll booth operator of my own confined self.

And I broke out.

And I have not looked back since.

Someone showed me this ‘inspiring video’ and I knew fear would not stop me anymore.

Fear no longer reigned in my toll booth.

And by following this ‘simple system‘ that anyone can do, it allows me to do the things I love.

And for that I could not be more grateful.

P.S. Let’s put an end to you being the personal toll booth operator in your own living toll booth, by clicking the banner below and watching the FREE VIDEO, you will kill fear forever, like I did: