Many business professionals savor their independence. That’s why corporate employees often go independent as their skill, knowledge, and client list grow. But even as a free agent—a lone cowboy or cowgirl—how independent are you really? Are you subject to the influences of other entities in your professional life? Do you let those influences affect your decisions—and your ethics? Do you let them call all the shots? And most important, can you truly be an independent and unbiased professional when industry “ranchers” with huge stakes in your success brand your hide, but have little ownership of your mistakes?

Maybe these questions are quaint. After all, the days of the open range and noble cowboy are long past. In today’s Internet society, we are all to some degree roped to each other. We rely on the professional input of people who are smarter than us. In return, they own a piece of us since we owe them gratitude for their expertise.

Where things go awry is when we forget why we went independent in the first place, when we let our suppliers, distributors, regulators, and even our clients to own us entirely. So it’s time to start doing the right thing and escape the thundering herd being driven to market. Here’s how:

• DO NOT recommend high-margin products and services to susceptible buyers just because “everybody does it.” Always do what’s best for the client, even if it generates less revenue for “the boss.”
• DO NOT abandon your old clients because new clients may generate more revenue. Always uphold the commitment you made during your initial sales process to service your clients, despite costs or inconvenience.
• DO NOT adopt the latest sales or marketing system just because vendors make it smell as good as a sizzling steak after a long day in the saddle. Always use what is in line with your values and what complies with your business license (if any).
• DO NOT allow trail smoke (and mirrors) to obscure your recommendations. Always understand for yourself the products you sell and get to know their features like the lay of the land. Base product choices solely on their merits and on how well they meet the needs of your clients.
• DO NOT allow anyone to drive you toward selling clients inappropriate products or services. True cowboys know that the minute they let others determine their direction, they are finished.

The reason why we let others dictate our actions is because being a lone cowboy is hard. It means you have to know the difference between right and wrong . . .between what will please the herd today and what will get the herd back home safely tomorrow. Between what others think is best and what you know is best. Between what’s expedient and what’s suitable in every area of your business.

So whether you’re on the trail or back at the ranch, remember one thing: Nobody should own you, cowboy, but you.