The views expressed by the business participants are their own.
When you think of Entrepreneurship, many things come to mind. Among them, I am sure, there are those big American success stories – Bezos, Jobs, Musk.
Whenever I ask my clients what their favorite brand is, they usually choose Apple, Tesla or Amazon. These are all very successful brands, but they also have the most respected images – leaders who defy disorganization, are arrested and build great brands from the team up. That’s what we, as entrepreneurs, all aim to achieve, right? Our face on the cover of magazines, millions of dollars in the bank account — that’s success, right?
I heard an interesting person during a sermon the other day that stopped me in my tracks. Teachers are ranked as the #3 professional for America’s Millionaires. To me, this didn’t make sense; they are there as well as engineers and doctors – but at very low wages. How is this possible? Research shows that it is because they are better at building wealth gradually. They are better savers and better spenders. It doesn’t sound appealing, but their number is in line with the highest earners in the US.
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This same sermon touched an idea that has stuck with me ever since. We worship outliers. Why? A large part of it is rooted in our American Culture. We are building a country built on rebellion, and if you look at our idols – none of them ‘conform’ to society’s norms. Marlboro Man, Motley Crue, Michael Jordan, Taylor Swift, James Dean, Jay-Z — reject our practices. They did things their way, and it worked. We, as a culture- love that.
All the amazing people mentioned above are different – lightning in a bottle. Their stories are iconic, fun and exciting – they are often told ‘look what they can achieve.’ But what about the rest of us?
Outsiders give us hope. They let us dream and aspire. But when we look up, we no longer look around; we have the blind. And that’s what I want to talk about today.
Success is such an absurd concept. It looks different for everyone. I meant the cover of Forbes it was my definition of success – and while that would still be great, I no longer feel like I need the validation of a magazine cover to feel accomplished.
For me, there are 3 questions I asked myself that really helped me redefine what I wanted in my business and what it would take for me to feel truly successful:
1. Who are your idols and why?
When I think about entrepreneurial success, I think about my girl Taylor Swift. Not just because I’m a fan of his music but also because he’s created an amazing culture around his brand while redefining his industry and never compromising on his principles.
I look at his decisions and feel inspired to forge my own path. I don’t look up to him because of his popularity but because of his integrity and wise decision making. I also think about my mother and grandmother, who were two undeniably strong women who helped pave the way for me to be here, and I am writing this article today.
Sometimes, walking becomes difficult, and I feel really depressed. At those times, I think about the people I look up to. I try to see myself through their lens, and I wonder how they will see me then. A powerful reframe that helps you get back to what’s important. Finally, and this may sound strange, I think about a younger version of myself. The 10 year old version of me, the 18 year old me. I wonder what he would think if he saw me now. I know the answer: he would be proud as hell.
2. What are your core values?
The concept of values in business is a double-edged sword. All brands have them – but how many do they have? Are they just words on paper? It’s the same for you as an individual – and I argue that the values you have as a person should be 100% aligned with your values as an entrepreneur.
In times of doubt, my value system acts as my north star. It says I’m losing a big client. Obviously, it sucks. But when I ask myself, ‘Am I being honest?’ and ‘Did I innovate, and did I offer out-of-the-box solutions?’ and ‘Did I do my best?’
If the answer is yes, I can walk away with my head held high. I can go back to the mindset of ‘this or something better’ and know that one thing is going to make room for something bigger. Most importantly, I can separate myself as a person from the business I have created, knowing that it is not personal.
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3. What legacy do you want to leave?
One of my favorite poems is “What Is Success” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In it, he describes many ways to be successful – like winning respect, finding love and always laughing. Some of the things he describes aren’t even on the radar of our current ‘goal-finding’ mentality, which we tend to measure by extra zeros in the bank account and extra likes on our LinkedIn.
He ends the poem with really deep lines: “Leaving the world a little better, be it a healthy child, a place in the garden or a redeemed social status; To know even one life breathes easier because you have lived; they have succeeded.”
I often think about the legacy I want to leave on this earth. For me, it’s more than making a lot of money or getting all the awards. I spent a long time chasing that, and it was empty. Everything changed for me when I started thinking about impact.
How can I use my gifts to make this industry, my community and the world a better place? If not-what’s the point? If I measure success by legacy and influence, I work more than myself. It’s important – and I can work with clients to make their work more important. It made me go deeper and I rebuilt the fire that was burning inside that was burning from burnout.
I light up talking to any entrepreneur about their business and why they created it. I love hearing their dreams and aspirations. I also get angry when I hear, “I want to be the Apple of.” [Insert industry here]. It’s good to aim high and have pictures, but it’s also good to define success on your own terms. Why Apple? Is it because they are a giant brand? Or is it because you value their creativity? Let your values and influence be your foundation, using your idols as a check and gut guide. That means you really succeeded.
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