Business Growth

Are You Really Happy
In Your Business?
(find out here…)

The following is an excerpt from a business seminar Chris Guerriero was the keynote at:

Are you really happy in your business?

Let me give you an example – I have a friend who ran a business for over 10 years. And during that time, he rarely, if ever, made a profit larger than his living expenses – so in essence, even though he worked his butt off every day – he didn't have anything in the bank.

So when he and I met – his main goal was to make more money – so I helped him get online and today he makes a pretty darn good living working only a few hours a week.

Now last weekend we have a party and a house full of guests and he was one of the folks who came by…

And I don't know exactly how it came up – but he started talking about his goals and he said that happiness was always a tough thing for him.

He told me stories of how he spent most of his life feeling very confused – sort of like no matter how hard he worked, he never seemed to feel fulfilled, and that was because he always wanted to be a famous actor.

Which was pretty darn shocking since he's never mentioned that to me – and I've known him for now for about 3 years and the only thing he ever wanted to talk about was how to grow his income.

Now people only really want three things – whether we're talking about you, me, your customers, your neighbors, your kids – anyone…

They want to be rich, they want to be famous, and they want to have a purpose.

But those words mean a lot of different things to different people.

And you have to know this stuff – not just so you can lead a happier life, but so you can understand your customers better, and sell more stuff, and help more people, and build bigger and bigger businesses…

So some people see the word Rich – and they think about making enough money to pay all the bills and maybe drive a decent car.

Some people think being RICH is taking 4 vacations a year, or making $100,000 a year, or $100,000 a month, or $100,000 a week.

…and when some people think of the word FAMOUS – they think about being the star of their neighborhood – having the house where all the neighbors flock to every weekend for a great barbeque – and some people think FAMOUS is being known all across the globe, or being on TV, or being on the cover of a magazine.

…and having a PURPOSE – could mean everything from being a good parent, to helping out in a charity… or it could mean creating something that helps millions of people around the world.

It's important that you know how YOU define those 3 words so you can make sure that you're building the kind of life that fulfills you, instead of just chasing the money.

So anyway – he's telling me how he always wanted to be an actor – and I asked him if he considered himself RICH.

…and he said yes. Which he certainly is by most people's standards – I mean he's got a business that now pulls in more than enough cash to pay the bills and do a LOT more.

And I asked him if he thought he had a good PURPOSE in life – and although that one took a lot more thought – he still said yes – because he created his business the same way you are… with a book, and a plan to get that book into the hands of the masses so the info in that book can help the greatest number of people possible.

– And his book is really good stuff – it's basic, it's not written as well as I think it should be – but the content in it is really good – and it helps a lot of people.

So his life, according to HIS definitions, fulfills 2 of the 3 basic needs that we all have – he feels like he's RICH – he feels like his life has PURPOSE – but he doesn't feel like he's FAMOUS in the way he wants to be famous.

Now the definition of HAPPINESS – at least the way I understand it – is:

  1. Choosing a goal
  2. Working a solid plan to get to that goal
  3. Achieving it
  4. And moving onto another similar but larger goal

I don't believe in the old saying that happiness comes from working toward a worthy goal – heck… happiness comes from the accomplishment, not the work.

  • Growth comes from the work
  • Motivation comes from the vision of yourself achieving your goal
  • but Happiness comes from accomplishing the goal itself
Related Reading Knowing Your True Profit Boosters → Related Reading High Growth Business Consulting →
Chris Guerriero Entrepreneur, investor, and business advisor. Founder of Club 28, a private advisory program for growth-stage CEOs and founders.
Common Questions

Frequently Asked
Questions

How do you stop being the bottleneck in your business so you can actually enjoy it?

The first step is getting clear on what you personally define as rich, famous, and purposeful. Most owners are stuck in execution mode chasing a vague idea of success that was never theirs to begin with. When you know your actual definition, you can design a business structure that pursues that outcome rather than just staying busy. That clarity is what starts to remove you from the bottleneck position.

What are the three things every person ultimately wants, and how do they apply to business owners?

People want to feel rich, famous, and purposeful. Those words mean completely different things to different people. One owner's definition of rich is paying the bills; another's is $100,000 a week. One person's definition of famous is being the star of their neighborhood; another's is being on TV. You have to know how you define those three words so you are building toward your version of fulfillment, not someone else's.

What is the real definition of happiness for an entrepreneur, and why does it matter for business growth?

Happiness comes from accomplishing a goal, not just working toward it. Growth comes from the work. Motivation comes from the vision. But happiness only arrives when you actually achieve the goal and move on to a larger one. Owners who are always chasing but never completing cycles rarely feel fulfilled regardless of revenue. Building in moments of completion and celebration is a structural decision, not a personality trait.

Why do so many successful business owners still feel unfulfilled despite strong revenue?

Because their business is fulfilling one or two of their core needs but not all three. You can be financially rich and have a clear sense of purpose but feel completely unfulfilled if the famous component, defined your own way, is missing. The gap is usually not a business problem, it is a clarity problem. Once you identify which need is unmet, you can either redesign the business or pursue that need through a separate channel.

How do you know if the goals you are chasing in your business are actually yours?

Ask yourself: if you achieved everything you are currently working toward, would you feel genuinely satisfied, or would you immediately move the goalposts? If it is the latter, the goal may not actually be yours. I have worked with owners who spent a decade chasing revenue milestones only to realize the milestone was arbitrary. Defining what rich, famous, and purposeful mean to you, on your terms, is the starting point for chasing the right thing.

Here’s How To Make This Your Best Year…

Club 28

Last year, I advised a handful of high-growth entrepreneurs and CEOs. Many of them 2x, 5x, or 20x’ed their business growth. Club 28 is how that happens.

learn about: Club 28
The Next Level

Can a half-day add a meaningful amount to your bottom line? The Next Level Project is a half-day meeting with me, focused 100% on your growth.

learn about: The Next Level
Free Business Review

Not sure where the gaps are in your business? Start with the Built to Grow Review, a free, detailed assessment that shows exactly what’s holding your growth back.

get your free review