Redefining Success Through Faith and Purpose 😇

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, we often find ourselves in high-stakes meetings where success is defined by numbers and metrics.

I recently experienced this during a quarterly review with my leadership team. As we analyzed the company's performance, one executive declared, "If we don't hit these targets by next quarter, we're falling behind and need to reconsider our strategy."

The room filled with tension as department heads scrambled to explain why their metrics weren't meeting expectations. I couldn't help but notice that my own team's numbers fell into what some might call the "underperforming" category. A wave of doubt washed over me. Am I failing because my key performance indicators don't match industry standards?

The answer, I've come to realize, is "no…probably not."

This experience prompted deep reflection on how we define success. It's evident that success means different things to different people and businesses.

What Success means for me

What metric determines genuine success?

There are countless paths to success, and mine doesn't involve the conventional markers of achievement. Luxury cars, sprawling estates, exclusive clubs, or connections do not captivate my interest. For me, success means waking up eager for the day ahead, without dreading what tomorrow might bring. Success means having the freedom to take weeks away from work without stress or guilt. My success is intrinsically linked to the quality time I can spend with myself, family and friends.

As the book of Ecclesiastes wisely states, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) This verse highlights the value of relationships and mutual support, elements that cannot be measured by business metrics, yet form the foundation of a truly successful life.

I appreciate quality and comfort, but my primary success indicator isn't maximizing revenue. My success metric is maximizing free time or the ability to live with purpose and intention.

These elements often intersect. I find genuine fulfillment in building (and running) a business. It's engaging and rewarding, yet I recognize that I'm leaving potential revenue on the table because I choose not to engage in activities that would generate more income at the expense of what matters most.

Such pursuits would infringe upon my free time, require expertise in areas I don't wish to master, or involve tasks I find uninteresting and prefer to avoid.

I'm deeply grateful for the privilege to design a life aligned with my values. Unfortunately, this is a privilege not everyone enjoys.

Setting professional goals

If "all the money" isn't the goal, what is?

To use my success and privilege to help others discover the freedom and joy that comes from living with purpose.
To build a team of remarkable individuals who contribute to meaningful projects and accomplish work that matters.
To help others recognize that while work can be a meaningful part of life, it doesn't define our entire existence.

Jesus taught his disciples, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39) This profound instruction reminds us that our ultimate purpose transcends professional achievements. When we orient our lives around love, both for the divine and for our neighbors, we naturally begin to redefine success in ways that prioritize purpose and relationships over profit.

For much of my life, I've set goals based on specific targets. These are tangible, concrete benchmarks that provide clear pass/fail metrics.

Over time, my goals have evolved from monetary targets to the experiences and relationships I wish to cultivate. I now view money as a tool for creating space: time to rest, reflect, and appreciate the brief gift of existence I've been given, all while helping others do the same.

The apostle Paul reminds us, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 3:2) This invitation to elevate our perspective beyond the material world challenges us to consider what truly endures. When we focus on eternal values rather than temporary metrics, we discover a more meaningful measure of success.

The book of Proverbs offers this wisdom: "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." (Proverbs 17:17) This perspective on relationships as a form of wealth that endures through both prosperity and hardship. It reminds us that true success cannot be measured in dollars alone.

I'm embracing these new goals with enthusiasm and joy.

As young founders and entrepreneurs, we stand at a unique crossroads. We have the opportunity to build businesses that not only generate income but also create space for what matters most. We can structure our companies around our values rather than letting our values be shaped by our companies. We can measure success not just by profit margins, but by the depth of our relationships, the quality of our rest, and the positive impact we have on others.

The ancient philosopher Seneca once wrote, "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." In our pursuit of entrepreneurial success, let us be mindful of this wisdom. Let us build businesses that serve life, rather than living lives that serve our businesses.

Marcus Aurelius, in his Meditations, offered this profound wisdom: "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." This reminds us that success begins not with external achievements but with internal orientation toward what truly matters.

He also wisely noted, "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." This perspective challenges the entrepreneurial mindset that often equates success with accumulation and external validation.

As we navigate the complexities of building businesses and defining success, let us remember the apostle Paul's words: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

For in the end, when all else fades away and when businesses change, markets shift, and metrics fluctuate; only our faith in God remains. The prophet Isaiah declared, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

May we all find the courage to define success on our own terms, to prioritize what truly matters, and to build businesses that enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. For when we build upon the foundation of faith and purpose, we create a legacy that far outlasts the temporary measures of worldly success.

Crepi il lupo! 🐺