The Measure of a Successful Small Business Person
After making several comments on another blog yesterday I managed to become embroiled in a discussion about people who claim legendary status and snake oil salesman.
In an effort to prove that he was a legend but not a snake oil salesman one particular person tried to impress me with his income, question my integrity, point out that we had experienced a cash flow problem this month and tell me that he had five children.
Maybe by bringing his children into this he was trying to imply that he was a better breeder than me but I didn’t rise to that one - penis envy is definitely not my thing - but then when you have 10 kids you don’t have to defend yourself on that point at all 
But it did raise in my mind the question of just what is the measure of a successful small business person. Is it money? Is it possessions? Is it status within your community or state or country? Is it something less definable such as happiness and an ability to accept criticism without launching into a vitriolic counter-attack?
I doubt that there is a definitive answer for this but if success can be measured in happiness and being comfortable with where you are after years of hard work then maybe I’m a success after all.
If the measure of success is wealth, possessions and position then I guess I’m a miserable failure but it doesn’t seem to bother me much.
So what is your measure of success?
