What is success? That sounds like a simple enough question but when you start to think about, the most appropriate answer is “it depends.” It depends on what the topic is and how you define success within that category. Viewed this way, success is extremely subjective. A pretty good generic definition is “an overall positive result.”

I think you’ll agree that everyone who starts a business wants to succeed. But even within the category of business, success has many definitions. Here are a few of the markers that business owners I know use to gauge their success.

• Providing a useful service
• Providing useful information
• Working in a field that they are passionate about
• Creating beauty
• Helping others to feel empowered
• Making children smile

The list could go on forever. These types of success are wonderful contributions that we make to the world and each other. In a healthy business these things are the by-product of the primary obligation of every business – profit.

Yes, I said obligation. Profit is the fuel that allows a business to keep doing what it’s doing. If your business runs out of fuel, you will not be able to use it to provide a useful service or useful information or feed your passion or empower others. You will be out of business. You owe it to your business, and those that it serves, to be profitable.

The formula for generating a profit is simple – bring in more money than you spend bringing it in. If that isn’t happening for you currently, ask yourself why. And be honest.

Warning: If you happen to be a good salesperson, be especially careful here. Otherwise, you could wind up believing your own bologna.

Profit is not a dirty word. You can be profitable and honor your passion and authenticity at the same time. I promise. If you find yourself struggling with reconciling the two, it may mean that you need to re-define your beliefs about money.

Consider this.

• People invented money.
• It is a concept.
• A concept is a thought – the paper that a $100 bill is printed on is not worth any more than the paper that a $1 bill is printed on. It’s only worth more because we all agree to think of it that way.
• Thoughts precede all things that become tangible.
• You are in charge of your thoughts.

Are you happy with the tangible results of your thoughts about money? If not, I encourage you to choose a different thought. This is one of the universal principles of successful business owners – they think profit!

If you’re still having trouble, think of someone whom you admire and are inspired by, and who is successful in business. If it’s okay for them to prosper, then maybe it could be for you to