Defining Success
For me, the new year is a time for reflection – taking a look at behaviors that need to be deleted, incorporated or reassessed. This year was no exception.
In addition to taking a look at the changes I want to make – which, of course, include losing weight (that old bugaboo) – I stepped back to see what successes I can put in the “win” column. Initially I thought darn few when it came to business.
I’ve always pretty much defined a successful business as one that makes money – the more money, the better. And I’ll be frank with you: I don’t take home a rockin’ paycheck at CV Weekly – unfortunately nobody here does. This fact can make me rather depressed; who wants to invest the time and effort that I do not to make “big bucks?” But when talking to my co-workers, they made it crystal clear that success is not only defined as making money.
As you know, I love the Crescenta Valley. While it has its faults I can easily point out the many benefits of living here. For years, I’ve been involved in several non-profits including Prom Plus and the CV Chamber of Commerce. My husband is a member of the Montrose Search and Rescue team for which he gets paid (wait for it): $1 a year. That’s for rescuing folks who went hiking and got lost or caught in a snowstorm, staying with a deceased individual until the coroner arrived and/or several other scenarios that require the skills of the team. While these are not “money-making” ventures, they provide us with a sense of pride that we are making a contribution to the community that we love so much.
I was reminded that though I do not take home the big bucks, the CV Weekly makes a contribution to our community. For example, not long after we opened our doors we received a call from a woman who needed to fax something but didn’t have access to a fax; did we have one she could use? I said sure. When asked who the lady was who called I replied I didn’t know; she was just a community member who needed help.
We regularly collect for and deliver food to the Bailey Center in Tujunga, which helps countless people who need food. We also print information regarding the local Rosemont Preserve and various associations and non-profit events that might not otherwise get visibility. The CV Weekly also provides a pathway for businesses to advertise the important aspects of what they bring to the community.
So while I may not bring home a healthy paycheck, I can be assured that I – and everyone who works so hard on the CV Weekly – am working at a truly successful business.