Lots of folks think that for entrepreneurs it’s all about the exit. But it’s not.
An essay in today’s New York Times by Arthur C. Brooks, the president of the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C., posits something crucial about what it’s really about. And he does it by quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt:
“Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”
Brooks follows with: “In other words, the secret to happiness through work is earned success.” And later: “If you can discern your own project and discover the true currency you value, you’ll be earning your success.”
It’s adventure. It’s adrenaline. But mostly it’s about doing good work. Actually, it’s about doing your best work.