“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” -Tim Cahill
Not too long ago, someone asked me how scalable Tiny Buddha is, and how I plan to expand the site to reach millions of people and generate substantial revenue.
My answer was (and is) that I don’t. I have absolutely no concrete plans to reach certain benchmarks for readers or dollars. I do, however, have plans for the site’s growth–but they’re focused more on creating new features than attracting new people to use them.
It’s not about expanding Tiny Buddha’s reach; it’s about how deeply we can all reach each other.
I realize that in business, particularly when you’re not working alone, you sometimes need to focus on numbers. But there’s something to said for checking in with why you’re doing what you’re doing and choosing to focus on that.
I suspect that if we peeled away the layers of our motivations, most of us would discover that what we really want is to connect with other people and make a positive difference in their lives. Sure, we also want to make a comfortable living, and it wouldn’t hurt to leave behind some kind of legacy.
But focusing on the numbers–putting all your energy into plans to go the distance–can be a huge distraction from why you started this journey to begin with. It can pressure you to sell when you’d rather just engage, or promote when you’d rather create, or brand yourself when you’d rather just be who you are.
When you’re focused on how far you can go, it can be difficult to appreciate how far you’ve already come, and how beautiful it is, right here.
Today if you find yourself dwelling on where you want to be–how many followers, fans, subscribers, page views, or customers you want to have–remember: Your success is only about the numbers if you choose to measure it that way.
Photo by lok_lok 05
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others do the same. She recently created the Breaking Barriers to Self-Care eCourse to help people honor their needs—so they can feel their best, be their best, and live their best possible life. If you’re ready to start thriving instead of merely surviving, you can learn more and get instant access here.
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Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine.