Please don’t “Go Big”, Just be Successful

This tweet really bothered me when I first read it this afternoon.

If you're in business and have no intention of going big, just go work for someone else. Seriously.

— Justin Sainton (@JS_Zao) August 29, 2014

Personally, I don’t want anyone to be discouraged from going on on their own. I don’t know where we would be without my wife’s support helping me pursue freelance development, I was discouraged and very reluctant at the time.

That said, I highly doubt Justin’s point was to discourage anyone from pursuing freelancing or building a business on their own, suggesting instead to join an agency or a potential competing business. However, when I read “go big”, I see: do something in excess, do something more, build an agency, employ a lot of people, have offices, work your ass off, commit to your business first, profits!, etc..

Obviously this is a loaded issue for me, that’s why a misunderstood tweet has me writing this.

Anyway, It took a while before I realized building something big wasn’t a road to success. Instead I pursued success by focusing on a set goals, ultimately I got there ¹, all while not forgetting to continually evaluate my business and being honest enough to change stretch goals.

I’m trying to save myself from writing (and you from reading) a bunch of hyperbolic statements on what true success is and how it’s completely personal. It’s not for the lack of trying either, I just couldn’t figure out an easy way to encourage honest reflection in setting up goals for success, while not limiting a business plan, without sounding contradictory.

By all means “go big”, just don’t feel the need that creating a big business is success.