What We Refuse to Give Up On: The True Measure of Success

"I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say, ‘Because of you, I didn’t give up.’"

As business owners, we all face difficult days. Days where the setbacks seem never-ending, where doubt creeps in, and you find yourself wondering, Why did I ever start this?

But the truth is, these tough moments aren’t what define us. What really shapes who we are—and how we’re remembered—is what we refuse to give up on.

When I was younger, I experienced something that profoundly shaped my perspective on life and business. My mother lost her memory in an accident. She woke up, and for a long time, she didn’t remember me. For a child, that’s a deep wound. At the time, it made me feel invisible, like I didn’t matter.

I still remember telling her once, "I’m not scared of dying. I’m scared no one will show up when I do."

That fear—that I wouldn’t be remembered, that I didn’t matter enough—stuck with me for years. But in time, it became a fire inside me. I realized that what I wanted most was to make a difference. I wanted to matter to people. Not in a self-serving way, but in a way that left a mark on the world around me. I didn’t want to live quietly in the background, unseen and unnoticed. I wanted to help others fight for the things that matter most to them. I wanted to make sure they wouldn’t give up, even when things got tough.

The Why Behind Every Business

This is what led me to start my business. It wasn’t just about making money or building something to pass the time. It was about helping others hold on to their dreams when they were ready to give up. It was about making sure that their purpose—the reason they started their journey in the first place—stayed alive through the hardest times.

I think many of us start businesses for the same reason. Maybe not the exact same story, but with a similar desire: to matter, to make a difference, to create something bigger than ourselves. But as the challenges pile up, it can be easy to lose sight of why we started in the first place.

We get bogged down in the day-to-day grind, the fires we have to put out, the endless decisions to make. And that original spark—the why—gets buried under all the stress.

So I want to ask you a question: Why did you start your business? What was it that lit the fire inside you? What vision or dream pushed you to take that first leap into the unknown?

Because no matter what challenges you’re facing right now, that why is still there. It’s still guiding you, even if it feels buried under the weight of your to-do list or the latest obstacle in your path.

The True Measure of Success

We’re remembered not for the moments when everything was easy, but for what we refused to give up on when things got hard. Your business isn’t just a product of your hustle or your ability to meet targets—it’s a reflection of something much deeper. It’s the embodiment of your refusal to give up on what you believe in.

The people who inspire us aren’t the ones who had a smooth, effortless journey. They’re the ones who faced down the storms and kept going. They’re the ones who stayed connected to their purpose even when everything around them felt like it was falling apart.

And you have that same power. Right now, in the midst of whatever challenges you’re facing, you have the ability to reconnect with your why and push forward.

What’s One Thing You Can Do Today?

Here’s my challenge to you: Take a moment today to reflect on why you started your business. Think back to that original vision, that thing that mattered so much to you that you were willing to take the risk and leap into entrepreneurship.

Once you reconnect with that purpose, ask yourself, What’s one thing I can do today to move closer to that dream? It doesn’t have to be huge. It could be one small step—a decision, a conversation, a new approach. But that small step, rooted in your why, will keep you moving forward even when the road feels uncertain.

We’re not defined by our challenges. We’re defined by what we refuse to give up on. Your business, your dream, your vision—it matters. And it will continue to matter, as long as you hold on to that purpose, no matter how tough things get.

So, what’s your story? Why did you start? What drives you to keep going? Share your journey—I’d love to hear it.