We often think about this concept of our startup "making it" through a sale or some other outcome and then we get to be truly happy.
But that's not how it works.
Our "success" actually comes gradually, day by day, at a glacial pace so that we never actually notice it. Until one day, we wake up, and things don't suck anymore.
So we can't think of our startups driving happiness as being a definitive moment in time. We have to think about it as little pieces and parts that gradually — but noticeably — get better.
If we think really hard, we can probably remember a time when we actually got to use the word "No" to things.
You know, like working all weekend, draining our bank account to keep the company afloat, or simply ...