It's just a number, right?

10.16.09

This week a friend of mine turned 40. There's been lots of giggles all week long, gags on being old, etc. "Over the Hill" balloons and "40" confetti everywhere.

It got me to thinking – why is a number such a big deal?

When we're young – we want to be old. We can't wait to be older – to achieve that point in life where all the freedoms and experiences seem to lurk. And yet, as each year passes and that number grows larger, we are suddenly compelled to throw on the breaks – because we've been told that numbers like "30" or "40" or beyond are "old" or "antiquated"... time to be put out to pasture, so they like to say.

Ironic, isn't it that in the business world, the emphasis is all too often on the years. "In business since 1950" or "Celebrating 25 years of excellence" are phrases companies love to tout. Corporations spend big money holding special celebrations and creating marketing materials and give-aways that tout the "golden year" achievement.

But really – does being in business for XX amount of years automatically translate to being the best? To having the best product? The best service? The best bang for your buck? Can a company that is newer on the market be viewed as being equal to the giant who's been there "forever"? Shouldn't it be?

I bought my friend a picture frame engraved with "it's not the number of years in your life that counts... it's the life in your years"... Well said, I say!

And I think that saying should be true in business, as well. It's not how long you are in business; it's how well you conduct business. It's what you stand for; what you produce; how you focus on your customers and make each day just as important. It's the daily effort to meet the goals set forth and not only grow your business – but retain current business... At the end of the day, doesn't all of that carry more weight than a number that equates to years on the market?

The reality is - a number is a number... in life, in business, in everything. It holds whatever value we choose to place on it.

So to my friend I say – celebrate being 40 – and next year celebrate again... and again... and again. And instead of focusing on the number – remind yourself that it's what you do each year , each month, each week, each day that truly holds the value in who you are and who you strive to be.

Happy Birthday, Susan.