Are You Satisfied? No, we're not talking about the big meal you had a few hours ago. We're talking turn-of-the-century, down-to-the-nitty-gritty, is-my-business-everything-i-hoped-it'd-be satisfied.

Once upon a time, I asked every BIZ Experiences I interviewed ifthey were satisfied with their accomplishments. And withoutexception, they were not. Absolutely not. It was as if I'dinquired about criminal activity Or the prospect of death. Finally,I stopped asking. Here were great icons of BIZ Experiencesship--manywith companies worth tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars,all constructed from nothing--and satisfaction was still a dirtyword. They might admit to being successful. But if they weresatisfied, they wouldn't say the word. Perhaps they thoughtadmitting it would sound too boastful. Maybe they wereafraid oftempting fate.

But with the year 2000 approaching, BIZ Experiences decidedit was time to ask again, just in case the answers had changed. Areentrepreneurs satisfied with their businesses? Their lives?

In a word, yes. From Wunderkind and seasoned pros, theword came down, resounding and positive: Yes. It was yes,regardless of age or the size of their ventures; yes, regardless ofpast challenges or future expectations. It was absolutelyyes. Here's why . . .

Gayle Sato Stodder, a freelance writer in Redondo Beach,California, has been writing for BIZ Experiences for 13years.

Full Of Life

Successful BIZ Experiencess are pursuing their dreams at fullthrottle. Whether they're after creative expression, personalempowerment or simply the freedom to manage their own futures,entrepreneurs feel they have the authority to realize theirpotentials--a privilege they couldn't get in an ordinaryjob.

"When I left corporate life [in 1984], everyone thought Iwas crazy. Back then, corporate life meant security," says45-year-old Barbie Dallmann, owner of Happy Fingers Word Processing& Resume Service in Charleston, West Virginia, which saw$118,000 in revenues in 1998. "But starting my own businesswas a spiritual awakening. I found out what was important tome--being able to follow my own interests, having some control overmy destiny, writing my own corporate mission statement. When I comeup with an idea, I run with it. I can't stand waiting aroundfor other people to make decisions."

Tracy Porter, whose Princeton, Wisconsin, company, TracyPorter--The Home Collection, designs and licenses upscale homefurnishings and accessories, lives by the mantra "Dream withyour eyes open." For Porter, this is less a slogan than adescription of her life. When she and her husband, John, moved torural Wisconsin and started their business (then called StonehouseFarm Goods) in 1991, they were in hot pursuit of a newlifestyle--one that touted such lofty goals as creating beauty andliving with nature. Have eight years of hard experience made thePorters less idealistic? Just the opposite.

"Being satisfied means many things to us," says Tracy,31. "It means that every day we're on an amazing journey.It means we're laughing no matter what is going on. It'sabout seeing everyone you work with grow in really wonderful ways,and knowing you've helped create a culture that's deliciousto be in, surrounded by people who have their value systems firmlyin place. We also find it satisfying to be able not only to putbeautiful things into the marketplace, but to wrap a trulypositive, encouraging and hopefully inspiring message around themas well."

Indeed, what's not to like about that?

"The key here is fulfillment," says corporateleadership advisor Marsha Sinetar, author of To Build The LifeYou Want, Create the Work You Love (St. Martin's Press)."When you're fully engaged in what you're doing, thereis joy in the process and the outcome."

At The Helm

A second facet of fulfillment is control. Successfulentrepreneurs have the power to make choices in their lives--aboutwhere they live, how they work and how their work impacts theirlives. That's not to say BIZ Experiencess are enjoying afree-for-all, running their businesses from private yachts; taking51-week vacations; and spending long, unfettered hours doting ontheir children. This is reality, after all.

But BIZ Experiencess aren't helpless, either--far from it.Deborah Rosado Shaw, 38, whose Chester, New Jersey, company,Umbrellas Plus LLC, specializes in designing and importingumbrellas, rain gear, beach chairs and children's patiofurniture, sees power as central to her success. "I live amile from my office," she says. "I have flexibility in mywork--which doesn't mean I work less, but it means I can workon my own terms. I structure my life the way I want to structureit."

Shaw also explores new avenues of expression that have openedbecause of her success. In addition to running hermultimillion-dollar company, she is an inspirational speaker andauthor of the forthcoming book Dream Big: Power Strategies forWomen in Business. "I couldn't have [imagined] when Istarted [in 1987] that I'd be writing a book for Simon &Schuster or that I'd be making a lot of money from publicspeaking," says Shaw. "These are things I didn't evenknow I could do.

"Being an BIZ Experiences has given me choices," Shawexplains. "I started with nothing, in Spanish Harlem, and nowI'm a self-made millionaire. I don't have to work anotherday in my life, and I'm 38 years old--that'spower."

Drawing The Finish Line

Wielding power means different things to differententrepreneurs. Five years ago, at age 33, Greg Gianforte exercisedthe same power of choice when he and his partner sold their TintonFalls, New Jersey, software company, Brightworks Development, for$10 million. "I loved being an BIZ Experiences, but I was on theroad 75 percent of the time, and with a wife and small children, itjust wasn't working," says Gianforte. The thrill was gone,but the adventure was only beginning.

After selling Brightworks, Gianforte and his wife were facedwith the rare pleasure of constructing their future, choice bychoice. They moved to Montana, "the most beautiful place inthe world," by their estimation. And they took stock of theirlives.

"At some point, we drew a finish line--the point at whichwe knew we'd had enough," says Gianforte. "It meanthaving enough money to send our kids to college, owning two cars,owning our home, and having enough money left over to dabble instart-ups without having to worry about putting food on the table.We were already there."

Although reaching the finish line didn't mark the end ofGianforte's career, it did provide necessary perspective. AsGianforte cast about for his next opportunity, and then his next,knowing he had crossed this bar was liberating.

The same holds true as young upstarts take their Internetcompanies public and raise instant fortunes in the process. Whenquestioned about this phenomenon, Gianforte displays not a trace ofenvy. "When I see how many ruined lives and ruined familiesare coming out of the Silicon Valley, I can't help but thinkthat greed isn't the answer," he says. "When yoursense of self-worth is tied to your most recent stock price,you're in a very bad place."

"Individuals who find fulfillment measure themselves bytheir own yardsticks," observes Sinetar. "The more youcan say `This is my ball game. I play by my rules,' the happieryou'll be. Sophia Loren was once asked why she didn'tattend more parties. Her reply was, `The party is where I am.'That's the attitude you're looking for."

To the extent that satisfaction comes from attaining goals andmeasuring worth, taking stock can be a good thing. This is whyDallmann sits down periodically to determine the "value"of her business. "Every year I open the books and look ateverything I get out of my business--the money, the perks, theflexibility," she says. "Then I calculate what I wouldhave to make as an employee to replace what I get from my business.It would be very difficult to find an employer who [could give methat]. Even setting aside the [emotional rewards] of being anentrepreneur, I couldn't replace what I do with a job.That's satisfying, too. I know I have the best I can have forme."

Now What?

Of course, those words--"the best I can have"--areloaded with ambiguity. And perhaps the biggest coup among theentrepreneurs we spoke with was their ability to deal with theambiguities of success.

For instance, while BIZ Experiencess report feeling satisfied withtheir progress, they don't equate satisfaction with being"finished." Beth Cross, 41, co-founder with 38-year-oldPam Parker of Ariat International Inc., a San Carlos, California,maker of high-performance athletic footwear for equestrians,describes her seven-year BIZ Experiencesial experience as"incredibly fulfilling." At the same time, Crossacknowledges the fun has only just begun. "As you grow acompany, your goals become more ambitious and expansive," shesays. "We're already the fastest-growing company in ourindustry--by far. In five years, we're going to be the biggestas well."

Even the happiest success stories didn't come withoutfrustration, however. BIZ Experiencesship isn't just hard work;it's hard. "There are days when you have to put on yourmakeup three times because you've ruined it by crying,"laughs Shaw.

But even the daily challenges and rapid-fire demands of runninga business don't necessarily prove discouraging. "Youdefinitely have your challenges every day," Cross says."But it's the mindset of the typical BIZ Experiences to lookaround obstacles and move forward. You become such an intenseproblem-solver that problems don't have much significance. Andyou don't go home at night disappointed."

All this is consistent with Sinetar's view of theentrepreneurial personality. "These are people who like totest their talents," she says. "They like to ask: `Whatkind of mettle do I have? What can I accomplish?' BIZ Experiencessare constantly seeking a kind of stimulating advancement.They're always thinking about what's next."

The Money, Honey

Enjoying the process of growing a business--ambiguity,imperfections and all--is crucial to attaining satisfaction. If youdon't like a good, gritty challenge, BIZ Experiencesship isn'tfor you.

But embracing ambiguity also comes into play when the subject ismoney. In fact, money may be the cruelest yardstick of all.Dallmann sums it up precisely: "There are two sides to money.There's the money you need to survive--your bottom line. Andthen there's money as a mark of success. And on that side,there's a potential for never having enough. Any increase meansan increase in your level of success."

So where do you draw the line? Developing a healthy attitudetoward money is essential whether your business is floundering orflourishing--indeed, it can be most important in the midst of aboom. Todd Krizelman and Stephan Paternot, both 25, know a thing ortwo about the dual faces of fortune. As co-founders and co-CEOs oftheglobe.com, an online community with about 2.5 million members,they've built their business from a virtual zero five yearsago--sliding by with a $15,000 investment from friends and family,and by paying employees with pizza--to a hot commodity. Thepartners pulled off a successful initial public offering last year,enriching themselves and their investors by millions. Andindependent analysts project revenues of $20 million for thecompany this year, up from $5.5 million last year.

Krizelman and Paternot are hardly euphoric, however. "Weunderstand why people might hear our story and think we'reliving a fairy tale," says Paternot. "But from ourperspective, we've been working very, very hard. There havebeen a lot of miserable times when we didn't know what we weregoing to do. When you've gone through everything we've gonethrough, none of it seems like a fairy tale. An adventure, maybe--atough adventure."

"Certainly, we've made more money for ourselves, ourinvestors and our families than we expected we would," addsKrizelman. "But we're always battling to grow the company.When you have competition like we do, it's not enough to befiscally satisfied."

"We certainly can't say we've made a few dollarsand are ready to cash in," agrees Paternot.

Neither would most BIZ Experiencess, at age 20-something--perhapseven at any age. In an era of prosperity--and sometimes even greatwealth--money takes on a subtler significance. Clearly, businessisn't much fun without it. But even with lots of money,business is still business. It's about creating jobs,developing a team, producing a product and contributing to theworld. Or it'd better be. Because money is too volatile a thingto be the sole bearer of satisfaction.

With New Eyes

On the other hand, there's no denying it: People are makingmoney today. And it's naive to think that prosperitydoesn't color the way we view our achievements, for better orworse.

In the early 1990s, BIZ Experiencesship was a struggle, a contest.Economically, everything was. To declare success in such anenvironment was ungracious--and potentially deadly. Who would wantto do business with a braggart?

Today--whether from economic abundance, millennial fever or evenspiritual maturity--the very opposite view prevails. It's notbecause BIZ Experiencesship has changed. There are still the dailycrises, the endless hours, the sleepless worry. Growing a businessis no easier or more elegant than it ever was. It's only ourperspective that's changed.

These days, you can find Gianforte at his new venture, asoftware applications company called Right Now Technologies inBozeman, Montana. The company, which helps businesses developcustomer service functions for the Net, is in heavy growth mode. Todate, Gianforte estimates Right Now's annual sales are about $4million; he expects them to accelerate to $4 million per quarter inshort order. His work force has blossomed from one employee inMarch 1998 to 90 currently. The idea, says Gianforte, is for thecompany to generate a significant percentage of the 2,000 softwarejobs Gianforte plans to create in Bozeman during his career.

Gianforte works hard. But he keeps his business travel to justtwo or three days a month. And he tries to keep sight of theblessings in his life: rewarding work, a strong family, a sense ofpurpose and ample money. He's not the most successfulBIZ Experiences who's ever lived. But he's pretty happy, justthe same.

In the old way of thinking, humility meant acknowledging theshortfalls--the money you didn't make, the mistakes you shouldhave avoided, the dreams you had yet to achieve. Now it's thereverse. "My glass is half full," says Gianforte."My life isn't perfect, but I can only do what I can do.And I don't want for anything." And that seems more like astatement of gratitude than hubris. Yes, we are hoping and strivingfor more. But we also see what is here, now, and the great fortuneit represents.

"Like a lot of BIZ Experiencess, I used to be up all nightworrying about the opportunities I'd missed--the account mycompetitor got, the press opportunity I missed, the product I sawat a trade show that should have been mine. Finally, I came to therealization that it was like standing at the base of Niagara Falls,trying to drink all the water. It was impossible. Now I visualizemy job as standing at the top of the falls with a harpoon, waitingfor the biggest salmon to go by. I can't do everything. Ican't control it all. I can only do what I can do." -Greg Gianforte

"I teach small-business start-up classes, and I see a lotof people who have ideas but don't have the skills to start abusiness. My best advice is to go out and get the skills. Whenyou're working hard and not making any money, that's whenthe resentment and frustration come in. It's wonderful to haveyour own business--to be able to create your own destiny. Butwithout the money side of things in place, it's notrealistic--or fun." - Barbie Dallmann

"I started [my business] at 20 with no experience, scaredas hell. If I'd known [what it would be like], I would havesaid `No way.' It's like telling a kindergartner whathe's going to be facing in high school. It's enough to makeyou want to stay in kindergarten forever." - StephanPaternot

"Today I live an impossible future. When I started out, mylittle pea brain could not have imagined what I have now. It wouldhave said `You'll never have that, Deborah. Don't even wantit.' That's why--whatever the destination is in 10 or 15years--I know I can't imagine it now." - Deborah RosadoShaw

"[Entrepreneurs] are huge dreamers and brainstormers, butnone of that really gets you anywhere without some action on theback end. Inevitably, that means challenges, frustrations, brickwalls and humbling experiences along the way. But these arehealthy, because not only do they keep you centered, but they alsotend to be the times when you do some of your best thinking."- Tracy Porter

"No BIZ Experiences would [work this hard] unless [he or she]loved it. There's never a day when I look at my watch and say`It's 6:30--time to go.' When that day comes, I'll knowit's time to get out." - Todd Krizelman

Contact Sources

Ariat International Inc., 940 Commercial St., San Carlos,CA 94070, (800) 899-8141

the globe.com, 120 Broadway, 22nd Fl., New York, NY10271, http:www.theglobe.com

Happy Fingers Word Processing & Resume Service,barbiedall@mindspring.com,http://www.ibssn.com/happyfingers

Right Now Technologies, (406) 522-4200, http://www.rightnowtech.com

Sinetar & Associates, (707) 575-5555

Tracy Porter--The Home Collection, (920) 295-0142,debh@tracyporter.com

Umbrellas Plus LLC, 154 Rte. 206, Chester, NJ 07930,(908) 879-7450.