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5 Hidden Rewards of Running a Successful Business

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Ten years after I started my company Intrinium, the business was generating a consistent profit. I was able to pay off debts and was living comfortably. With a good amount of discretionary income, I couldn’t help but think, “What should I do with my money?”

When I started Intrinium and thought about what success would look like, all I could picture were material things: a million dollars in the bank, a big house on a hill, and a four-car garage filled with Ferraris. 

As I became able to afford some expensive things, I came to the realization that owning things doesn’t always make you happy, and owning too many things can make you very unhappy. The stuff you buy owns you, not the other way around. That’s not where your potential for real joy lies.

It’s hard to start and run a business. At times, you feel like yelling, “Why am I even bothering?!” For a long time, I didn’t know the answer to that question, but I finally figured it out. Success has huge rewards beyond the obvious ones and far beyond what you can imagine. 

#1: Set Your Own Schedule

One thing that success brought me is a lifestyle that lets me set my own schedule. How many hours I work is separate from how much revenue the business earns. 

Because my company is stable and has great leadership from my executive and management teams, I can say, “I’m going to spend next week in the mountains doing whatever the heck I want to do. Outside of driving into town to make a few calls, I’m not going to work.” I’m confident that when I come back to the office, I won’t be walking into chaos. 

Taking the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, instead of constantly laboring in your business, frees your mind to discover what else success can do. It allows you to improve your quality of life in many ways, but only if you take the initiative to do so.

#2: Meet People Who Interest You

Being a successful business owner gives you access to people you would never have met in any other position. I can pick up the phone and call the mayor or the CEO of one of the biggest consulting firms in town and they take my call. I can ask them to lunch and they accept. 

When you run a company, people notice. They see you differently. Sometimes they see you for the first time. These connections can present other opportunities, such as investing in other businesses and participating in charity events. 

You start to see yourself differently, too. That, in turn, empowers you to do more in the world than you ever could as an employee.

“Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow.” – Oprah

#3: Help Your Community, Your Industry, the World

The credibility you enjoy as a successful business owner empowers you to affect positive change. You can leverage your success for the good of yourself, your family, your colleagues and employees, your customers, your vendors, your community, and the world.

People who become successful have an obligation to show gratitude to the community and use their money for good. That includes helping out your family and friends in need, lifting up struggling businesses, donating to social or political causes, and giving your staff fair market wages and high-quality benefits.

Beyond mentoring, I don’t do a lot of hands-on charitable work at this point. Someday I’ll find the right cause to dedicate some time to, but for now, I’m happy to write checks for those causes I want to support.

Once you and I make the commitment to do more, and you’ve freed up the time, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities. Do whatever moves you the most. That’s one of the benefits of being a business owner.

#4: Lift Up Other Start-Ups

At a certain point in your career, you’ve gained skills and valuable experience that you can pass on to others just starting the journey. The credibility that came along with your success means they’ll listen to you. 

I consider it my responsibility to help out with business incubators and people who are working on their own start-ups. Because I’m earning enough in my business, I can afford to give this help on a pro-bono basis. 

In mastermind groups, I like to identify the members who are at the early stages of their business. Maybe they have ten people and a million dollars in revenue, but the revenue isn’t consistent, and they aren’t scaling. 

I ask these young business leaders about their mission, vision, and values. I also work with them on their long-term growth plan, always asking “What do you want to get out of this business?” To coach and support them, I give them my cell phone number and invite them to contact me with questions or to just bounce an idea off me.

#5: Support Your Staff

You can use your experience and power to help your employees realize their goals. A lot of employers have the idea that their staff members should work for them forever, and they take it personally when people move on. I don’t see things that way at all. When people leave your business and go on to do amazing things, that further defines your own success.

A few years after I started Intrinium, I hired a guy who went from being a part-time computer programmer to becoming the chief security officer for one of the best-ranked healthcare systems in the nation. That evolution came about because in the eight years he worked with us, we taught him everything we knew about security, risk management, and leadership.

A few years back, I received a $12.5-million offer for Intrinium. I turned it down because I was certain the would-be buyer planned to move the contracts to another firm and lay off my staff. That’s not what success looks like to me. It’s not a way to screw the very people who worked so hard to get the business to this point.

When you’ve achieved a consistent level of success, you’ll be faced with these kinds of ethical choices. When the time comes, what are you going to do? Are you going to take care of the people who took care of you? Or are you just going to cut and run? Something to think about.

Look for Ways to Give Back

If you’ve decided to start and grow your business, you’ve set out on a worthwhile journey. Remember, though, once you reach your definition of success, you didn’t get there by yourself. 

Your staff, your customers, your family, and your community contributed to where you are today. I hope you’ll consider it your moral responsibility to look for opportunities to show your gratitude. 

I’m not saying you have to give away all your wealth. But take really good care of the people in your life and your community. It’s the right thing to do. 

When I started my business in 2007, I never realized that someday I would have the money and the power to do what I can now do. You’ll never get as much joy out of counting the zeros on your bank statement as you will from helping people. It’s a terrific feeling—and truly one of the biggest rewards of running a successful business.

Nolan Garrett is the Founder and CEO of Intrinium, a firm dedicated to providing clients with comprehensive consulting and managed services in security solutions and information technology. Voted Best Place to Work Inland Northwest for three consecutive years, Intrinium has distinguished itself as a leader in IT solutions and workplace culture. Nolan is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and the Information Systems Security Association, among other organizations. With CIO and CISO experience and a background that includes multimillion-dollar cybersecurity transformations, Nolan provides specialized insight for businesses large and small in a variety of industries.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
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The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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