I always have multiple books on my nightstand. I usually have several business books going and try to make sure I always have at least one that is pure pleasure reading. I get a lot of pleasure out of reading business books and my pleasure reading usually teaches me a lesson about my business so it all blends together. I just finished reading Julia Child's My Life in France. I'm a foodie and so I was really interested to read Julia's first-hand account of the events that lead to her becoming the first celebrity chef in America. Today the Food Network has made many a saucepan swashbuckler into a star, but she was a true pioneer. She was a celebrity chef before there was such a thing. It struck me that her goal was never to be famous or wealthy, although she became both. Her goal was simple--"I wanted to make French cooking accessible to American housewives." She had fallen in love with French cuisine when she and her husband were stationed there after World War II and she wanted to share this joy with cooks (at that time predominantly "housewives") in her native country. She started with a mission to enrich the lives of others and in the process she was also enriched.

Guy Kawasaki, highly-regarded Apple Computer alum (he was one of the individuals responsible for the success of the Macintosh computer) and now venture capitalist, speaker and author writes in his book, The Art of the Start: "The causation of great organizations is the desire to make meaning. Having that desire doesn't guarantee that you'll succeed, but it does mean that if you fail, at least you failed doing something worthwhile."

<br/>As the new year gets fully underway, I encourage you to ask yourself what meaning you want to make through your business or in your job. Making a living is work and consumes energy. Making meaning may still be a lot of work, but it gives you energy and it gives a richness to your life that is far more enduring than any paper currency.

ps. If you have entrepreneurial aspirations, you must pick up Guy Kawasaki's book. You can learn more by visiting www.artofthestart.com.