Success: is that measured in metric or imperial?

Anyone who knows me wouldn't use the words "passionate" and "driven" to describe me. Too often I just don't feel like accomplishing much. And I have this curious habit of not remembering what it is I wanted to do until it's too late to do it. Like, oh yeah, I was going to do such-and-such tonight, but now it's bed time. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

I'm trying to change that. So far this year, I completed my first real studio-type album. I'm pretty happy with it, and proud that I was able to accomplish it pretty much all on my own. The process was over two and a half years in the making, but I got it done. That means a lot to me. How many books sit unfinished on my shelf? How many ideas lay dusty in my skull? But I did feel driven to finish the album. I knew that I "had" to finish it. I expected great things once it was done. "Maybe I'll sell a million copies!" At least I was optimistic (so far the total is, um, 15 or so). But, it's enough for me that a few people like it and that I accomplished something.
I have other projects that I'm trying to start/ finish. I just bought some blank board books to make for the kids. I have a finished story about a monkey (my son) and another half finished one about a lion (my oldest daughter). I'm not sure what my youngest is yet, I'll have to give it some time. So, I'll finish these stories some time, illustrate them, put them together and give them to my kids. "Hey, maybe I'll sell a million copies!" Probably not.

But this raises a point for me. Why does something have to sell a million copies to justify it's production? Otherwise, it's a failure. The best things are probably limited in number. I was just reading an article about one of my favourite musicians, bill mallonee. His music is so great. His lyrics are deep... scouring the innermost parts for grains of truth and wisdom. The music is good, and his vocals are so personal and raw. Yet, he struggles to keep afloat financially. Is he a failure because his stuff doesn't sell? I don't think so. I'm glad he does what he does. It has blessed me.

If only a handful of people ever buy or receive a free copy of my album, that's good enough for me. If only my kids ever read the books I'm making for them, that's awesome. I also have another idea for a book of my musings on apologetics and such. If only a handful of people ever read it and find it useful to their faith and life, then I think that's more than I could ask for. I will have accomplished something simply by finishing what I started, and I'll probably be glad to have started it at all in the first place.
Consumerism is so enmeshed in us, that we are conditioned to equate success with numbers. Bigger is better... we always need more. But I don't want to buy it anymore. Perhaps less really is more after all. Sure, I'd like to sell a million copies... but whether I do or not doesn't make me successful as far as I'm concerned.