when "it's never enough."

Last week, I was listening to an episode of the That Sounds Fun podcast with Annie F. Downs from a couple months ago. She had Tim Schurrer on to talk about his book, The Secret Society of Success (which I haven’t read but have sitting in my Amazon cart). I loved their conversation and the way he emphasized the importance of recognizing and serving other people. I don’t often hear people talk about leadership and success through the lens of genuine humility the way he did.

At one point in their conversation, Tim pointed out how people often chase down “success,” only to find that it is never enough. It reminded me of the songwriter I used to nanny for, who told me that once upon a time, he defined success as winning a Grammy – until he won a Grammy and was plagued with the thought that this can’t be it. To Tim’s point, rather than continuing to set the bar even higher, it’s important to consider your definition of success and why you’ve landed there.

The truth about “never enough,” Annie said, had been a gift to learn as a business owner. Her company is intentional to not hinge success on the numbers – of followers, of listeners, of dollars – because they know no amount will ever be enough, no matter how high they go. Tim agreed. Our definition of success, he said, is what shapes our behavior and how we show up. That’s why it’s important to know what that bar of success is for us. When we’re reaching for something in particular, we make everyday choices that naturally support our progress in that direction.

Tim went on to share practical pieces of wisdom and insightful stories that help us define success in a way that works best for us, but I hit pause for a moment, feeling the weight of what wasn’t being said. As both of them heavily emphasized that nothing would ever be enough, I couldn’t help but think about how they were leaving out the truth that brings relief to such a heavy reality. Jesus is enough. Which might sound too cliche, or like a Jesus juke, but it’s actually the truest thing I know. In the midst of a conversation about how things will never fully satisfy us and how to figure out the workaround, I wanted to climb inside the internet and make it clear to anyone listening: Jesus, and only Jesus, can fill all those empty spaces you feel.

I’m not against the practical advice Tim shares. In fact, what he talks about is exactly what can be seen in the life of Jesus and that’s why it works. On the podcast, he chose to talk about other humans who have modeled this well, but doesn’t mention the One who shows us the way. And the thing that gets me – the reason I hit pause on the podcast – is how I’m not just noticing it in this conversation. In many conversations between people who know Jesus, including some of my own, He is left out.

In a self-help culture obsessed with creating “how-to” guides, we almost always miss the point. We want to know how to get where we want to go, but no one wants to talk about the truth that what we really want can only be found in Jesus, and He is the only one who can help us get there. We were made by Him and for Him, and we can only be satisfied in Him. Yes – let’s talk about what that practically looks like on a Tuesday. Let’s talk about what it requires of us. Let’s talk about what success and greatness and life to the full can look like. But let’s not skip the beginning. Let’s first start at the very top. With Jesus – the Name above all names; the beginning and the end; the way, the truth, and the life. It’s all about Him – so let’s not forget to invite Him in. Because otherwise, it’s just never going to be enough.