[SabrinaDent]

Generally on HN I think the working definition of a "successful" startup is "you're making buckets of money, you have instant geek cred, TechCrunch is your bitch and Google is on the phone." The number of glamorous startups that attain this is statistically small. Most profitable startups settle into being "lifestyle businesses" and get no glory at all. Personally, I think that level of success is under-rated; there's a lot to be said to owning your own shop, getting to do something you love and love to grow every day, and supporting your family with your sweat equity.

[ahoyhere]

I absolutely agree. To which I'd add: what you described as under-rated doesn't even have to be the limit for "outsiders" who don't aspire to the HN ideal.

37Signals is, by the definition of HNers, a lifestyle business… and they're absolutely rolling in money and prestige.

Personally, I think we should rebrand "lifestyle business" as "profitable business."