Right on, man. Success should be defined wholistically, not by how big your house is, or how many cars you own. IMO, the middle class engineer who comes home to 3 beautiful kids and a hot wife is much more successful than the executive who's on his 3rd marriage with kids who have since disowned him.
I think success is unfairly defined by what other people think of you. As for me I pay my bills, love my wife a kids, live below my means and do something that I love. In terms of success most of my family thinks that I have been wasting my time all these years as a traveling jester with unattainable goals and pipe dreams. I find myself wanting to prove to them that I am successful as opposed to embracing my self worth and being satisfied with it. Am I successful? I think so. Do you think I'm successful? Probably not.
I bow to a master. I wanted to add that when I posted "yes" as my answer, and nothing else, I didn't intend to be condescending. There are a host of things that I haven't done, and thought I would have by the time I reached the 50+ years I wear around my neck like a millstone. When I look at my life as a whole, however, and think about what I have done, what I've been able to experience, the history I've witnessed, the loves I've had, the parents I was blessed with, the two children who excede every fantasy I had ever had when I pondered being a father, and the woman whose love and life I've shared for three decades now... I can only say yes. I've been luckier than I deserve.
Yes I am, and I'm not talking from a monetary perspective, although I do ok...I am blessed with 3 beautiful kids, a roof over my head and food on the table...In its simpliest form, I am very successful...I'm also beginning a new relationship and not sure where it will go, but I'm looking forward to the find out...
For what it is worth, I thnk you are extremely successful. Doing something you love, and making a living....priceless. Good for the sanity too. DD
Someone able to earn a living as a professional comedian? I would say that's extremely successful by most people's standards. Even if you aren't earning a CEO's salary, you're doing something much more interesting and probably that a lot of people would dream of doing.
Yes. I'm not rich, but I don't worry about money and rarely do I have to work long hours. I have a nice house, a wonderful wife, a golf course membership, several good friends and a bipolar puppy. I am content. I don't need more to enjoy life - but I would enjoy working 4 days a week instead of 3.
I feel successful, I've got two college degrees, I've traveled a lot and had many great experiences and met some really great people. Currently I'm just about broke, though I did just get my tax refund and I'm heading to Vegas this weekend. I don't own anything of real value though, no savings, or house, my car barely runs. But I live very cheaply, I don't own a stcik of furniture and other than school loans I have zero debt. So I can pick up and go anywhere I want without haveing to worry about caring for a wife or kid. Eventually I'd like the wife and kids but for now I'm content to just see and experience as much as posibble. I had a professor at UH that said success in life was defined as the same for everyone, I however could not disagree more. For some it'll be making tons of money and having prestige. For others it'll be a life of service helping others or fighting for a cause even if they end up dying alone and broke. Still others are content with just a simple job and family. Just be happy in whatever you do, if you're not change something.
Hey, I don't have all the answers. In life, I've failed as much as I've succeeded. But I love my wife. I love my life. And I wish you my kind of success -- Dickie Foxx, Jerry Maguire
