[TXSTYLE]

First, IMO, 'success' is a very: "individual phenomena".

Some count success with how much $$$ they have and or can accumulate. You can't take it with you so I find the "chasing of money" to be meaningless when all is said and done. That is NOT to say that having a certain amount (depending on your living environment/situation) of 'financial comfort' is evil or vain. But if it "rules your world and drive" then you're certainly missing the true meaning of life and will more than likely be in for a most troubling end.

For others... It can be Health and Family & Friends. And for others still: Peace and Spirituality.

With that being said... I personally have achieved a great level of success in how I gauge my 'success': Middle-aged and very happily married with 2 beautiful baby boys! I am quite healthy and fit. My wife is also very healthy. We have a beautiful home for the past 14yrs in a wonderful neighborhood. We belong to a loving and wonderful church family. We have many friends. We both enjoy our careers. We are financially comfortable with our home and one newer car (hers) as our only true debt. Money in the banks. But most of all, love, peace and contentment. Anything more in our world/life would simply be toppings on our desert.
Sure... To own a Exotic car, even bigger home, travel the world, would be nice or great even, but not necessary to say I am successful.

What say you...?

[Whostheboss]

I define success as: Getting what you want.

It is that simple. If you have an idea, a goal or a wish. If you can make it happen then you are successful. If i walk into a college class room on the first day and i say "i just need a fckking C- in this fckking course" and i get a C-, then i'm very successful.

[youngnastyman]

Many people associate success with the number of digits in their bank account and the accumulation of wealth. While I agree that financial stability is a major contributor in my definition of success, it's not the sole factor. I believe that success is being able to live comfortably, maybe even luxuriously, without having to wonder where the next paycheck is coming from or if it will be enough to make ends meet, while having the ability to engage in more fulfilling, healthy and life prolonging activities that don't involve your career or income.

For example, I have a friend who is an Internet Marketer and makes ~200K a year without ever leaving his house or working more than 3-4 hours a day. He takes home more money than most people in his peer group. He lives at home with his parents, never ever travels outside of the small town that he lives in, the closest thing he gets to dining out is fast food, and the smallest inconvenience or discomfort can set him off into having a bad time. He has become a hermit and very seldom leaves his home.

Does this make him more successful than someone that is making maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of his income but is out living their life and appreciating the things this world has to offer?

[davis449]

How I measure my own success (In order of importance):

Years without children: 32
Years NOT married: 32
Regular School Completed: Yes
Desired College Degrees Acquired: Yes
Make a decent living (money-wise) and stand on my own 2 feet without having to mooch of mommy and daddy: Yes
Drive something I love: Yes
Decent\enjoyable job in my career field: Yes
Find a girl that's cool with all of the above: Accomplished

Do I consider myself successful by my own standards? Yes.

[ShopVac]

Financially - I believe it's the ability to obtain what you want and not live paycheck to paycheck. I feel our family has hit this stage about 10 years ago.

Family wise - I believe success is getting your kids into adulthood without issues (dropping out of school, getting knocked up, drug abuse, that sort of thing). I've got a 16 year old daughter and a 15 year old son...both have been role models. I just hope it continues and both my kids can make the correct choices in life. I've got another 8 years to go before I can think that I've achieved this.

[TXSTYLE]

Nice responses guys. Good topic for discussion.

[UncleWede]

I don't "worry" about money, but I do have to pay attention. My family still likes to come to my house, and I still get invited to theirs. I'm 48 and can still referee U-19 boys, even if I have lost a step or three. My job is secure, even if the projects I have to work on are not. My two older boys are getting on with their lives, and the 15yo already has some college credits.

[UncleWede]

Oh, and I can afford to buy whatever cut of BACON I want!!!

[youngnastyman]

I have many leather bound books. And my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

[grimlock]

I define success as the ability to write in bold letters all the time.

[Nkc]

Oh nice, here comes the best part of OT. Troll groups unite.

[Monster335]

You all are just one big fucking successfuls

[MiddleAgedAl]

Time is a more important commodity than money. Money can come and go, time just goes. You can make more money next year, but nothing you do can grant you more than 365 24-hour days next year.

For me, success is about having control over that limited commodity.

Success would be getting up every day when my body tells me it's done sleeping, not when some alarm goes off so I can get to work by a certain time.
Success would be getting to choose how I spend that time once I'm at work, and getting to skip or delegate all projects or tasks that I dont enjoy, and more importantly, not having to work with people I dont like.

Warren Buffet was asked what would hurt the most if he lost all his wealth. He said he doesnt spend extravagantly, so taking away his "things" wouldnt bother him, especially at his age. He wouldnt mind having to still work every day, he even joked he'd be ok taking public transit to get there. The thing that would bother him the most would be losing the control to choose what projects to work on, and which people to surround himself with.

By that measure, I have yet to achieve success.

[Repoman]

Happiness is simply.....enjoying what I am doing and having the funds to make it happen.

[D_o_S]

There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way.

Unfortunately, some people misinterpret that and start thinking "Oh I want to be a millionaire on a yacht etc" and since I'm not, I'm not successful... Which is not the case... the quote rather says YOU should be YOU, not somebody else...

[persian54]

Being happy.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by D_o_S

There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way.

Unfortunately, some people misinterpret that and start thinking "Oh I want to be a millionaire on a yacht etc" and since I'm not, I'm not successful... Which is not the case... the quote rather says YOU should be YOU, not somebody else...

What if it just so happens that you love yachts and that requires tons of $$$?

Oh, we are back to square one.

[P1]

This sounds like it could be an exhausting thread with lots of long posts.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Oh, and I can afford to buy whatever cut of BACON I want!!!

I started to read this just to see who says bacon first.

[UncleWede]

WINNER!!!!

[upstatedoc]

[kevinbahnz]

when everything in your life is in order. Health, family and wealth.