How Do You Measure Success??

[Mtn.Guy]

What is success, I'm sure it is different for eveyone. Is it material possesions, or that great job? I am asking because I think this is the center on my QLC.

[Lady Luck]

trying to figure that out myself... seems like everyone, regardless of income or status, has their own demons...

It all comes back to the same ambiguous 'follow your heart'.... perhaps the decision lies w/ the individual & not a clear cut right or wrong between the two.

I dunno..... its the blind leading the blind

[Lady Luck]

heres a wonderful link: http://www.fastcompany.com/online/66/mylife.html

read down a little & you will come to the part about money doesnt fund dreams, etc.

[Jacquikay]

about finding balance.

[TankgirlyC]

Success to me isnt a fat bank account but enough to not worry about bills and go out sometimes.

SUccess is fulfilling relationships of family and friends.

Success is always wanting a little bit more for yourself and never feeling that you have reached as far as you can.

Success is knowing you did your best and will always keep trying to do more.

[Mtn.Guy]

Great link LADY LUCK

[Lady Luck]

no problem- its just what I was looking for as well.

[TranquilSkye]

hmmm i only think of success in academic terms. the more degrees/certificates/licenses you have the more successful you are. yes of course there are people who never collect any of these things, but honestly i feel they are less successful. to me education is of the utmost importance.

[Lady Luck]

one does not need to possess a degree to have extensive knowledge in any given subject.

i.e. I have only a 12th-grade education but I have learned much much more since graduating high school than many others did. Although I cannot afford college (but I will go) I have been more successful than those who have done nothing to further themselves.

say what you will. I have taken it upon myself to not vegetate while I am penniless.

[crazy-girl]

I think this is an interesting topic. I think that society has one view of success but true success is probably far from that ideal.

I think generally in society, he with the most toys wins. If you make money, have a house, a fast car and a great career . . . you're considered a success. Bill Gates is a success, Oprah is a success, Martha Stewart is (sort of).

But I feel some days that it SHOULD be differently. That if I die at a very old age after a long healthy life and am surrounded by people who love me, whether I'm related to them or not . . . I'm a success. It should be judged by whether you can stand by each and every one of your actions and whether you can say at the end of the day "I'm proud of who I am".

That being said, I'd feel a hell of a lot more successful with a $30k income and some business cards.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I did everything by the book... right after high school I went to a four-year university (though it to me five years to finish). I focused on school... got decent grades and finished school at 22. I have a degree in the same field I work in, too. I got an internship the summer before my last year of college that turned into a full time position after graduation. I don't make tons of money, but I have saved enough to be financially stable. Supposedly I am 'successful' yet I don't feel like I am at all.

Yeah, education wise I would consider myself to be successful. But I've known many people who don't have college degrees and are very much successful too. And I'm not saying that they make tons of money either. Being successful just means different things to everyone. Some people may think being successful is to have a lot of money, drive a fancy car, and live in a huge house. I still don't consider myself to be successful all across the board. There does have to be balance. I haven't been successful in the 'dating' scene/relationship area. I have yet to be in any relationship at 24, and I haven't even dated at all. I can earn all the degrees I want in college - from bachelor degrees to masters and PhDs, but I still won't consider myself to be successful just because some piece of paper says I completed a degree. Anyone can get a degree if they just put their mind to it. But a relationship, a marriage, and a family are not guaranteed things and until those things become apart of my life, I don't think I'd feel success all around.

[hoffmak]

Success is different for anyone based on what people's core values are. . . some value education and want phd's, some desire only happiness, some want to make lots of money, some want to help people, etc. The trend of society is to say that money (material wealth, things, etc) is the only way to measure success, but it is really objective.

I view success as one day being as happy going to my job as coming home at the end of the day. I know several people that have this, and I am extremely jealous of it.

I think the ultimate success is finding out what you love to do and being able to do it. Regardless of the money or the status or the material things that it brings you, this is ultimately what I am seeking.

[TankgirlyC]

I have a 30K a year job...and my own business cards...I have a degre and a BF (who lives far away) I have a new car....

These things make me feel successful.....but guess what I still live with my parents! With that I dont feel I am on my own taking care of myself.....until that point I will not feel like I am partially successful.

[Jacquikay]

Same here..again. But I feel that I am making the "right choice" by living at home. Because when I buy my first income property I will be successful. I guess it's that whole..on the way to success feeling!

In the last few months I have become a HUGE fan of living at home until you can afford to buy. Is being successful throwing your money away on someone elses property ....soemthing you will never own (renting)??? I think that that is just ridiculous!
But don't get me wrong if it's unhealthy you do what you have to do!

[Lady Luck]

hmm... & here I am, w/ no job, no business cards, no school, no money, & living away from my parents. If anyone should feel unsuccessful, its ME.

[TankgirlyC]

I think renting is stupid as well. You keep paying like $800 a month and it doesnt go to own anything. Id rather be paying that to own a condo or home (even though I know doing that the monthly payments are cheaper)

I would be more of a fan living at home if I didnt feel like I was viewd as being 17. I have curfew, and Im never spoken to as an adult....my BF cant come over....if my parents let me live there and treated me as an equal adult...I would be fine being there.

[hoffmak]

TankgirlC

I wish I had the option of living with my parents to help save some money and prepare myself to go back to school. They have even offered, but they live in a rural area 30 miles from the nearest town of any size, so I wouldn't have tremendous job opportunities. Just think of it as a way of getting out of debt, or preparing yourself for moving out on your own. Life is expensive, and renting is kind of a waste of money (or at least I think so).

[SmilesSoSweet]

I agree that renting is a waste of money, yet I do rent an apartment. It's pretty much like leasing a car... you don't own it, yet you're paying for it. If I lived with my parents, then the commute to and from work would be a pain! I did commute for a few months and it was just taking a toll on me. I also wanted to be able to do whatever I want whenever I want to. And if I did live at home with my parents, I know I'd always here the questions: "Where are you going? Why? It's already late!"...etc, etc, etc.

I do want to own my own place one day. I don't have enough money for a down payment for a house or condo yet. I want to be able to put a bigger down payment than take out a bigger loan. I have managed to save at least 10% of my year's worth of income and I think within a couple years I'll be able to afford my own place. With the exception of my student loan - which I have been able to make more than one payment a month - I don't have any debts. Credit cards, car loans, I don't have any. Thank goodness!

Success can't happen over night. I have to just accept the fact that it'll take time for me to accomplish and achieve the things that I feel will make me completely successful.

[TankgirlyC]

The commute from my parents house to work is 10 minutes and if Im going to move Im going to move more than just a town over.

Second..I know even if I lived in my own place my life would be similarly lived....go to work, go home, sleep go to work go home sleep etcetcetc...the ONLY thing that would change would be that my BF could sleep over...so for $800 a month its not worth it (also thats $800 WITH roomies and not including utilities)

I have a new car.....so I have payments on that....
And about leasing...honest sometimes its a good way to go...you pretty much get a new car every 3 years...you trade yours in (if you keep it in good condition you get a good turnover) and then you get a new car....not so bad. BUT Im buying mine on the 3 year plan.

I have many questions from my parents..but since I dont go out much anyway....they cant really ask me much since Im sitting in the house.

Also I forgot to mention earlier that success is also measured by your friends. Since Im lacking those....its another reason why I dont feel that Im successful.

[Lady Luck]

*no friends either*

I knew when I stopped doing my events I would lose my social contacts- I just didn't think it would be this soon. I dropped the news Sun evening.... I have already went from having 20+ emails (not topic reply notifications) per day to like 2 or 3.

You'd think ppl I was working w/ would be concerned about me b/c the decision was not made lightly, though it was made out of desperation- I knew that if I kept on doing events I will never have time to go to school even making money w/ events. Now I have plenty of time & no income.. Ive gone from being stressed about one thing to another.

[asukat]

Reading the msgs below made me feel a bit less depressed than before as tonight is my first night posting anything on the boards. It is good to hear people have similar problems.
I graduated with the right degree and from my university's honors college only to arrive at my current dead end job. I started to work endless hours, and in the interim pushed the majority of the people around me away, which has left me with virtually no social life. My closest friends live in different states and are now all engaged, while I feel that I am locked into being single forever! Furthermore, I don't know if to make myself
feel successful if I should just go back to school or find another
job. I have found renting is a bad deal, bit I don't know if I am at the point where I should consolidate my loan between a house/condo and my vehicle or just get to grad school - I am getting a bit worried that I would be paying back loans for the
rest of my life if I did all three!
I believe the main thing that I have learned is that while success needs to be earned, one has to figure out how to define success for themselves whether it be education, money, family, or just frankly surviving.... problem is I don't know what my definition is, which is becoming increasingly frustrating.

[Gregarious]

It something I'm continually searching for, only to find, then lose, then find again.

Before I entered college, I thought it was money.
Then I moved out, was forced to live simply and scale back my lifestlye, and found that money wasn't the key to happiness.

If you ask me, it has to do with:

Being content with what you have.
Fulfilling your relationships with friends and family.
Letting go of regret.
Following your "inner voice" and being yourself.
Taking risks - they make life worth living.
Having fun - on YOUR terms - no one elses.