Are you successful?

[dks]

Are you successful? Are you happy with what you have achieved? Do others agree with your opinion on how successful you are?

To explain this more, for commonwealth members, you may be happy with what you have and feel successful with your life, family, belongings, friends, but outsiders /observers may think that you have not fulfilled your potential, that you have wasted your life and so on -you just do not care about their opinion. (e.g. happy to be someones employee when you could have started your own company).

Or, you may be the envy of people with your achievements, but you may not feel satisfied with what you have achieved (e.g. not as good as your father)

[Mr. Whippy]

I can't vote in this one; it's too vague.

Professionally?  Very successful.  No one would question that.

Personally? There are a couple things that really bother me.  More and more over time.  Both of my kids are very successful professionally, but we get to see them so seldom, I feel like somehow this isn't how I had hoped things to be. 

Then I look around at people who are professionally not doing very well, but they have their family around all the time.  I'm not sure which of us has things right.

[magentus]

I feel successful within my own terms, don't really care what anyone else thinks.Met and married my soul mate - still very happy after over 20 years, still pleased to see her every time she walks in the room, we have a beautiful, engaging and intelligent 19 year old daughter and we spend a lot of time all together in a pokey flat and have a lot of fun.

Work wise, neither of us has reached our potential, and instead of being cash rich we have prioritised time spent together - I think you can't ever get that back whereas money is just money. It seems difficult to achieve both.

[Poncho65]

I feel a lot like Mags I feel my life is going in the right direction and am very satisfied in that direction  I too have found my soul mate and it will be 15 of marriage next month we a little redheaded 8 year old girl who is more like me than I care to admit sometimes but we all get along rather well I work a good ways from home (2 hours) but I am home every night and I try and vacation and go on small trips throughout the year with them as much as I can afford to. It seems that is where we make the best family memories I also feel I do well in my job and enjoy it even after this many years I try and prioritize as well as I can but everyone makes mistake but so is life Overall I am happy which translates to successful to me

[LoopCutter]

I can't vote in this one; it's too vague.

Agree, success is totally a vague and is different for each person.

Happy is very similar.   

Had consuming career for 35 years, involved a lot of time in exchange for $s, yet had time for family and each member when required and not. 

In love with my bride who I made a promise to 5/3/1975, have 4 children, 8 grand, and 3 live within a couple miles and one lives 10 miles away. 

They are responsible and have expressed appreciation for what we provided.   

And now with all out and about I trade my time for a paycheck that requires time away from home 4 nights each week till I decide to retire. 

Weekends are good





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[Bensasupertool]

Everyday above ground is a success. 

[dks]

The question is intentionally vaque, as the reply will depend on what each individual thinks. I could have just asked "are you at the top of your field" but that would have been a different type of question... Maybe next time.

[magentus]

I swear you're mining this data for a book dks - make us all look like weirdo's.............

[dks]

When I do research I use google forms as it gets the data ready for the analysis

[Poncho65]

I swear you're mining this data for a book dks - make us all look like weirdo's.............

Yeah dks I don't need help to do that No wait
 that didn't come out right

 

[Ron Who]

I don't think I'm succesful in the money making way. But I'm happy with my life, my family and friends, my job and so on. (Most of the time).

Once I was a competent and creative programmer, and made a lot of money. Now I'm living a more relaxed life as a gardener.

[kirk13]

I swear you're mining this data for a book dks - make us all look like weirdo's.............

And that's difficult how?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm 42, borderline handicapped, overweight and unemployed.

Yeah, I got it all going on.... 

Def

[ironraven]

40, up to my eyes in college debt, crap job that doesn't pay enough to do any continuing ed after paying rent and older college loans, diabetic, and my biggest piece of furniture is a small gun safe. The chance of me ever owning my own home is the same as me winning the lottery- the former would be predicated on the latter. 

Yeah..... I'm living the American dream.

[Old Boy]

Everyday above ground is a success.

Well, I'm reading a lot of great responses. But someone nailed it right on the head in my opinion. I say this because pre-cancer I was all about the money, career, and family. In that order.
Now I'm more focused on trying to be a good husband, father, and a man. It's all about the time you have left and what you do with it. You know what I mean?
So in that light, yes I am successful. I have a wonderful life with a wonderful family and friends. I'm not happy everyday, but I am happy in my own way.

[Aloha]

I've successfully survived 3 near death experiences. 

[glenfiddich1983]

I'm happy with my life as it is. Happy with family and friends. I am fortunate to have a job that has a very good balance between income and spare time. I earn enough to do the things we want on the short term and save for the things we want on a longer term.

When it comes to money my philosophy is simply: enough is enough. In my field of work I could earn a lot more than what I do, but that would inevitably come with a price i'm not willing to pay: my spare time.

[magentus]

I've successfully survived 3 near death experiences.

You can't just leave it at that Aloha!  I'd love to hear more.

[Don Pablo]

I've successfully survived 3 near death experiences.

You can't just leave it at that Aloha!  I'd love to hear more.

Right now I'm imagining shark tanks and killer lasers.   

[magentus]

I've successfully survived 3 near death experiences.

You can't just leave it at that Aloha!  I'd love to hear more.

Right now I'm imagining shark tanks and killer lasers.   

Knowing Aloha it's jealous husbands and international assassins 

[Chako]

I will say highly successful. I have achieved all of my life goals so far. I am in a gainful and highly rewarding career...working at my dream job for the past 16 years now. My job affords me plenty of free time, with all holidays and a guaranteed July and August off every year. The best part, is that every day is different, and every semester affords different courses to teach...allowing me the grace to never be bored with my job.

Mind you, it wasn't always like this.

I struggled in elementary school. At the time, I didn't know I was bored with the whole school thing, and I was immature enough to not know how to handle this. I got in a lot of trouble up to grade 6. In fact, I was so bad I lied to the special education teacher in order to be taken out of boring class to the resource room. I lied to the special education teacher and school board psychologist during the testings they did on me to keep me in resource class. One day, I was off my game and aced the test placed in front of me and then she realized I had been conning her all this time. I cringe whenever I look back at those days as it caused nothing but pain for myself and my parents. Happily, i had a wonderful teacher in grade 6 who changed things around for me (and I changed things around for myself)

My mother had a debilitating stroke when I was in high school that left her paralyzed on the left side. My father needed a lot of help to take care of her, which I did. I never regretted that, but it also meant I couldn't go out with friends, or date girls.

I lost my parent's before joining this forum. When I cleaned my father's room out, I found a neat little collection and decided to collect multi-tools in his memory.Was I self medicating myself...possibly, but the rewards far outweigh any negatives as I have gained plenty of online friends, a new interest, etc... Time does diminish if not heal some wounds....and I am in a far better place these days.

I have also found my soul mate 3 years going now. This was the big missing piece for me. I now feel complete and a whole lot happier. Prior to this, I did feel somewhat empty.

So there you have it. These days, the good times are a rolling.

[lister]

One word: Meh.

 

[pfrsantos]

I just have one thing to say to you, dks, old boy...

Show content

[Aloha]

Success.  If you are a father or mother its certainly the relationship you have with your kid/s.  The meaningful relationships you have with family and friends.  If you have a significant other whom you hold dear to you.

Its how those people view you IMO that make you successful. 

I wear a scar on my neck thats reminds me how quickly life can be taken from you.  How terribly fragile it is.     

I have never missed one day of my 3 kids first day of school.  I have never missed one day of any school function.  I was home at night making dinner and eating with them. 

My life is not at its end to call any of it a success just yet.   

       

[Aloha]

I'm 42, borderline handicapped, overweight and unemployed.

Yeah, I got it all going on.... 

Def

Its interesting the idea of success for many is directly related to money.  I'm not saying that you feel that way but its typically so.  I've always seen success as what you give not what you receive.  I also see it as what you earn but not money wise. 

You sir have given a great many of us a wonderful place to gather.  You have also given us a place where we've met and conversed with others we now call friend.  You have created a place where generosity has flourished.  Because of your idea to create this place a great many have come here to find a bit of peace in hectic days.

You have not sold out which say a lot about your character.  You have treated us all as equal rather than subjects like other forums I'm told. 

I'd say in terms of how I see success,  you have achieved it. 

   

[Syph007]

I'm 42, borderline handicapped, overweight and unemployed.

Yeah, I got it all going on.... 

Def

Its interesting the idea of success for many is directly related to money.  I'm not saying that you feel that way but its typically so.  I've always seen success as what you give not what you receive.  I also see it as what you earn but not money wise. 

You sir have given a great many of us a wonderful place to gather.  You have also given us a place where we've met and conversed with others we now call friend.  You have created a place where generosity has flourished.  Because of your idea to create this place a great many have come here to find a bit of peace in hectic days.

You have not sold out which say a lot about your character.  You have treated us all as equal rather than subjects like other forums I'm told. 

I'd say in terms of how I see success,  you have achieved it. 

   

In my 30s success was for sure money related.  I job hopped in the tech sector to anything that paid more.  Now Im 44 and success is about freedom.  Time is more valuable to me now than money.  I pay my bills by making things I love and on a timeline I choose.  I like to tell people I make about half what I did in the rat race, but am about 5x happier. 

[pfrsantos]

I'm 42, borderline handicapped, overweight and unemployed.

Yeah, I got it all going on.... 

Def

Its interesting the idea of success for many is directly related to money.  I'm not saying that you feel that way but its typically so.  I've always seen success as what you give not what you receive.  I also see it as what you earn but not money wise. 

You sir have given a great many of us a wonderful place to gather.  You have also given us a place where we've met and conversed with others we now call friend.  You have created a place where generosity has flourished.  Because of your idea to create this place a great many have come here to find a bit of peace in hectic days.

You have not sold out which say a lot about your character.  You have treated us all as equal rather than subjects like other forums I'm told. 

I'd say in terms of how I see success,  you have achieved it. 

   

+1

 

Nothing more to say.

Close thread, move on.

NEXT!

[Aloha]

I've been ( lucky ) to have very wealthy clients.  Lucky in that I've got to see and hear their ideas on what success is to them.  Over the years in talking with many on personal subjects like money and career I've come to ( some ) ideas on what success means to me thru these conversatinos. 

Last week I was at a clients home.  I usually look forward to this guy in particular.  He's very successful in terms of career and money.  He's reached to top of his field and had the income to show for it.  He's also helped a great many along the way.  He's charitable and generous with his time.  He's got a great wife and wonderful ( successful ) kids.  I mean what else can you ask for?

Sadly he's no longer with us, he passed away.  I am not ashamed to tell you all I shed a great many tears when his wife told me.  What a dear man to so many.  His smile and laughter, his zeal for life, his passion for people. 

If money were a marker for success then shall we count those who inherited theirs? 
If career were then shall we count those who station in life afforded them all the schooling and privilege? 

I'm not judging nor am I saying what IS success.  I'm merely saying what I see as one marker for it. 

This client probably touched more lives that even he knows.  His selflessness is in my eyes what is make him tremendously successful in his time here.

   

[David Bowen]

I wouldn't say I'm successful,  I'm adequately happy in regards to employment. I struggled with school and stuff due to some learning disabilities and bad stuttering. They said ADD,  I had a much higher IQ than other kids my age but the abovementioned things caused problems. After graduating I starting working at a mom and pop grocery store for 7 years,  got married and moved to Georgia and started working at Winn-Dixie. I ended up working in grocery for 20 years and recently left being a store Manger of one location.  Being on beck and call 24-7 and having no personal life sucked. Upper management was out to fire me because I'm not a team player so to speak and I quit and now work for God Wireless as a wireless consultant.  I'm married with two kids and am the happiest I've been in a long time.  Money isn't as good as my last job but way less stressful.  They've already tried to give me my own wireless store 3 times in the last year but I'm not ready to be back in management yet.  I've overcome and endured a lot of things in my life.  I've lost loved ones and overcome issues regarding my self image because of my stuttering. I've come easy further in my employment than my peers thought of me.  Do I wish I could have done better?  I would have gone to college and I would be an archeologist or maybe something like network communications. Didn't expect to take the path I did but it's mine and I'm happy with my accomplishment,  after all its defined and molded me into who I am today.

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[Grant Lamontagne]

Knowing a bit more about you than than most folks here Dave, I would say that the fact that you are still here and standing after everything that has happened to you is absolute proof that you have nothing to be ashamed of.  And, I've spoken to you on the phone, and I can honestly say that while you may stutter sometimes, it's well worth the wait to hear what you have to say.

And it's not that bad- if folks figure that's a reason not to listen to you, that's their loss, not yours. 

I'm proud to know you man.

Def