Defining "Success". . .

U

untamed

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Jan 7, 2003
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(This isn't a poll and no judgment on one's thoughts. I'd like it to be open-ended and personal).

I put out this question; how do you define or earmark success? By extension, do you consider yourself successful?

Coming at it from almost every angle, we have certain indicators of success: for biology, producing many offspring in the animal kingdom seems to be the thrust. The buck with the largest and most complicated set of horns is more successful in mating with a female to thus produce offspring or like with the weaver bird with the most well-made nest. Certain fishes and fireflies go for males with the brightest colors.

Anthropologically, the norm puts wealth or great financial endowment or goods/possesions and able to gain the various service/s or loyalty from others is referred to as "successful".

But then on a personal level, is it the achievement we've come to realize? The life partner/mate? The legacy of what we leave behind? The career?

Share your thoughts folks!
 
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"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded."

The quote is often cited as being by Raph Waldo Emerson.

This was on a plaque given to my Grandfather by his employer, Hal Bartlett. Mr Bartlett was a movie director from the late 40's through the early 80's. My Grandfather was his head groundskeeper.

I never met Mr. Bartlett, but I recall my Mother saying how kind he was, not your stereotypical holywood type. Whenever he introduced my Grandfather (Pete) to someone, he always would refer to him as "my friend, Pete." He never referred to him as his employee, and never talked down to him.

Maybe I'll spill this over to the Grandfather thread. :)
 
As i see it a true measure of success is the impact you have on the lives of others. I use my 83 year old mother as an example. After her mother was killed in 1935 her life was not easy. Growing up we had little but she gave everything to her 5 children and any other child that need a place. She encouraged us to explore and learn and she passed on her passion for nature and animals. i am her only child without an advanced degree. She will have no money to leave but she has 18 grandchildren and will have over 40 great grandchildren.

I give my wife the credit for the success in my life. I have worked hard and allowed her to stay at home do what she does best ,raise children. This has paid off big time. We have 7 daughters all but 2 of them are adopted . We now have 11 grandchildren.
For the last 28 years I have been a sculptor. I would have been able to accomplish more as an artist if I did not have a family. As I see it there could be no fame or wealth that could compare to what I have now.
 
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success."
Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best.
 
To be happy. That's all that matters. It doesn't matter if its having a high flying career and big car, or living in a VW camper van with no money that makes you happy, as long as you're happy.
 
i will consider myself successful if i live my life really enjoying everything around me.

i see too many people that groan everyday when they get up to go to work, that groan when their mother calls to have them over for dinner, that sigh when its time to take the dog for a walk...etc.

i don't want to do that. i want to really enjoy my life. it can be a difficult thing to do when you have to pay bills and put food on the table, but having a really positive attitude (which can also be a difficult thing to do sometimes) makes it easier to see the bright side in things, and love life.

that sounds really sappy, but i don't really care if someone remembers me or if i die rich...i'm living my life for me and for those i care for right now, and you can't take money to the grave.
 
Success is looking in the mirror every morning and being on good terms with the person looking back at you.
 
To the afflicted, success is measured in ways we may never understand. Count your blessings no matter what you have or have not achieved in life.
 
Looking at the world around me I'd have to repeat what I read (somewhere):
Success is moving happily from one failure to the next.

On a more personal level I'll quote Shakespeare:
"Poor and content is rich enough."
 
My thanks for all the folks that have participated in this simple attempt to gather some random thoughts.

We can not deny that there are material or tangible indicators of success in our society. It is these benchmarks that we are, in a way, measured. However we hold certain aspects of great importance above these conventions because in the end they seem to satisfy the fundamental feeling of fulfillment.

Myself? I've managed to enjoy my peers' respect and who seem to enjoy my company, as well as loved ones who manage to be with me thru the ups and downs. This to me is success on a level comparable with the material/tangible or popular notion of success. To this end, I consider myself successful.
 
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i got some strange looks from my old friends when i told them
when they asked me which one of my friends i thought was the most successful
i pointed out the guy who was happily married with 2 kids and had a stable career

this from the card carrying knife knut, would you believe it
 
Being able to put a roof over my kids heads, feed them every day,have a hammock in my back yard with my healer waiting for me to wake up and play, a good wife and squeeze in the occasional fishing trip. Lastly (should be first), to show my kids to love of god and get them all to heaven with my wife and I. Give me that and I'm happy.
JP
 
Internal Peace.

Happiness is fleeting, family, things, money, are all temporal, but when I feel peace in my life regardless of the situation, I know that I'm exactly where I need to be.
 
jasonp said:
Being able to put a roof over my kids heads, feed them every day,have a hammock in my back yard with my healer waiting for me to wake up and play, a good wife and squeeze in the occasional fishing trip. Lastly (should be first), to show my kids to love of god and get them all to heaven with my wife and I. Give me that and I'm happy.
JP
Click to expand...

Well said.
 
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