Success in life...

[Johnny Rockets]

This was one of my issues in my career.

I grew up in super rural NC. Lots of things I might enjoy were just unknown to me. Now I have dug myself into a career that I really don't enjoy I'm afraid its way to late to start over (kid, bills, time).

In the same boat my friend and totally get that. I sit at a desk crunching numbers all day...am I the type of person that should be doing that? Hell no! I need to be out with the people damn it!!!!! I plan on changing it all though and it's been a thought that has been consuming me more and more. I just haven't figured out how or what yet but I am about to....I can sense it. I do know that nothing will change unless I do something about it though.

[Bronn]

I think you have to define success. What some people see as a successful life, others can look at and say it was a failure.

[Kurb]

Let's see...

-Born right before USSR fall appart.

-Barely escapted Chernobyl

-Lived through civil war

-Lost many friends and relatives

-Lived through massive economic colapse

-Came with my parents to US... spoke no english and we had no money (I had 5 t-shirts and 2 pairs of shorts and 1 pair of shoes for almost a 4 months)

-Finished high school with 2.02 combined GPA mostly due massive suspensions I got for fighting (Did not took poo from bullies)

-Went to CPCC for a year

-Finished UNCC with triple major and 3.4 combined GPA

-Currently working as a financial analyst

I start trying to do something with my life after high school... you can clearly see how it effected my life.

I consider my self lucky and I believe it's a privelage of where I am and what I have.

You should write a memoirs

[Zod]

or porn scripts

[thefuzz]

I grew up pretty poor compared to US standards, but not really where I came from (rural/farming area) and swore that I would not stay there, or continue to be poor/worried/broke after bills.

I took a terrible job, but was rubbing elbows with all 6 figure earners. I gained their trust, and worked my ass off at a job that most would have quit the moment a big company gave them a cubicle and 2 weeks paid vacation. I didn't, and stuck with it.

Met the bosses, always dressed nice, and hung out with people that I really would have not preferred to. Call it what you will, but if you don't go have beers with the boss because your $15 per hour buds want to go eat wings you will always be making $15 an hour.

I work weekends, holidays, and long hours sometimes, but am putting together a resume for the next 15 years, not the next paycheck. I want a bigger boat, a condo in the Islands, and a home on the water in Wilmington. I also want to be able to "help" my parents financially since they are in a position that they will not always be able to help themselves.

I could go on and on, but in my opinion luck was not why I am where I am today, it took me always being "on" and always "working" even when I am off work.

[Davidson Deac II]

Is greatness in life (you define) given or achieved?

Definition of success in life.

To crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

[88 Bronco]

I have a good life that I worked very hard to have the good luck I have had. I knocked up my high school sweet heart and I had a marriage license before a high school diploma. I worked as an auto mechanic for a few years until I realized that it was better as a hobby than a profession. I joined the military and did that until I got tired of watching my daughter grow up in pictures. The first job I landed when I got out was assembly work. I hated that job the most and took a hell of a pay cut to leave there.I left the military and took a job with the county. I am happy were I'm at for now, but I am 9 months out from getting my bachelors.

I am not living in the 100,000+ tax bracket, but I have a nice house, a couple of good vehicles, some awesome dogs, a few cool gadgets, a loving wife who supports all of the stupid stuff I do and and amazing daughter.

To sum up the wall of text, I don't stay places I hate or that don't work for me just because of a pay check. You spend a huge portion of your life getting ready for, heading to, being at, and leaving work. Why make it worse than what it already is? I have always provided for my family, but I always made plans to leave the jobs I hated.

[Hawk]

screw success! By who's definition is anyone supposed to try to measure their own success?

Make yourself happy...it's never too late, so don't even start that bullshit with me. I firmly believe you only get one kick at this cat called life...you can live it, or you can sit around and wait for it to end.

Yes, we all have responsibilities and those might limit what we can realistically do, but if you want it....make it happen!!!

[pir8fan05]

I wouldn't even know where to start.

A good starting point for your "rebirth" would be some tang.

[pstall]

A few things. Success to me is defined by what you value. Is it a bunch of letter's after your name? Commas and zeroes in your bank account? Helping others?

For me it's just being loved and remembered and being able to inspire and challenge others to see things differently and to soak up every nano second of life.

I have frustrated many a teacher and boss because of my carefree ways yet always seem to be a step or two ahead of everyone else while joking along the way.

Kurb what you have to do is have an anchor in terms of work and income and find what you are passionate about. Get into your arena of what your passions are and excel. Never do those things to get rich but it satifies and challenges you to your core of your being.

My prob is there are so many things I'm passionate about and love and can't always wrap my arms and mind around. But that's cool.

[Squirrel]

Screw success enjoy the journey.

[KendrickPanther]

That article about the "rich" and the "average" was interesting. But to me you either are successful or you are not. There is no faking it. Dr. Phil isn't going to shout "GET WITH THE PROGRAM" in your face and fix all of your problems. You can work harder or smarter and find a higher level of comfort in life. But you're not gonna go from an hourly job to millionaire in your mid 30s.

It comes down to what you value I suppose. Like the article says, I see money as a necessary evil. Things like family and football are more important to me. Certainly rich people have families too but I don't feel like having money enhances your family.

[Ja Rhule]

Screw success enjoy the journey.

Amen brotha.

[bigjohn]

If you enjoy what you do for a living, make enough money to somewhat satisfy your wants, have a good family life (or enjoyable single life), you're successful. I'd also throw in there if you make someone else's life better, that's definitely successful.

To me the key is to find something you love and figure out a way to make a living at it. There is some luck involved sometimes, true enough. I'm lucky enough to teach at a great high school, and have had pretty awesome coworkers (and sometimes great principals). I've been there 18 years, teach the courses I like, am a club sponsor to an award winning club that has gotten my students a ton of recognition, and I coach basketball.

I've busted my ass trying to do a good job, and I've won just about every award possible in my field (at the high school teaching level), and my students generally like me and do well. I've had many former students come back and thank me, and I'm friends with quite a few of them.

I have a great wife and friends and all that jazz.

So while I'm far from being as financially successful as many others, I'd say I'm successful in a far more important way.