Have you obtained success? What are your metrics for success? How difficult was your path?

[Der Eisbär]

I'd like to get an open and honest conversation going about success.

What do you guys think makes you successful? What are your own personal ideas on what that means? How difficult was your path to achieving your success?

If you're financially successful, how hard did you have to work at achieving what you have? Was it something you worked hard at every day? Did it just sort of fall into place?

For those of you that don't measure success financially, what do you consider success? Traveling frequently? A good life long partner?

 

[SheetsMMAfan]

My goal in life was always very low key and simple. I am not a dreamer and never thought I needed to be filthy rich. I would love to be a millionaire, but I am also pretty realistic. Here were my goals, both completed and work in progress:

Completed:
- Get married to someone who is exactly like me, but with tits and way cuter than myself
- Buy a house
- Have a kid
- Make 50k a year salary at a nice laid back company doing IT work
- Add a HUGE addition onto current house

Goals close to completion:
- Pay both vehicles off before kid goes to school (1 year on both vehicles, and 1 year until kid goes to school)

Goals ongoing and further down the road:
- Assist child in having the best life possible without handing her everything, and hopefully she grows into an amazing adult who helps people and has bigger ambitions than myself or my wife

I have completed most of my goals. I consider this a success for myself. I was the first person in my family to graduate high school. Seems like a stupid goal/comment right? No previous generation in my family, or current in my family but myself (2 bro's, 2 sis, SEVERAL aunts, uncles, etc) has completed high school. My cousins and I were the first ones to see something so simple through.

I was the first in my family, and I believe the majority (99%) of my cousins and such to go to school past a high school level.

These seem like simple tasks, but in the environment I grew up in, no one cared, tried, or had money to do ANYTHING. Did being poor make me set the bar super high, and strive to be a millionaire? Nope. I just wanted to, and still just want to, make it. If I have $4,000 a month in bills (groceries, electric, payments, etc) that need paid, then I need to make $4,000 a month. Plain and simple. Anything after that is extra money, and there was no such thing as extra money when I was growing up. Now we save that money, and after 14-15 years together, the wife and I actually can start taking vacations once a year, just in time for our daughter to start growing up with happy memories.

I consider my life a success to myself at the moment. I will consider my life a success much later, if my daughter gets raised correctly, and is a great human being. She does not need brought up as I was, and I will make damn sure it doesn't go that way.

I have no dreams of grandeur. I am a simple folk.

Incoming tons of people making 6 figures a year, etc, etc. I know I will "sound poor" when saying this, but money TRULY does not buy happiness. I am super happy, and SUPER grateful where I am at this point in life

 

[ucunc156]

Its a complete picture to me. Money isn't everything. But neither is a wholly selfish experience only based life. The major thing that determines success to me is if a person is happy. For me to be happy:

• Financially stable (you don't have to be rich, but you need to be able to afford to do the things you want as well as maintain your bills due to responsibilities (kids, house, etc).
• Good family and friends with interaction with them on a near daily basis.
• Enjoying good food (to me, life is too short to not enjoy something as central as good food. I'm overweight, and yeah I should be more active, but I'm not willing to give up good food.
• Getting to travel and vacation. I believe the world is such an incredible place, and its a damn near crime to live in your little corner of it.
• Helping people. I truly believe this makes you a happier person. Whether its financially or time/talent, I think making an impact in other peoples lives makes you a happier and better person.

As far as how I'm doing on this:

• I have a low stress job, making around 75k. No kids yet, but my house payment is under $900 a month so its pretty easy to meet my bills.
  
• I live 5 minutes away from my parents and married an awesome woman. I see my friends typically on weekends and visit my parents many times during the week.
• Thankfully the restaurant scene is growing here in Cincinnati, and I travel enough to make trying other food central to my vacations.
• As said above, I travel a lot more than most people I know and enjoy different cultures. I also do my own thing with ski trips that are more activity based rather than culture and tourist based.
• I donate to my church and always get gifts for charity during Christmas or put together dinners for needy families on thanksgiving. I should probably do more of this though.

Overall I'm pretty happy and not in want, so I consider that obtaining success. Sure at times I wish my life was different and that I had taken different paths (whether it being more of a wonderluster or more career focused), but overall I think I've got a pretty good balance.

 

[Der Eisbär]

My goal in life was always very low key and simple. I am not a dreamer and never thought I needed to be filthy rich. I would love to be a millionaire, but I am also pretty realistic. Here were my goals, both completed and work in progress:

Do you have any higher dreams/goals? You sound down to earth and pragmatic but certainly you have some higher dreams you'd like to tackle some day?

Completed:
- Get married to someone who is exactly like me, but with tits and way cuter than myself
- Buy a house
- Have a kid
- Make 50k a year salary at a nice laid back company doing IT work
- Add a HUGE addition onto current house

Goals close to completion:
- Pay both vehicles off before kid goes to school (1 year on both vehicles, and 1 year until kid goes to school)

Goals ongoing and further down the road:
- Assist child in having the best life possible without handing her everything, and hopefully she grows into an amazing adult who helps people and has bigger ambitions than myself or my wife

Right on man. How difficult was this for you to achieve? I know you said you graduated high school but did you go to college? Were you able to get a good salary without college? I'm only 24 and a paid for house and car, good woman and a kid sound pretty nice about now. Although I feel I can do without the kid for another 10 years but I wouldn't mind either way.

I have completed most of my goals. I consider this a success for myself. I was the first person in my family to graduate high school. Seems like a stupid goal/comment right? No previous generation in my family, or current in my family but myself (2 bro's, 2 sis, SEVERAL aunts, uncles, etc) has completed high school. My cousins and I were the first ones to see something so simple through.

That's pretty crazy. How come more from your family haven't completed high school? I barely tried and I completed it.

These seem like simple tasks, but in the environment I grew up in, no one cared, tried, or had money to do ANYTHING. Did being poor make me set the bar super high, and strive to be a millionaire? Nope. I just wanted to, and still just want to, make it. If I have $4,000 a month in bills (groceries, electric, payments, etc) that need paid, then I need to make $4,000 a month. Plain and simple. Anything after that is extra money, and there was no such thing as extra money when I was growing up. Now we save that money, and after 14-15 years together, the wife and I actually can start taking vacations once a year, just in time for our daughter to start growing up with happy memories.

That's excellent man. You're being humble, in today's day and age accomplishing those are not easy. I myself have big aspirations. I want to be constantly traveling. I want excitement. I want to see exotic places and people. I want a large house, maybe multiple, and nice cars.

I consider my life a success to myself at the moment. I will consider my life a success much later, if my daughter gets raised correctly, and is a great human being. She does not need brought up as I was, and I will make damn sure it doesn't go that way.

I would consider you a success as well. That's a great outlook you have.

I have no dreams of grandeur. I am a simple folk.

Incoming tons of people making 6 figures a year, etc, etc. I know I will "sound poor" when saying this, but money TRULY does not buy happiness. I am super happy, and SUPER grateful where I am at this point in life

I appreciate your thought out response man. Very well done. What would you like to do beyond raising your daughter? What will you do when she's out of the house and everything is paid off?

 

[EL CORINTHIAN]

I had a really tough life when I was younger and I was always kind of an under acheiver for the most part when it really mattered to build a future. At this point success to me is simply trying to achieve something. I have made a complete 360 in that department. In that way I'm ready at any moment to die and feel fine about it.

 

[Der Eisbär]

I had a really tough life when I was younger and I was always kind of an under acheiver for the most part when it really mattered to build a future. At this point success to me is simply trying to achieve something. I have made a complete 360 in that department. In that way I'm ready at any moment to die and feel fine about it.

What do you mean you've made a complete 360? As in you have achieved something or that you've given up on achieving something? Why are you ready to die?

 

[Plutoburn]

It's a process, those that are content and say they have made it, especially if they are not already age of 65+ are going too early.

1. Financial Freedom
It's not about how much money I am making/saving, but more about getting the necessities done and out of the way so I can focus on what's important to me. I want my life to be meaningful in a few different ways and having to work until my 60s get in the way of it. I want to retire when I turn 45 and am on my way to that goal right now.

2. Represent my family well.
Be a good and responsible husband and father, eventually grandfather.

3. Learn about myself and maximize my potential
I don't think as a kid I knew what I wanted, and when I get older I started to focus on either school or later on work and material distractions that I haven't tried to do enough things in life to know what I am good at or activities that I would really like. And this is why retiring early is important for me so that I'd have time to do this kind of thing.

4. Continuously having a positive impact/influence with those around me
Be there for my friends, be a mentor, etc...

5. Seeing the world
I am working on seeing as much of the world as I can.

 

[SheetsMMAfan]

Do you have any higher dreams/goals? You sound down to earth and pragmatic but certainly you have some higher dreams you'd like to tackle some day?

1 - Right on man. How difficult was this for you to achieve? I know you said you graduated high school but did you go to college? Were you able to get a good salary without college? I'm only 24 and a paid for house and car, good woman and a kid sound pretty nice about now. Although I feel I can do without the kid for another 10 years but I wouldn't mind either way.

2 - That's pretty crazy. How come more from your family haven't completed high school? I barely tried and I completed it.

That's excellent man. You're being humble, in today's day and age accomplishing those are not easy. I myself have big aspirations. I want to be constantly traveling. I want excitement. I want to see exotic places and people. I want a large house, maybe multiple, and nice cars.

I would consider you a success as well. That's a great outlook you have.

3 - I appreciate your thought out response man. Very well done. What would you like to do beyond raising your daughter? What will you do when she's out of the house and everything is paid off?

1 - Worked in construction for 10 years before deciding to go back to school. Went back for a year then went from making $20 and hour in construction with a house, wife and 2 cars, to making $15 an hour in IT. It was a rough 3-4 years in IT before I got on call and started making more (around $20 an hour) to get back to where I was comfortable. 5 years into that job, I moved on to this one after getting enough experience, and I am happy to settle with this awhile. It pays the bills.

Road was long and rough because I made it that way. I settled in my construction job, and excelled enough to keep getting nice raises, bonuses and new job titles. I didn't have any assistance to goto college right away, or I could have bypassed 10 years of killing my body, but who knows where I would be if those 10 years were gone. I am perfectly happy with how everything turned out.

2 - My family had a boat load of problems, and were very selfish people. They just wanted out, because men in my family would start working around 15-16 full time and settle for whatever they got money wise for the rest of their life. I just started at 18, fell into that rutt for 10 years, then had to pull myself out and get an actual career.

3 - Beyond raising my kid, and when everything is paid off? I don't like to set goals that far ahead and/or think about stuff like that. I don't like failing, being disappointed, or not achieving my goals, so I set them nice and low.

I guess I would also like to travel and get out of PA to see stuff, but I want my daughter to experience this as well. I am thinking in years to come, with vehicles being paid off and kid in school, we can probably set aside more money and time to travel and just kick back a little more.

I really like to keep stuff simple man. Everyday above ground, breathing, being able to work and having my wife and kid beside me, is a great fucking day

 

[mjmj]

I feel fairly successful. Bought the house I grew up in, that my dad built on the family farm, on my 25th birthday. Married a girl far too hot for me. We have two boys, 7 and almost 6. I make enough money that I don’t need to keep track of my bank account as long as I don’t get crazy. The only thing I’d change is that I’d love to have a job that I enjoy going to. My job is a means to an end, not something I really like to do.

 

[phipps66]

My goal has always been to live a comfortable life and raise a family.

I have been in a career I enjoy since 2005, married an ideal woman, (the ones they don't make anymore), bought a comfortable size house with a nice yard in a good town, and now she's pregnant with a baby due in June.

Our cars are paid off but will be buying a new one this month. I worry about time more than money now. I feel like that makes me successful.

I attribute my success to working hard, making sacrifices, and always keeping a positive attitude. All that stuff sounds cliche but I think most people who deem themselves successful would say those are very important things.

 

[SheetsMMAfan]

I feel fairly successful. Bought the house I grew up in, that my dad built on the family farm, on my 25th birthday. Married a girl far too hot for me. We have two boys, 7 and almost 6. I make enough money that I don’t need to keep track of my bank account as long as I don’t get crazy. The only thing I’d change is that I’d love to have a job that I enjoy going to. My job is a means to an end, not something I really like to do.

That's how I felt when I worked in construction. It was a job. It paid the bills. It took me 15 years out of school to finally find the job, that really, seems tailor made for me. The people here appreciate the shit outta me, and I work for some AWESOME people.

Seriously, I can finally sleep at night. For about 13-14 years, I couldn't get to sleep at nights. I would be up in bed thinking about job related shit for hours before sleeping. Now, my wife is SUPER pissed at me. When my head hits the pillow, I am fuckin' OUT.

I thought getting out of construction and into IT would change the sleep thing, but after 3 years in IT, I got a change of management that slowly made the job unbearable.

I truly hope you find a job you enjoy going to. It makes ALL the difference in my life right now. I am nicer to my wife, not as short tempered, and SUPER chill most of the time now.

 

[EL CORINTHIAN]

I had a really tough life when I was younger and I was always kind of an under acheiver for the most part when it really mattered to build a future. At this point success to me is simply trying to achieve something. I have made a complete 360 in that department. In that way I'm ready at any moment to die and feel fine about it.

It's too long of a story but basically I was a failure in school, had no future really, fat, destoryed my back ,depressed ect ect.

Now I'm in university with a scholarship (through a mature student program and tuition is free because my mother works there.), lost a lot of weight and look pretty good if I say so myself, fixed my back (it works up from time to time), have a girl that loves me, inherited a house, work as personal trainer. For every bad thing that happened to me an equally amazing thing happened later in life and I'm taking advantage of it.

In this process if i should die I would feel fine about it. I'm doing literally everything I can in my power and that's enough for me.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I've spent 20 years in the industry and finally make a real good living. Took 10 years to get to a level whereby we could get by if the wife didn't work. My current job is the best one I have ever had and I have a lot of potential for other types of management, including on the board of directors.

Thank you, Sherdog.

 

[Der Eisbär]

I've spent 20 years in the industry and finally make a real good living. Took 10 years to get to a level whereby we could get by if the wife didn't work. My current job is the best one I have ever had and I have a lot of potential for other types of management, including on the board of directors.

Thank you, Sherdog.

That's cool to hear CHL. What industry have you been in for 20 years? Did you hear the real cool hand luke passed recently here in Idaho?

 

[SheetsMMAfan]

I've spent 20 years in the industry and finally make a real good living. Took 10 years to get to a level whereby we could get by if the wife didn't work. My current job is the best one I have ever had and I have a lot of potential for other types of management, including on the board of directors.

Thank you, Sherdog.

One of my goals I failed to list, was getting it so my wife wouldn't have to work. Main thing about having a child, to me, is that I didnt want to pay someone else an astronomical amount of money to raise my kid for me.

We have it so my wife works one day a week and every other weekend, 2nd shift as an LPN in an old folks home LITERALLY a 5 minute walk away. She makes good money for what little she works, and our schedules sync enough that we dont need a babysitter. She is happy, I am happy. Would love to tell her to just stay home, but once the kid goes to school, she will be board as FUCK.

 

[mjmj]

Seriously, I can finally sleep at night. For about 13-14 years, I couldn't get to sleep at nights. I would be up in bed thinking about job related shit for hours before sleeping.
.

I know what you mean. There was a point in time I despised my job. I hated going to sleep because that meant waking up and going into work and dealing with bullshit all day. I actually did go to my bosses and tell them I was moving on some years back. Luckily, they understood and promised to make things better if I stuck around. They threw in a substantial raise too, so here I am. It’s not terrible, just not something I really care about. I spend most of my day thinking about things I need to get done on the farm, stuff I actually enjoy.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

That's cool to hear CHL. What industry have you been in for 20 years? Did you hear the real cool hand luke passed recently here in Idaho?

Ocean Transportation i.e. shipping.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

One of my goals I failed to list, was getting it so my wife wouldn't have to work. Main thing about having a child, to me, is that I didnt want to pay someone else an astronomical amount of money to raise my kid for me.

We have it so my wife works one day a week and every other weekend, 2nd shift as an LPN in an old folks home LITERALLY a 5 minute walk away. She makes good money for what little she works, and our schedules sync enough that we dont need a babysitter. She is happy, I am happy. Would love to tell her to just stay home, but once the kid goes to school, she will be board as FUCK.

I was the same way, her first daughter, my step-daughter, who was 5 when she and I married unfortunately had to deal with daycare up until 2nd grade.

We have 3 more kids now but I already know once the youngest, nearly 2, is in school full time, she will want to do something so not to get bored.

 

[Gutter Chris]

I got a woman im crazy about , a nice house and a job that im pretty fond of.

I dont know about what success means to other peoples but I feel like my lifes on track and im happy with it.

I dont think at 34 I am in a position to judge how successful I have been so far

 

[Toastytoy]

goals

make a lot of money
bang as many fly bitcxhes as possible

they are good goals because they are never finished