Ever since I read that article I can't stop thinking about what I think it means to be successful. If you would have asked me a few years ago I would have said good job, own house, car, savings and disposable income.
However, at this point in my life, I don't own a house or car (and have no intention/can't afford a £1M 1br flat to buy in my neighborhood), so I don't know where that leaves me. I totally admit that I'm not challenged by my job, but I enjoy it because it gives me so much personal time back. Whereas before I was challenged by my job, but I had very limited personal time.
So yeah, I guess this rambling is to say that I still don't know what it means to be successful and because of that I don't know if I am.
Success means different things to different people. For me I have done well with my career, I haven't always liked my job but it has given me a tremendous amount. Both financially and non. Financially I have been able to pay off my student loans, purchase a car, put 20% down on 3 different home purchases, be secure in our plans for retirement. Non financially I have been able to live overseas and travel the world, I am respected at work (at least I pretend that I am), I have met some amazing people and made lasting friendships.
I don't think that I've made it but I am happy with where I am in life and what I have accomplished.
I think I'm successful. I'm in a job I love. I'm content with my life right now. We are able to travel and do a bunch of fun things.
This is my personal definition of successful. I am not there Job that I love, find personally rewarding. Financially able to easily do what we want within reason and not struggle to save in order to be able to take a vacation.
I have my Master's, I work in a job I love (though I don't think you have to love your job to be successful, more like tolerate). H and I are financially stable, decently funded retirement, we own a home, we can do what we want within reason (and since we are both cheap as hell it isn't hard to stay within reason lol). We are also very content. We don't have this need for the next best thing or the shiniest newest thing so we are better off financially and maybe emotionally lol than some of our friends who make more money than us but are always broke somehow.
I think I am on my way to being successful. I would like to live comfortably, buy a home and be able to do fun things. I will consider myself successful then. I think we will be there in a few years. I just started at a great company that is going to give me a wonderful place to grow.
i feel i am successful financially, but only through marriage. Im not where i feel i should be in my own career wise, but i love my job and don't really feel very ambitious. Overall I could not ask for more and feel extremely grateful for what I have and low level of stress i have in life.
I have my Master's, I work in a job I love (though I don't think you have to love your job to be successful, more like tolerate). H and I are financially stable, decently funded retirement, we own a home, we can do what we want within reason (and since we are both cheap as hell it isn't hard to stay within reason lol). We are also very content. We don't have this need for the next best thing or the shiniest newest thing so we are better off financially and maybe emotionally lol than some of our friends who make more money than us but are always broke somehow.
This is basically where I'm at. I don't want for anything (well, partly bc I'm cheap) and don't have to stress about money at this point. I have a loving family and am generally content with my life. So I think that means I'm successful.