What does it mean to be "successful"? (income, employment, definition)

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by CorporateCowboy

It tends not to matter to those who don't have it i.e. a form of denial; yet, those same people will continuously attempt to drag down those who do have it. Why would that be necessary, if it truly didn't matter?

The reality is, money isn't a dirty word - and we all need it to survive. Hence the (obvious) reason 'success' is so often associated with it.

Good points.

[Electrician4you]

To me it means I can go out and buy something without worry. I can keep a roof over my family, food on the table clothes on their back, fill up my car, pay my bills, take care of my pets, live a life that I not stressed about most things. I don’t need to work 60 or 70 hours a week to make ends meet.
Ultimately to me it means that I’m able to provide my family a life where they are not stressed how they will make ends meet. Were not slaves to banks or my work. I work because I like what I do. But I can easily retire and be perfectly happy

[Charlotteborn]

I would say Paul is the only one who is successful. IMO success is defined by the individual. If you are happy with your life and are not financially dependent on anyone else you are successful.

[NewbieHere]

It means not having to say you’re sorry.

[M3Guy]

Originally Posted by EDS_

Your opening stanza is silly.

LOL agreed

[Huckleberry3911948]

Passing up your boss who thought you were worthless?

[M3Guy]

Not having to work a 9-5 job to live life.

[mathjak107]

having enough money to make the choices in life we want . not having choices can suck ... i grew up that way

[skeddy]

not having enough money makes it impossible to be successful in many areas.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by CorporateCowboy

It tends not to matter to those who don't have it i.e. a form of denial; yet, those same people will continuously attempt to drag down those who do have it. Why would that be necessary, if it truly didn't matter?

The reality is, money isn't a dirty word - and we all need it to survive. Hence the (obvious) reason 'success' is so often associated with it.

Under the heading you've laid out very nicely, I wanted to revisit your post.

Scattershooting:
A. The whole, "my kids are on their own for college" ethos is most of the time a backhanded admission that the parents have set aside nothing. It seems to me a lot of the anti-higher-education legions are closely tied.

B. Most poeople who are broke or feel like they've underachieved financially hit life without a plan. They are passive actors in their own lives.

One of my favorite examples of someone doing it right. A nephew-by-marriage lost his mom and dad less than a year apart when he was a HS jr. Long story short he borrowed his way through Oklahoma State Institute of Technology's (part of Oklahoma State University) associates degree for high voltage linemen. And he took some lower division OSU courses like Englsih and whatnot at that same time. The yield is this kid just turned 26 and was recently promoted to journeyman status.....the net says that means he's making ~$75-$85K and the lives in a very low COL areas. He's erased all of his debt and he's tracking to be finished with his BS degree next Spring. That's doing it right.

______________________

COVID has changed the rubric for sure but before that we lived in the greatest wealth building economy the world has ever seen. People left out fall into to groups....a small group who literally are/were not able to participate and a much, much larger group who simply don't/didn't. It seems to me life in The US is so easy many people have lost the abity to scramble with an eye on the long term.


Sorry for the typos.....