Androgom "My perspective on success has changed. I used to think that success meant achieving a number of goals related to a career. For instance, when I was a teen, I decided that I wanted to become a biologist in order to contribute towards the efforts to preserve and protect the natural environments of the planet. After all, I am from the generation that established Earth Day, helped to promote the efforts to clean up pollution, and enact Federal legislation (like the Endangered Species Act) in the 1970's.

I was able to get a B.S. degree in aquatic biology and eventually, I became a fish and wildlife biologist working for the Federal government. I considered myself successful when I achieved that. (Note: I never equated success to the amount of money that I made.)

After working over 20 years as a technician and a biologist, I realized 3 things: 1) Politics always took precedence over science and it was very difficult to make progress on environmental issues when the politics "clashed" with the science; 2) Due in part to #1 above, a growing feeling of hopelessness, and a gradual depletion of inspiration, I realized that I was not getting anything out of my career anymore (i.e., no positive outcomes); and 3) I was spending so much time on my career that I was neglecting my social life.
I eventually realized that part of the reason that I lost my inspiration was because of the fact that I did not have a special female companion. So I quit my job and began the search for a special woman (as well as an easier occupation).

Today, I have to tell you that my attitude towards success has changed completely as my priorities have changed. I now believe that having a kind, considerate, passionate lady friend is a strong measure of success-- if not the ultimate measure of success-- because I have found that a companion who will support you, love you, and give you encouragement and inspiration is more important than anything else in the world no matter what I strive to accomplish.

In the past, I sacrificed my social life to try to make the world a better place when I had the energy and the exuberance of youth. Now that I am a bit older, I am much more interested in my own self interests such as finding a special lady that I can call my one true love. Much like the young men and women who go off to fight a war for their country, I "wasted" my best years on a noble purpose-- only to find, in the end, that I was all alone without the support of a loving wife and (dare I say it) a family.

I used to think that I was strong and invulnerable, but now I realize that I am nothing (except very lonely) without a female friend/companion and the comfort and security that she would bring to my life."

Iwrk2mch "For me there are so many forms of success. I have been very successful in many aspects of my life and very unsuccessful in others. I have a job that I love, a home of my own, I have a wonderful, caring son (who I raised on my own), two beautiful grandkids, a caring family, and several friends who are as close as family - these are my successes.

But I have not been so successful in love and relationships - I have become so independent that it is difficult for me to trust, to share, and to give up some of that independence to another person.

I may not have met the right someone who will balance my life - but I am open to that adventure and hopefully then I will also be successful in love sometime in the future.

I have met a few very good friends here on FF. and maybe one of those friendships will grow into something more beautiful, then I will feel complete, balanced, and ultimately successful in love."

Technotrkr “Success to me means accomplishing my goals. For the moment, yes, I am successful. I still have many more to accomplish. I’ve got a few biggies that I’m still working on. And my minor goals are always being added to and accomplished. They are nothing that will ever earn me a plaque or national recognition, but they mean something to me. For anyone else, try asking yourself what were your goals in the past? Did you get them accomplished? After that, you got another set of goals and desires. It will always be an ongoing achievement.

A best friend, his dad, and my-self were sitting at a table for an outdoor café. My friend noticed the size of the Powerball Lotto, and the two of us commented that we could be content with that. My friend’s dad said that he didn’t need that much money and that he only wanted enough. The trick question is: How much is enough? My friend and I both fell for it. My friend’s dad said he didn’t know…when he finally has enough houses in enough states and countries with enough furniture, antique cars, and planes to get to all of them….he would let us know when he had enough.
So I think the real question is, how much is enough for you to become content with your life?"

Pete_xx "My answer to your question would be that I feel success occurs when you achieve what it is you set out to do. And even if you only achieve part of your dreams or goals, I would still see that as a degree of success. Workwise, I feel I have been successful in becoming, and working as an electrician for eight years, but I’d like to push the boundary further to achieve more. There are other areas in which I’d like to grow: personally, success for me would be to fall in love with a wonderful woman, get married and have children. That is my dream."