Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

Success - your definition, philosophical discussion


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Success - your definition, philosophical discussion Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 4:30:27 PM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		Greetings A/all,
 
 
A bit of a philosophical discussion for a Sunday evening.
 
What is your definition of success?

Is it material, emotional, physical?
 
Does it mean meeting your needs and fulfilling your wants?

Does success require a certain amount of sacrifice?
 
And finally, what if you do not attain the level of success you want, will you be able to find satisfaction or even happiness?
 
(Please be civil and leave the partisan bickering out of this discussion or you will be tarred and feathered!)

_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 4:36:06 PM   
candystripper


Posts: 3486
Joined: 11/1/2005
Status: offline 		Well, my definition has changed over the years.  I'd say it was pretty close to instant gratification in college...sheperding a new generation while married....winning a case while working...and now?  Finding a sense of harmony in my life and the well being of those I love.
 
Nothing worth having can be had without sacrifice, IMO.
 
candystripper 

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 5:13:58 PM   
TheHeretic


Posts: 19100
Joined: 3/25/2007
From: California, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

what if you do not attain the level of success you want, will you be able to find satisfaction or even happiness?
 




          Success is achieving a desired goal or set of goals.  Every example will be completely personal.

          For myself, being a happy and satisfied sort of person is a major goal, so success is impossible without those things.  Even if I don't succeed completely (and the task is far from done), I will be better for having climbed as far as I can.

_____________________________

If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have such an inflated sense of self-importance.


(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 5:26:53 PM   
slaveboyforyou


Posts: 3607
Joined: 1/6/2005
From: Arkansas, U.S.A.
Status: offline 		I'm a day at a time type of person, so if I had a good day I consider that success.  Don't get me wrong, I have plans and dreams.  But I don't worry about what will become of them next month, next year, or 10 years from now.  I just put things into motion, then I deal with them from day to day.  I find it the best, most hassle free, satisfying way to live. 

(in reply to TheHeretic)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 5:36:09 PM   
NeedToUseYou


Posts: 2297
Joined: 12/24/2005
From: None of your business
Status: offline 		My current definition of sucess, is to work a system of freeing myself from the chains of financial servitude that require me to be in one place. I really want to travel more and more, and don't want to wait until I'm 50 or 60 to do it, and the requirement is not to work for anyone either.

Anyway, I've started building little niche websites, starting a month ago. I'm up to 200.00 / month after the first month. Yeah, pathetic, but we are talking 1 website to, that is now, done except for maintenance. I'm working on website 2. Hopefully can finish that in a few weeks, and mimic the same 200/ month. Rinse repeat, for a year, then I'll just travel, maintain them, and expand from different locations of my choice.

Anyway, success, to me went from making a lot of money, to now being free to go and work whenever I want, and wherever I want for okay money. Freedom of movement versus amassing wealth.  Hopefully, the first site wasn't a glitch.

I registered it on June 30th, and didn't even get indexed at all until July 4th, and still squeezed 200.00 out of it (ads,1 affiliate programs), so that is pretty encouraging at least by my initial standards which I wanted it to make about a 100.00 a month.

So, I'm happy with my progress, thus far.


(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 7:05:02 PM   
celticlord2112


Posts: 5732
Status: offline
quote:

What is your definition of success?

Living my life, my way, with apologies to no one.

Or, to quote Cyrano de Bergerac:
"I stand, not high it may be, but alone!"


_____________________________



(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 7:53:42 PM   
NuevaVida


Posts: 6707
Joined: 8/5/2008
Status: offline 		My Dad's family was very prestigious.  It was extremely important to his parents to have money, things, and respect.  They taught their offspring that without such things, they would not be successful, and would not have their parents' pride....or love, actually.

My Dad graduated from Anapolis as a Naval Officer and served time on a submarine, and went on to embark on a "prestigious" career.  Somewhere along the line, though, as he and his beautiful wife had child after child (5), he realized he didn't want to miss out on family dinners, little league, school padgents, etc...and he decided to take a pass on promotions that would have him traveling more than he would be home, and "settle" for a local position that would keep him mostly at home.

He still did well.  I grew up in a large home in a nice suburban neighborhood, and we were fed well, dressed well, and had nice things.  His mother called him lazy for not climbing further up the ladder.

Two weeks before he died, I was sitting with him at his bed in one of our amazing conversations (there were several of these in his final months).  He told me of a lecture he had gone to, early in his career, in which the speaker talked about being successful as a father and husband, having raised children who were loving and intelligent and motivated, and who gave him great pride.  My Dad realized that's what he wanted.

He ended our conversation with tears in his eyes, and said, "I sit here, as an old man, and I look at my beautiful children, and my heart overflows with so much love and pride, and I feel so fulfilled and satisfied. And I realize I accomplished exactly what I wanted - I am indeed a successful man."

It was the best definition of success I think I've ever heard.

Now as for me - I have no offspring of my own.  But I can be successful by living my life to the best of my ability, and by touching those around me - my family, my friends, and even unknown others.  I don't measure success by way of careers or money or things.  I measure success by what footprint we leave on this earth, and how far out the ripples we create reach.  Money is just money.  Human heart and spirit are everything.

_____________________________

Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.



(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 8:06:47 PM   
Owner59


Posts: 17033
Joined: 3/14/2006
From: Dirty Jersey
Status: offline 		 
Close family,friends and lovers and time to be with them.And dogs.....

Everything else is superfluous.

< Message edited by Owner59 -- 8/10/2008 8:13:51 PM >

_____________________________

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

President Obama

(in reply to NuevaVida)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 8:07:58 PM   
Leatherist


Posts: 5149
Joined: 12/11/2007
Status: offline 		To leave a positive legacy in you wake-rather than just a large pile of fertilzer-topped with a corpse.

_____________________________

My shop is currently segueing into production mode.

I'm not taking custom orders.

(in reply to Owner59)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 8:11:35 PM   
Owner59


Posts: 17033
Joined: 3/14/2006
From: Dirty Jersey
Status: offline 		That was great!

_____________________________

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

President Obama

(in reply to Leatherist)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 8:46:38 PM   
CallaFirestormBW


Posts: 3651
Joined: 6/29/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

Greetings A/all,
 
 
A bit of a philosophical discussion for a Sunday evening.
 
What is your definition of success?

Is it material, emotional, physical?
 
Does it mean meeting your needs and fulfilling your wants?

Does success require a certain amount of sacrifice?
 
And finally, what if you do not attain the level of success you want, will you be able to find satisfaction or even happiness?
 
(Please be civil and leave the partisan bickering out of this discussion or you will be tarred and feathered!)


For me, I see myself as already -being- successful, at least on the terms that are important to me. I have a relationship that is healthy and where communication flows freely and smoothly, even when the things we're talking about are challenging and hard -- We can laugh, and just enjoy being around one another... and although it is a relationship that is not sexual, it is every bit as intimate, sensual, affectionate, and intellectually/spiritually energizing as I could ask for. Even on our bad days, we're good.

I am happy with the person that I am. I have faced my demons and watched them evaporate. I have released my 'victimhood' and found joy and creativity. I am insatiably curious, so I am rarely bored.

I have a job where my skills are respected, even though I am what many consider "strange" -- and my colleagues enjoy my company and work well with me, despite their discomfort on a philosophical level with many of the things that they know that I represent.

I have -work- (outside of my job) that is constantly innovative, creative, demanding, and brings me new insights with each creation that I complete.

I have three amazing adults and one -almost adult- whom I have had the utter joy of watching grow, experience, learn, dream, fall, cry, and get right back up to face the world again. I am so proud of them -- I and my Darling gave them life -- but they did something -with- it!

I have plans -- but am completely capable of (and sometimes even enjoy) throwing my plans to the wind for something spontaneous and exhilarating.

In terms of material things, I don't have a lot -- we don't buy... we've chosen to rent a small apartment in our favorite section of town... it has genuine wood floors and a genuine enamel bathtub (I really dislike those plastic ones!), and we only have 25 other units around a central courtyard where we have a small community garden and all of our neighbors come down to shoot the shit. Everyone gets along -- there are only rare arguments, and the occasional (joyfully) drunk friend plunking out tunes and singing very loudly on the deck... but how peeved can you get at that? Sure, it's absolutely tiny, and very old -- but it has character, and is filled with joy, and because of that, it is -perfect- for us. We could afford newer and fancier -- but every time we've looked, we've come home and fallen into our comfortable spots with the comment that it is -good- to be home.

I have more books than you can shake a stick at -- probably close to 1000 now. Yes, they take up a lot of room in our small place, but I wouldn't trade them for anything -- I love being able to curl up with a treatise or tale, new or oft-read, and follow the journey.

In terms of my fetish life, I know what I am and what I enjoy. I have had some incredible experiences, and learned more about myself than I could have any other way -- only because, for me, my BDSM life has been like the pressure of the Earth on a piece of coal -- it has been hot, intense, demanding, relentless... and I have become more myself -- more clear, with a greater self-value AND the vision to recognize the value in others, through the pressures and demands of my fetish life.

I am already successful in every way that matters, and I am joyful and hopeful about every day, glad to wake up breathing yet again. When it is all gone, and I breathe for the last time, I have no fear about what will come after, because I know where I fit in the Universe -- and I know that it is exactly where I need to be, and when I am no more, I know that all of the unique perspectives that I have gathered will find their way to the common awareness of the Universe, and all that exists will have something new to share, speculate over, and enjoy because of the experiences that my quarks carry on... and I know that any awareness that I have when I return to Communion will revel in the bazillions of experiences collected during the time when my perceptions were focused here.

Calla Firestorm

_____________________________

***
Said to me recently: "Look, I know you're the "voice of reason"... but dammit, I LIKE being unreasonable!!!!"

"Your mind is more interested in the challenge of becoming than the challenge of doing." Jon Benson, Bodybuilder/Trainer

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 9:10:36 PM   
Paulnz


Posts: 411
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval


 
What is your definition of success?

Is it material, emotional, physical?
 



I see success as being all three to some degree. A level of material success  is necessary to afford the kinds of wants the physical and emotional self demands. Someone who is active and involved will generally - IMHO - be a more emotionally stable person, and hence more likely to see themselves as successful. Of the three, money comes first though, as if you haven't got a pot to piss in, there isn't as much wriggle room left to do what you want to do.


(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 9:32:28 PM   
Maxwell67


Posts: 435
Joined: 6/29/2008
Status: offline 		What is your definition of success?

Is it material, emotional, physical?  How does metahysical grab you?
 
Does it mean meeting your needs and fulfilling your wants?  It involves being who I am in the right time and place and doing the thing that needs to be done.  Generally I do things (or direct them to be done) the way I think they should be done.  It is far more about an overall vision than specific goals.  In my experience, nothing ever goes according to plan.  It is how you adapt to the circumstances that counts.

Does success require a certain amount of sacrifice?   Oh yes.
 
And finally, what if you do not attain the level of success you want, will you be able to find satisfaction or even happiness?  I subcribe to a concept popularized by Dr. Joseph Campbell, called the "path to bliss"  As long as I can keep myself on the path, however it should wind about, then I am successful.  It is all about the journey, not the destination.


(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 11:25:53 PM   
batshalom


Posts: 1990
Joined: 9/17/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

What is your definition of success?

 
The only idea I have about a definition is the completion of my PhD and obtaining a job in my field of study.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval
 
Does it mean meeting your needs and fulfilling your wants?

 
Insofar as it means I have reached my educational goals and am working in a field that fascinates and thrills me.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

Does success require a certain amount of sacrifice?
 

In my case, lots, from a variety of perspectives.
 
quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval
 
And finally, what if you do not attain the level of success you want, will you be able to find satisfaction or even happiness?


I would hope so, although it would be a bitter pill to not reach my goal. I left a high-paying career to follow this dream, and have changed my life and the lives of my children. It would take a LOT to deter me from achieving my goal, and I would fight for it to the last. People are adapatable, however, and so I would simply go in another direction if I were forced to.

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/10/2008 11:41:47 PM   
TheUtopian


Posts: 259
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

Greetings A/all,
 
 
A bit of a philosophical discussion for a Sunday evening.
 
What is your definition of success?

Is it material, emotional, physical?
 
Does it mean meeting your needs and fulfilling your wants?

Does success require a certain amount of sacrifice?
 
And finally, what if you do not attain the level of success you want, will you be able to find satisfaction or even happiness?
 
(Please be civil and leave the partisan bickering out of this discussion or you will be tarred and feathered!)



Success is a state of mind that comes to be through the achievement of a desired outcome....




- R



_____________________________

Vae Victus! - Woe to the conquered....

My tears are the cure for cancer - I sweat testosterone, bleed black, and piss excellence.

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/11/2008 4:44:12 AM   
christine1


Posts: 6155
Joined: 12/15/2007
From: i'm headed to HIM...
Status: offline 		for me it's accomplishing goals and working on them.  it's family, friends...being happy and content with where you are "today" whether or not you've accomplished all your goals or not, i think as long as your working on them but can still focus on the here and now and not put all your thoughts into "oh, when i've done X i'll finally be happy and successful", kind of thinking then that's half the battle.  at least for me it is.

_____________________________

i am woman! er, godzilla! hear me roar!

http://wavcentral.com/cgi-bin/log/log.cgi?id=2856&sound=/sounds/movies/godzilla/roar.mp3


He's the "boom" overwhelming...

He is my Master, my lover, my best friend my everything.

(in reply to TheUtopian)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/11/2008 6:53:40 AM   
UR2Badored


Posts: 506
Joined: 2/3/2007
Status: offline 		[In the end]
"I believe that you measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you."   Quote from a Morgan Freeman line in The Bucket List

< Message edited by UR2Badored -- 8/11/2008 6:56:12 AM >

_____________________________

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way
Mark Twain

(in reply to christine1)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/11/2008 7:31:09 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		ill try.

it is being at peace with your future and your past.

being finacially level.

hitting a balance on material items.

OWNING your day- owning your time.

no intense addictions.

no court dates.

it means being able to function.

it means outsmarting technology.   the auto debit is automatic. yet- try and leave a webpage- and it asks if you are sure you want to leave....  so leaving needs to be confirmed but not parting with ones hard earned cash....

(in reply to UR2Badored)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/11/2008 7:40:25 AM   
Mercnbeth


Posts: 11766
Status: offline
~ Fast Reply ~
 
I consider myself successful because I've found a confident, complimentary, compatible partner to share whatever life experiences came our way. I obtained my life goal of having a person who I can give to, and get from, trust without prejudice. The only way I'll ever know failure is if she isn't with me; and since I've ordered her not to die before me, I'm confident I'll never experience failure again. I'm confident and content in my relationship. Whatever occurs, whatever assets lost or taken away, whatever social or society change; my success won't be affected.

I've had a lot of money and 'things', had no money and nothing; currently we're comfortable. My life is a success. I'm happy and I'm in love; both emotions that I had mislabeled and wrongly defined before knowing beth.

It is odd for me to define my success outside of myself, outside of my control. Actually it was the subject of some Sunday morning bed chat. As we lay naked, tight in each other arms, the thought of either of us living without the other was scary, generating tears in both us.
Success = Confident and Content in my relationship.


< Message edited by Mercnbeth -- 8/11/2008 8:15:47 AM >

(in reply to UR2Badored)
Profile   Post #: 19
RE: Success - your definition, philosophical discussion - 8/11/2008 7:59:50 AM   
UR2Badored


Posts: 506
Joined: 2/3/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

~ Fast Reply ~
 
As we lay naked, tight in each other arms, the thought of either of us living without the other was scary, generating tears in both us.
Success = Confident and Content in my relationship.



Turns out Morgan Freeman's line had it right, but so did Rob Reiner's mother infamous line as a diner patron in When Harry Met Sally:

I'll take what [they're] having.  :o)

edited: there, their, they're error

< Message edited by UR2Badored -- 8/11/2008 8:56:42 AM >

_____________________________

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way
Mark Twain

(in reply to Mercnbeth)
Profile   Post #: 20
Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Success - your definition, philosophical discussion Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.094