Teach Soap

Everyone has a different idea of success. Some think being a famous model/actor/musician is the ideal definition of success. Some consider the bills getting paid on time as success. Some consider having a family as success. I'm kind of curious as to what everyone defines as success for themselves.

For me it's a comfortable lifestyle. What I mean by that is being able to pay all the bills and having leftover cash. Like... When I go shopping I wouldn't have to worry about waiting for a sale or needing a coupon. I wouldn't be like "I need that $600 dress I'll wear once!". More like, "I enjoy this $40-$60 dress that I wear every summer." You know what I mean? If I'm confusing you think of the brands Banana Republic and Express. Not an overpriced luxury brand but a nice solid level of looking kind of successful. Also being in a solid relationship with a man, not really requiring marriage if I didn't want it. Maybe kids, maybe not. I'm still unsure if kids are something I want but I know some people consider kids a great mark of success. Okay I'm done with my overly explained definition.

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I think what you're describing is not "living paycheck to paycheck" which these days can be hard goal to meet for a lot of people.

I had thought of this recently. I have been looking for something creative I could turn into a business for several years. I'm a crafter at heart but I'm pretty "random crafty" Some things I only do once in a while, somethings I've only ever done a few times and then was done with it. I try out new things all the time but nothing really help up towards the criteria of me being able to do it well enough to have something worth selling, and/or having the passion and drive to put a lot of my time into it on a regular basis to maintain any sort of business.

So I guess at this point success will be actually having and maintaining a business. I've also thought, in the best case scenario, how successful do I want to be? Ever growing, if I were to be so fortunate, sounds exhausting. I'm not sure where I'd draw the line, but there would be a point that I would not want to expand any further, a point at which enough would be enough. I don't think I'm interested in having a brick and mortar shop.

My husband has his own business pursuits we're hoping will also be successful, but he's got a lot of school ahead of him for that first.

Edit: Suppose I didn't exactly touch on monetary success. I'm not very interested in that. We're pretty good at staying comfortably within our means, although this year was hard since my husband transitioned out of the military in December, but then again a lot of people don't find it to be a smooth transition.

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"Effective questioning brings insight which fuels curiosity which cultivates wisdom"

For me it would be to get to this time next year and be thinking "That was a good year.", because right now I am hoping that it will be.

I define success as being happy with what you have but never stop striving for better. My family has been renting houses for years (10+) since loosing our first home in a foreclosure. My husband and I have worked really hard to get to a spot where we can buy again and Voila! We are buying a home next month!! A beautiful large home with 2.5 acres. My kids also define my success. If they are happy and healthy and doing what they love and I get to enjoy watching them do it, I consider that success. My daughter has always loved being a cheerleader and this year she is a JV cheerleader for her high school. They are going into competition season and I am very excited to see them WIN! Her high school has won all cheer competitions for about 10 years running. It's a lot of work but she loves it and sees that it pays off. My son plays little league baseball and he is a rock star. We don't play tournaments much but he was called by my brother's (he's a month younger than my son) team, that does play a ton of tournaments, to fill in for players. He did great and I am very proud. I also define success by the small things. I deal with a bout of depression occasionally and get in a rut with my house work. I have figured out that if I get most of the laundry done one day or I get my kitchen sparkling, that is success. It works for me. I think everyone has their own definition of success and as long as it works for you and you are happy, there is no reason to compare yourself and your success to others.

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Haven