Success. Ah, yes, that pesky little word that drives today’s society so wild. It’s the reason we get out of bed in the morning, the reason we fight to live another day, all to be “successful” in the world. It drives us, motivates us, day after day; it’s the reason for our self-inflicted stress. So what does it mean to be successful? Each individual’s definition of being successful is different. Some consider success a family, money, a job title, the list can be endless. Most often, it’s a combination of different things.Let’s start with the big three: job, home, family. For many, having all three of these in combination is considered successful. Someone with a stable job means stable income. Stable income means the ability to create a home. The ability to create a home means the ability to support a family. There is a deeper link between the three than meets the eye once broken down separately.

JOB.

This is by far one of the most important factors of success. This is actually the key that opens the magical doors in today’s world. We’re all looking for that perfect job. Everyone has heard that saying “find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Well, the truth is, no such job exists. No matter what you choose for your line of work, you will not always love it. You can, however, do something you enjoy, something you are passionate about. Living your dream isn’t just for Disney movies anymore. Some people decide after 20 years of climbing the corporate ladder that they would be happier painting and selling art. More power to them! They are living their dream, and therefore, are successful.We live in a society where money is power. The more money you have, the better off you are. And yes, that is true for the most part, but money alone doesn’t make you successful. Is the guy who dropped out of college, went off on his own, and worked his way up from the bottom less successful than the Ivy Leaguer whose parents had the money to support him? The answer is no. Your degrees, job, job title, and paycheck stub don’t define your success. Money does not buy happiness, it just makes the ride a little more comfortable. It allows for certain comforts and luxuries that aren’t attainable to everyone. Who wouldn’t enjoy a private jet and 24 hour on-call masseuse? But it’s not something that is essential to survive.

What separates the [lucky] Ivy Leaguer from the drop-out is what they do with their opportunities.

When taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, the guy who worked his way up is more successful than the Ivy Leaguer. Why? He started at the bottom. He knows what it’s like to not have anything and worked to get to the top. That is life experience and a success that cannot be measured with a paycheck. Not to discriminate against the other guy, who was fortunate to have the opportunity of a more comfortable ride. His success is measured by what he does with his opportunity after he’s presented with it. His ride was comfortable because someone else before him started at the bottom and worked their way to the top.At the end of the work day, it’s not the job that defines your success, but what you do with it. Be the best at what opportunity life has presented you with, and that is the true success.

Home.

Everyday life is about working and trying to be successful at your job, so at the end of the day you can go home. Having a home and owning a house are two different things. Most people misconstrue the notions and intertwine them. Owning a home today isn’t like owning a home 10, 20, 30 years ago. Depending on where you are living, to some, even rent is a challenge, let alone a mortgage. Whatever the living situation may be, whether it’s a 3,000 square foot mansion overlooking the ocean, or a small one-bedroom apartment, a home is a home. It’s not the size that matters, but the feeling it brings you. As long as it’s a place you are grateful for, can put your head down and your feet up comfortably, what else matters? A successful home is one you are comfortable living in.

It’s a space you can call your own, where at the end of the day you can unwind.

Family.

Working hard at that job so you can build a home, the next thing on the list, is filling that home with people you love. No one wants to come home to an empty house, right? Tale as old as time. Boy meets a special someone, they fall in love, and get married. After marriage comes a child, that’s the classical tale of how a family is formed. Seems pretty simple in theory. Too bad it’s actually not. Having a family requires just as much dedication as having a job. You put yourself out there, go on interviews (or dates in this case), until you find the right fit. Only in this scenario, your paycheck doesn’t reflect a dollar amount.

The ultimate form of payment in a family is love, the love you give and receive.

Finding that person that you can share your best and worst of times with is a challenge. Those who are successful at a family are those who put in the work.

It’s not always a sunny climate, sometimes a storm will erupt; but those who can stay for both are the ones worth keeping in your life.

By today’s standards, a marriage/partnership lasting longer than 10 years is a little miracle. When couples say they have been married for 20 or 30 years jaws drop. Everyone wonders how they made it work for so long. The answer to that is simple, they tried. They didn’t throw in the towel at their first fight, or run around behind each other’s backs and lie and cheat. They tried. If you want a successful family, then put in the same effort you would at the office for a promotion. At the end of the day, it’s a business deal. You get what you put in. A successful family is one that stays together, through good and bad.So what happens if someone is missing a factor out of these three? Does that make them less successful? Well, each person will judge that differently. Some are happy enough with just a career and home, others cherish the idea of family. Success isn’t based on an outside opinion. Success is a personal matter. Whatever you strive for, whatever makes you happy, is what makes you successful. You are the only person allowed to measure your success. Your success is ultimately your own happiness.