What Is Success?

This topic have always been the core subject for many gatherings of any sort right next to love. I didn't really care too much about this topic until I had a debate with another Khmer person. It seems many Khmer Americans don't value education very much here and usually end up in dead end jobs. But the debate started when he think success is being a white collar worker and being a blue collar worker is not. He believe unless you're making at least $50,000 a year salary then you're not successful and that the only way to achieve it is being a white collar worker. Being a blue collar worker myself I disagreed. The very definition of success itself is
the accomplishment of one's goals but it seems some people have a skewered sense of what it is and many start to believe that it equates to the financial status of a person. I believe every person have their own goal in life and achieving that goal is what I think is success.

My question for this forum is what is success to you?

If I cheated my way to reach my goal, or took advantage of people along the way, would you still consider that success? I mean, I did reach my goal but the means to it were disreputable.

I actually thought about this question all month last month but haven't decide what success is to me.

pocketkiriyama said:

This topic have always been the core subject for many gatherings of any sort right next to love. I didn't really care too much about this topic until I had a debate with another Khmer person. It seems many Khmer Americans don't value education very much here and usually end up in dead end jobs. But the debate started when he think success is being a white collar worker and being a blue collar worker is not. He believe unless you're making at least $50,000 a year salary then you're not successful and that the only way to achieve it is being a white collar worker. Being a blue collar worker myself I disagreed. The very definition of success itself is
the accomplishment of one's goals but it seems some people have a skewered sense of what it is and many start to believe that it equates to the financial status of a person. I believe every person have their own goal in life and achieving that goal is what I think is success.

My question for this forum is what is success to you?

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I think success is this too. When a person's realizes their goals and take actions to accomplish the dream/goal, there is no better feeling then overcoming the struggles and having your goals achieved.

I'm sure money may play a role in success and the journey to happiness, but this is not always true for every situation.

You could be very rich and have poor relations with your spouse, relatives and children. Would this be considered success?

I think so long as you are happy with your life, and have an achievable goal and are using the right methods to achieve the goal, then this would be considered success. For example, if your goal was to be rich and you think the easiest and quickest way is to gamble at the casino, this would in fact be a self destructive method in achieving the goal. Nothing comes easy in life, you have to be willing to work hard for the things you find truly important in life. You have to prioritize what aspects in your life are considered significant.

pocketkiriyama said:

This topic have always been the core subject for many gatherings of any sort right next to love. I didn't really care too much about this topic until I had a debate with another Khmer person. It seems many Khmer Americans don't value education very much here and usually end up in dead end jobs. But the debate started when he think success is being a white collar worker and being a blue collar worker is not. He believe unless you're making at least $50,000 a year salary then you're not successful and that the only way to achieve it is being a white collar worker. Being a blue collar worker myself I disagreed. The very definition of success itself is
the accomplishment of one's goals but it seems some people have a skewered sense of what it is and many start to believe that it equates to the financial status of a person. I believe every person have their own goal in life and achieving that goal is what I think is success.

My question for this forum is what is success to you?

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To be success, it depends on how you want to define it to yourself. I don't think blue or white color make any difference in term of success. Some think that if they have money they consider as successful. Maybe money has a role in it because that's we are depend on it every day of life. But for me successfully in life when you have a place to live, a job, and have a happy life without any helps from anybody. I consider success.

Hamster said:

If I cheated my way to reach my goal, or took advantage of people along the way, would you still consider that success? I mean, I did reach my goal but the means to it were disreputable.

I actually thought about this question all month last month but haven't decide what success is to me.

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I believe that's still success. For example, if one's goal is to create and expand a company or shop, you still have to stomp out the competition in any way you can in or to do so.

lovepink said:

I think success is this too. When a person's realizes their goals and take actions to accomplish the dream/goal, there is no better feeling then overcoming the struggles and having your goals achieved.

I'm sure money may play a role in success and the journey to happiness, but this is not always true for every situation.

You could be very rich and have poor relations with your spouse, relatives and children. Would this be considered success?

I think so long as you are happy with your life, and have an achievable goal and are using the right methods to achieve the goal, then this would be considered success. For example, if your goal was to be rich and you think the easiest and quickest way is to gamble at the casino, this would in fact be a self destructive method in achieving the goal. Nothing comes easy in life, you have to be willing to work hard for the things you find truly important in life. You have to prioritize what aspects in your life are considered significant.

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Sure enough money does play a role. Out of the 4 goals I set myself 3 of it requires that my financial status is somewhat well off.

pocketkiriyama said:

This topic have always been the core subject for many gatherings of any sort right next to love. I didn't really care too much about this topic until I had a debate with another Khmer person. It seems many Khmer Americans don't value education very much here and usually end up in dead end jobs. But the debate started when he think success is being a white collar worker and being a blue collar worker is not. He believe unless you're making at least $50,000 a year salary then you're not successful and that the only way to achieve it is being a white collar worker. Being a blue collar worker myself I disagreed. The very definition of success itself is
the accomplishment of one's goals but it seems some people have a skewered sense of what it is and many start to believe that it equates to the financial status of a person. I believe every person have their own goal in life and achieving that goal is what I think is success.

My question for this forum is what is success to you?

Click to expand...

success is define diff depending on a person's perspectives...my def of success is achieving one's goal (s) or dreams.. The feelings of accomplishments nd satisfactions...i think being a blue or white collar does not determined one is successful or not..it's all in ppl's perspective. i say this bcuz i know sum town or state ppl r raised diff..how they're r brought up nd what was being taught. A blue collar will prob b considered successful t0 ppl living in a small town where there r no big business r exposed to or such vs the big city where white collar or more in demand...yea so that's my def of success lolz..
Success for me is to live comfortable, have a good family, live a healthy life, nd making my love ones happy nd myself happy...i know it's simple nd no big plans but that is all i ask for in my life nd so far i have accomplish all of it listed above, so i think i am successful.

chenna said:

success is define diff depending on a person's perspectives...my def of success is achieving one's goal (s) or dreams.. The feelings of accomplishments nd satisfactions...i think being a blue or white collar does not determined one is successful or not..it's all in ppl's perspective. i say this bcuz i know sum town or state ppl r raised diff..how they're r brought up nd what was being taught. A blue collar will prob b considered successful t0 ppl living in a small town where there r no big business r exposed to or such vs the big city where white collar or more in demand...yea so that's my def of success lolz..
Success for me is to live comfortable, have a good family, live a healthy life, nd making my love ones happy nd myself happy...i know it's simple nd no big plans but that is all i ask for in my life nd so far i have accomplish all of it listed above, so i think i am successful.

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I found that the simple life is harder to achieve.

pocketkiriyama said:

I found that the simple life is harder to achieve.

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nothing comes easy in life, everything takes alot of effort to maintain these essentials...

Completing my missions, goals and accomplishments are what I consider as my success. I'm sure everyone defines them differently. I have 7 years left to finish half way.

Success is defined differently from one person to another. To raised a successful child is what I consider as my success.

Marvelous said:

Success is defined differently from one person to another. To raised a successful child is what I consider as my success.

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Oh that's a good one. I think this is the most difficult one. I dont have any children, but I'm certain my parents would say I'm not easy child to raise. I'm not a bad kid, lol I just don't make it easy for them.

Rei said:

Completing my missions, goals and accomplishments are what I consider as my success. I'm sure everyone defines them differently. I have 7 years left to finish half way.

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May I ask what your goals and accomplishments are, rei? It sounds like something related to college or university.

lovepink said:

May I ask what your goals and accomplishments are, rei? It sounds like something related to college or university.

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College has been completed years ago, so thankfully off the list heh. Most of my goals now are focused on building a community to keep our culture and tradition from wiping out, while at the same time, making sure I can provide the best for my family this lifetime.

Rei said:

College has been completed years ago, so thankfully off the list heh. Most of my goals now are focused on building a community to keep our culture and tradition from wiping out, while at the same time, making sure I can provide the best for my family this lifetime.

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That's good. I'm still in college and it feels like forever. Oh yes, those are great goals that need to be accomplished. I always feel there should be a khmer school to teach the language and writing. Unfortunately, there was none of that where I grew up. I think it is very important to learn how to speak, I know nowadays people don't really value their culture/language and I feel bad for them. I know one person who is both Vietnamese and Ukrainian, I asked if she knows how to speak or understand any of the two, unfortunately she doesn't know both languages.

Success is the bigest issue of everyone life !!! success could be different between two people or groups.

For some people the fact that he/she has had completed a goal/ a dream, that could be called successful life but Success has only your personal judgment to refer. Money could be a goal to define the successful one but it is just the matter of point of view. Earn a lot of money could be a success for one personne but it is not the success !!!!

Khmer culture always give a very important weight on money, when you listen two khmer mothers talk about their kids, you will surely hear how many each of their kids earn.

But I am not saying money is useless and you don't have to earn money, only the rich people said this because they do not know the money value and how it is so hard to earn each penny !!!

so to answer to pocketkiriama's question !!! I think in my opinion that life is totally unpredictable, we could only have a hope to achieve some goals in us brief life, so take what you can and enjoy what you have. Hope more and try you best without regret, but don't forgive to take pleasure with what you can have. And everyone will sees his/her personel success. Because success is only the matter of your feeling. So for me "Success" is just about taking some good time from this stormful life and enjoy the little pleasure you can have without through away the more biggest hope !!!

Maybe because I am young, so I think that way, and that my opinion could change with time, but for the moment I am like this !!!

lovepink said:

That's good. I'm still in college and it feels like forever. Oh yes, those are great goals that need to be accomplished. I always feel there should be a khmer school to teach the language and writing. Unfortunately, there was none of that where I grew up. I think it is very important to learn how to speak, I know nowadays people don't really value their culture/language and I feel bad for them. I know one person who is both Vietnamese and Ukrainian, I asked if she knows how to speak or understand any of the two, unfortunately she doesn't know both languages.

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Our university offers Khmer language course here, which is pretty nice. It's not much of a surprise since our city has a high population of Cambodian people. It also pays off being bilingual and able to speak fluent Khmer since you can land a decent job around the city, especially in the law enforcement and health field.

I do agree with language and culture being devalued by today people though.

pocketkiriyama said:

This topic have always been the core subject for many gatherings of any sort right next to love. I didn't really care too much about this topic until I had a debate with another Khmer person. It seems many Khmer Americans don't value education very much here and usually end up in dead end jobs. But the debate started when he think success is being a white collar worker and being a blue collar worker is not. He believe unless you're making at least $50,000 a year salary then you're not successful and that the only way to achieve it is being a white collar worker. Being a blue collar worker myself I disagreed. The very definition of success itself is
the accomplishment of one's goals but it seems some people have a skewered sense of what it is and many start to believe that it equates to the financial status of a person. I believe every person have their own goal in life and achieving that goal is what I think is success.

My question for this forum is what is success to you?

Click to expand...

A great man named Peter La Fleur from the movie Dodgeball said, "I found that if you have a goal, that you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I got to tell you, it feels phenomenal." haha

Peter's quote is literally true but also depressing. haha

Seriously, I'm going to piggyback on what everyone's common denominator about success - it's subjective. Because of this, there will be differences, and when people are in opposite sides in thinking, there's probably gonna be a debate and/or argument. Then, there's gonna be people who hate because of ignorance. Ignorance can lead to violence. Violence can lead to problems like in the Ferguson case. Something like the Ferguson case can lead to mass disruptions in our society.

I may have sounded like the DirecTV commercial, where guy who ended up in a roadside ditch after going through sequences of bad things happening to him.

Before anyone, including me, jumps into conclusions, we have to take a step backwards and define what success means to them. One of my close friends seem like he's got everything made. He is well over your friend's $50k+ per year salary requirement, plus owns a percentage of stocks (that hasn't gone IPO yet btw) in his company. His wife, who so happens to be a teacher, has a salary around the ballpark of $50k per year. They're both college grads, even the wife has a master's degree. They own a 10-year-old two-story house in a decent area. They have nice rides. Hell, they even buy Blu-ray movies while most frugal people like me just downloads them haha.

Most people would consider this couple success people. Now, since I know them extremely well and we've had our conversations about our goals in life and how achievements would translate to success, I know they do not feel like they are successful people. What? Why? How come? What's missing in their lives? They don't have children! I'd like to think they're responsible individuals because ever since they met in college, they knew they're gonna be together for the long haul, finished schools, get married, get careers, buy a house, and all that shit. Unfortunately, according to them, having no children after trying for the last 3 years means they are not successful.

Okay, I think I'm spending too much time on this post, even though I got a couple of more examples to give. Basically, I'm saying the same like everyone else said. Success needs to be clearly defined by the person and not you.

Oh yea, what is my definition of success? haha. It changes over time, but here is today's - I think when you are truly and wholeheartedly happy with yourself, your family, and friends, and have accepted what you do in life, you are successful. If you are affected by the words of others, whether it is positive or negative, then you might not find what success means to you, because you're allowing external factors to shape the person who you are and not the successful person you want to become.

believe said:

Oh yea, what is my definition of success? haha. It changes over time, but here is today's - I think when you are truly and wholeheartedly happy with yourself, your family, and friends, and have accepted what you do in life, you are successful. If you are affected by the words of others, whether it is positive or negative, then you might not find what success means to you, because you're allowing external factors to shape the person who you are and not the successful person you want to become.

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Couldn't have said better myself. I wasn't trying to debate with him but he seems to think that is the absolute standard and everyone should follow it.

Rei said:

Our university offers Khmer language course here, which is pretty nice. It's not much of a surprise since our city has a high population of Cambodian people. It also pays off being bilingual and able to speak fluent Khmer since you can land a decent job around the city, especially in the law enforcement and health field.

I do agree with language and culture being devalued by today people though.

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Oh that's so cool that your university has khmer language. My university offers almost every language you can think of except khmer. There is not a large population of khmer people here. Do they teach you how to write khmer too?

I do speak fluent khmer, mostly thanks to watching khmer dubbed movies since I was young. But, I have been told by khmer people from Cambodia, that I have an English accent when I speak khmer lol.