What defines success to you?

For my frist blog post I want to write about what defines success to me.  As with any good argument there are essentially 5 key sections:

1. The claim
2. The reasons
3. The evidence
4. Anticipated objections and rebutal
5. Drawing a conclusion

The claim- So like a High School paper ill open with the definition of "success" according to Webster, "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like."  Ok so the easiest answer to this question is success is defined as ones ability to make money.  But what I stem to argue is that is has nothing to do with the money that makes you successful, but because you have the money your gained independence is what actually makes you successful.  The idea that you could live your life perfectly sustained on your own work and fruits of that work. 


The reason- Well I think almost anyone in this world would like to define themselves as "successful".  I would actually argue that deep down people inherently want to achieve success more than happiness, but that is another post for another day.  But far to often with the definition of success people do not delve into the second level of analysis which is that of obtaining independence. Certainly a man who drives a Maserati Coupe, eats at the best table at an unobtainable reservation restaurant, and shelves three gorgeous blonds around him is successful correct? So continuing with the analogy, if this man inherited his money through his lets say successful father we can no longer call him successful.  We can most certainly apply another term to him: Lucky.


The Evidence:  In a recent poll over 90% of the US population considers themselves to be in the middle to upper middle class.  Even a 4th grader could tell you this isn't to be.  But it again goes back to the idea that people sometimes are more concerned with appearing successful rather than being it.  Ie, daddy's sports car driving player from earlier.  The truth is success takes work.  And not the work that you may think of.  It is not to say that a banker or wall street gooroo will ever be more successful than your local small business man. 


Anticipated objections and rebutal-  So the puritan will tell you that success is defined by your relationships and whom you surround yourself with.  You can most certainly be in a successful relationship or friendship but that alone will never make you yourself "successful".  True pure raw uncut success is achieved through hard work and the pursuit of independence not happiness.  Many people point to a phrase, "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." But what few recognize is that this phrase falls in the declaration of independence.  These our are inherent rights under being independent.  So one could argue that if you are not independent than you certainly do not have the right to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness.  
  
Drawing a Conclusion-  I want to make it clear that this write up is in no way shape or form suppose to make myself feel as though I am extremely successful.  Have I had a few moments of success?  Sure I think we all have.  But at the end of my day I do not strive for happiness, I strive for independence because I know that success and happiness can never be fully obtained without it.


I hope you all enjoyed this first post, I plan on doing one a day.  Please if you have any discussion topics let me know.  And thank you all for those who read through my semi educated rant.