Is Money the Only Measure of Success?

709 Words3 Pages
Is Money the Only Measure of Success? Every person wants to be successful, but how do we measure success (Simpson)? For most people in the modern world, money is the primary thing that defines success in their life. Truly, financial resources can be the means to get someone almost anything they want (London). Money can sometimes buy power. It can also sometimes buy fame. In some instances, money can even buy time or save lives. Although money is the easiest and most obvious measure of success, it is surely not the only one. There are many other things that can define a successful life. Like the Beatles’ say, “Money can’t buy you love.“ One important measure of success is social success, or how happy a person’s life is. For some, happiness is growing up in and maintaining closeness with a functional, supportive family. For others it is having an abundance of close friends. Sometimes happiness is having a long, happy marriage with a loving spouse. For others it is found in raising happy, healthy children. For many, it’s simply having someone in their life who truly loves them. Sometimes the measurement of a happy, and therefore successful life, is the legacy that they will leave behind and how they will be remembered by their loved ones. There is also respect. Being respected by ones neighbors and colleagues is additional social success. Being successful in social life is no worse that having millions of dollars in your bank account. If you doubt that, think about how much your family and friends are worth (London). Another thing that defines success to many people is their career. Within different careers, people will have different measurements of success. Being awarded, receiving a promotion, or even just being acknowledged by their boss and/or co-workers for a job well done can make a person feel successful. For some, just the
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