Success = $$$ ?

Firstly before I start I would like to put forward to think of what I am going to say below in an open mind and not treat it as some bias statement from a guy! Thank you..

What did I do for Christmas? Well, I managed to call Zhu and have a long chat with her this morning. She was surprised that I managed to send her flowers and is very happy... good right?.. argh.. well..things may looked good but emm... until when she told me she intend to open a shoe shop as her brother is able to get shoes for her at wholesale price.. her concept is simple.. shoes at her area is limited in designed and is very ex.. so if she can offer more designs at a cheaper price.. sales should come in... ya good idea.. but emm, for me it simply means that the chance of getting her to settle here have become even more remote.. nevertheless, I am going to have a friend who is going to become her own boss.. which for me always as a friend.. I wish her success in her business..

o.k, coming back to the topic of success.. I was reading the blog of one of my good friend when I come across a statement.. apparently her sis have just recently married and her view is that she would be happy as she had married a successful man... sounds alright.. but emm.. how do you define success?.. by how much the person earned.. by his/her educational status.. or by the position he or she held in the working organisation... emm.. if a person who is 23 yrs old and earned $3000 a month and a person who is 30 yrs old and earned as much, does it meants that the 30 yrs old is less successful?... If a person who is a uni graduate is making say $5000 a month compared to his or her peer with the same education status but is only earning $3000, does it means him or her is more successful?... If a person is only 30 yrs old and his/her is holding a manager post in a MNC does it means he or she is doing well?... I dunno cos I never tasted "success" in a lot of things I do... for a start, I was not successful in getting a ger I like.. next I was not successful in paying off my debts.. I was not successful in getting a job in Motorola.. I was not successful in my application to NTU.. and the list goes on.. but emm, on the flipside.. I am now working in a US MNC which is as big or not bigger than Motorola.. I am getting a very decent salary (an increase of 20% from what I am earning a year ago).. I did not get into NTU but I get into PSB and I am top 4 in my class... I am not successful in getting the ger I like but I got a female friend who can give good advice... so am I successful or what?...

I have to agree that the most simple method of defining success is by how much a person earned which is equal to $$$$.... but emm, if a person is like earning $5000 at 30 yrs old... he may seem successful at that particular moment compared to someone of the same age who is earning $300 but emm if looking into 10 yrs down the road.. both guys are now 40 yrs old but the $5000 guy is now earning say.. $6000.. but emm, the $3000 guy had been promoted and his company gives good advancement prospects and he is now earning $7000 as a manager... emm.. who is more successful now.. yes, it may be a fact that Mr $5000 is doing well now but emm, come 10 yrs later.. where will he be.. my statement may be subjective as I have not add in many factors for consideration but emm.. my intent is to look beyond how well that person is doing now.. look into what he or she forsee in the future.. will he or she be in a manager post... will he or she be earning a five figure income... as you would see my example above.. I chose to use the words "doing well" instead of successful... you will never know how a person will be in the future.. whether he will be the next Bill Gates or will he be the next Mike Tyson?... look what not into how much a person is earning or how well he or she is doing now... look into how he or she think they would be in the future and helped them worked towards it.. offer encouragement and comfort.. talk to the person when he or she is down... and lastly the person must be someone who truly love you... the rest will come naturally... I shall end here and hope I did not offend anyone.. this is just some thoughts that I have... thanks and sorry...