good question.
yeah, success is relative. Problem is sometimes I set my goals to low, then when I reach them, I go, geez, that was almost too easy, now what?
But if I set the goals too high, or don't think about my long term goals in terms of steps rather than leaps, I don't get there...
I remember three years ago I was dying to be a computer nerd, and now I am...I am a mostly self-taught programmer with a liberal arts BA....step by step I got there, even though no one expected me to do so.
I remember I was 201 lbs a year ago, now I'm 145lbs. Step by step, I forgot/ignored what everyone else was saying and just did it.
The tech market is in a slump, so I just took a really ridiculous dinky job selling gym memberships....but then, I also just enrolled in a Master's program for computer science...my new job is so easy that I can concentrate on my real interests....
life is hard, nothing is promised....you have to go with your gifts and passions.
I'm one of the lucky few who remain passionate about life...and have hobbies and interests to keep me from traveling down that road of depression, drugs, and anonymous sex...wait...anonymous sex is fun....
But success is nothing without a love, family, and friends. I judge my success by whether I'm happy or not. Right now I am very happy.