Those who are successful in life, I need your honest answers to mimic your success. What makes you think you have mastery, courage, strength and honor? What makes you think you are a winner?

PeopleHateThisGuy · 2017-09-13T14:02:53+00:00

I am a Geologist specializing in engineering and hydrogeology. I work for a third party consulting firm. I am extremely knowledgeable as to the construction and installation of wells, shafts, walls, and other construction related earthworks. Annual salary $75k, 6 years experience.

Mastery: My clients and subcontractors request me by name because I know what the fuck I'm talking about and I know how to get the job done when unknown and unanticipated conditions arise. I've built a reputation because I've humbled myself, kept my ears and eyes open when a superior was teaching me, and learned from my past mistakes and experiences.

Courage: Superintendent tries to scream at me about meeting his deadline? I'm responsible for making sure this wall doesn't fall down, so don't bother trying to tell me how to do my job. Your budget isn't my problem. Gotta speak in a meeting with project managers and construction executives? Only give the facts and give your opinion when it's asked for. They will ask for it. Speak slowly and clearly.

Strength: Lift. Meet deadlines. No excuses.

Honor: Be honest about what you do and do not know. Trust those who have earned your respect and earn the trust of those that have no reason to respect you.

Am I a winner? I think so. My girlfriend thinks so. My employer things so. What else matters?

Edit: Simplified for the layman.

limitless_stoic · 2017-09-13T17:45:55+00:00

Wow, looking at these answers, maybe there’s something wrong with me. I don’t think I’m successful but I guess I am on-paper?

A few days ago, I turned 23. After messing around in college, got my shit together and finished a CS degree in two years and got a job as a software engineer for 100k. Left that job to take on a bigger well-known company for 110k. In shape (I think). Have own apartment and car.

Why do I think I have mastery? I don’t.

Why do I think I have courage? I don’t, I’m actually scared of working a 9-5 forever and I guess that drives me.

Why do I think I have strength? I don’t think I do. I do it for the same reason as the question above.

Why do I think I have honor? This is just something my parents taught me. So, when I can do something un-honorable, the guilt holds me back.

What makes me a winner? I don’t think I’m a winner.

All accomplishments I have come from the wrong source. From fear and not courage. And this is what I don’t understand fully. But I understand the concept of accepting the suck. Life sucks sometimes but you can either keep pushing or stay stagnant. And stagnant is boring.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone to think like I do because personally, I don’t want to either. It’s a nihilistic set of beliefs and I don’t know how they came to be.

When I got a new job, I was ecstatic and told my dad. He was proud. Next day, I was upset again and started to look at why the job sucks. That’s when my dad says something I won’t forget: “happiness and accomplishment are not connected. After knowing you your whole life, I can say that you will be very successful but never happy. Unless you change how you think.”

But to summarize, I think I do stuff to get better just because I’m always unsatisfied and inadequate. And maybe the next accomplishment will give me the happiness and satisfaction?

Not sure if this helps OP but I’d love to hear if anyone else has this problem

VasiliyZaitzev · 2017-09-13T17:57:26+00:00

Those who are successful in life, I need your honest answers to mimic your success.

Why am I successful?

I largely have control over how and where I spend my time. That's what life boils down to: are you able to do what you want, when you want with whom you want?

So, for example, I work from home. My company has a "no working from home" policy and I have a "no following stupid fucking policies" policy. After the Monday Sales Call, I might take a dip in my pool. Before the Wednesday Staff Call, I might be grilling up lunch outside. Or be getting a blowjob. Or playing my guitar. Or doing errands because the supermarket is empty at 10:00 AM. I have geographic freedom within North America, so if I want to go visit a buddy in California or go to Vegas or wherever, I do it.

I have the friends that I want, I have 2 OLTRs with 21-22 year old girls, and a couple of side pieces. I front my own band, and I write and perform original music. I travel where I want to travel, and do the things I want to do. My goal is to make my life as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

How I got to be successful

How to do what I do: Become exceptional at something, or a couple of somethings. Make yourself indispensable, then disappear. The president of my firm knows that I've basically been starring in my own personal version of Office Space for the last 7 years or so and he doesn't give a shit, because he realizes that that he pays me for PERFORMANCE not ATTENDANCE.

For guys interested in this, I suggest reading Stanley Bing's "How To Relax Without Getting The Axe." I should add that I do my work on a high level and my employer gets value for the money they pay me. They're results-oriented and I get results. I never let something drag, so that anyone has a reason to complain that I'm not getting shit done. I make it easy for them to let me do what I do.

You may also find this of interest: Life After 30: How to Be an Old Guy

Now, could I be off working for myself? Sure. But that's a FUCK TON of work, and I get paid 6 figures to basically work 0-4 hours a day, and then I have the rest of my time to do with as I please. I also have a couple of side gigs going, that I hope will one day simply fund my lifestyle at >100%, but I keep the job for the bennies, at the moment. And that's the thing: The Real Currency In Life Is Time. The more control you have over how you spend it, the "richer" you are.

TheRecycledMale · 2017-09-13T12:18:57+00:00

Read the book "Mastery" by Robert Greene if you want to understand the process. He's a professional writer, has studied and researched the subject and can provide a much better explanation of the steps.

If you can't be bothered to invest a few dollars and few hours to read that book, then any advice given here won't work very well.

waylonw · 2017-09-13T12:32:12+00:00

Success is measured differently for each man. Some men value the dollar and only consider themselves successful if they are loaded with money and fancy cars.

Other men measure success on how they spend their time. They consider them successful if they have a career that's also a hobby. For them their "job" is not a job.

Some find success in being in the top of their field. Being the "go to" guy for problems. For them showing how "smart" they are to others is a reward.

And yet others consider themselves successful in friendships/relationships they have made. People's lives they've touch in a positive light.

Your success depends on your own personal values. Ask yourself "what do I need for a successful life?"

1) If you think you have mastery in an area/field you must realize you have only fooled yourself... the world is a constant change and you will have to, forever, learn to keep up.

2) Courage comes from your belief in what you think is right and having the ability to stand for it.

3) Strength is knowing you can take the easy way out, but having the testicular fortitude to push forward in the face of adversity.

4) Honor is holding true to your word, your core values, and the character traits that make you who you are. While doing this in such away that you inspire others.

5) What make me think I'm a winner? I never thought I was. I know the sun will rise and set if I die today. I'm no different, better, or worse than the next man that is stumbling around in the dark trying to figure out what life is. A winner isn't always the first guy in line, a winner is someone that gave it their all.... can any of us really say that as a 100% fact?

Edit: About me...

A little about my life... I am trained to neutralize threats (and we'll leave it at that). That is my primary job. I'm also a high angle rescue technician and first responder. I earn roughly $72k a year but live a rather simple lifestyle. My hobbies are primitive survival skills, bass fishing, love of guns, and I'm branching into learning to make natural soaps for men. I have two children, 18(male) and 12 (female) that live with their mother, and a German Shepherd.

foreverbellum · 2017-09-13T16:36:12+00:00

Those who have success in this modern day world rarely possess those traits. Those are traits that in a world dominated by men would be of the highest value, such as honor. Since we instead live in a women dominated society instead, the men who achieve the highest success are instead those who act the most like women,and what are women? Unloyal and backstabbing, without honor

dfffdfhRjxfwf · 2017-09-13T10:10:08+00:00

You cannot become great by following in the footsteps of another man, you have to do what no man has been able to do before. I think Patton said that.

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