Is it possible before 18 to know your whole life will be failure?

[Clark-Kent]

I'm not sure if it's negative thought, or just acceptance. Like, if you examine how quickly you grasp educational pursuits and feel sub par. Or if you are skinny and not muscle bound, not super likely to have an athletic career like professional sports. Pretty much just knowing that no matter what I try, I probably won't do anything special or make a difference. I see myself finishing college and such, but probably end up with a medial job and not really of much significance. It's weird cause all my friends basically talk about outrageous pursuits and I don't see it as realistic or possible. It just sound silly to me when I hear others talk about where they'll be and aim so big: being an actor, musician, NFL player, or what used to seem prestigious such as President of the USA. lol

 

[Lighthouse]

Its certainly important to know your own limitations, but I think your definition of what is "signficant" and "failure" is seriously out of whack.

 

[Lantern Venom]

Realistic goals don't equate with failure, not at all. Success has both personal and cultural elements to it. If you can find a job where you can be comfortable, gives you time for personal pursuits, and pays well enough to at least meet your living expenses, that's not failure. Contentment doesn't always accompany fame and forture, but it's more valuable than either.

As for making a difference, you'll undoubtedly encounter opportunities that you can't fathom right now. It might not be something that makes the news like adopting impoverished orphans, but a few dollars that you'll give to a worth cause or a few hours spent helping someone who really needs it could be something that's a game changer for someone.

 

[Micromind]

I'm not sure if it's negative thought, or just acceptance. Like, if you examine how quickly you grasp educational pursuits and feel sub par. Or if you are skinny and not muscle bound, not super likely to have an athletic career like professional sports. Pretty much just knowing that no matter what I try, I probably won't do anything special or make a difference. I see myself finishing college and such, but probably end up with a medial job and not really of much significance. It's weird cause all my friends basically talk about outrageous pursuits and I don't see it as realistic or possible. It just sound silly to me when I hear others talk about where they'll be and aim so big: being an actor, musician, NFL player, or what used to seem prestigious such as President of the USA. lol

Unfortunately, genetics is responsible in determining whether a person can have a successful career in fields like Sports or jobs like serving in Armed Forces or Police. Then some people are naturally gifted in some fields like playing musical Instruments easily or solving Mathematical equations.

For those people who are average, I have seen most common advice given as find out what you can do best, and pursue that, for example many people turn to become Business entrepreneurs.

If you can get some success in that, maybe you can make some difference. If I'm not wrong .. Coca Cola's inventor never got rich but the man who purchased the rights to manufacture it did, by using his ability to market it.

 

[Yowza]

You definitely can begin to get an idea of your personal limitations. Rather than dwell on that, I think success can be defined as having the ability to cope with said limitations to maximize your potential in life sooner rather than later. Utilizing good decision making in the limited time we have in life provides more time to enjoy it.

Get a good job with decent income that works around your limitations in a way that'll allow you to maximize your potential. Goal setting with objectives to reach said goal is what I wish I would've done better instead of going to college my first year undecided on a major then getting a 4 year college degree that isn't worth much. (Wish I would've just decided on a associates first then built it into a bachelor or something like that so bit less pressure when went to school to complete all 4 years but oh well[/I]).

 

[squeekness]

Life is much too random to count oneself in or out at at such a young age. Lots of people got a late start and did well for themselves.

 

[Aximili86]

Sure it is. If you think at 18 years old the rest of your life's going to be a failure, it will be.

Simple. You make your own destiny, man. Stop thinking so much, start doing - that seems to be the common factor among successes in life. Those people just work their asses off toward a particular goal set for themselves, don't second guess it, and "fake it 'til they make it". You'll get to wherever you want to be if you want it bad enough and put in the hard yards.

 

[jmc]

Watch this.

[YT]8S0PA5ZMfvY[/YT]

 

[Donner]

Watch Alan Watt's "What Do You Desire?"

If your life revolves around work, you won't be happy. Do something that you love and try to turn that into an income. If you're so focused on making a lot of money or having a "respectable" job, you'll waste your life doing something you don't want to in order to make money to continue doing what you don't want to do.

Focus on your hobbies and on your interests and make that your purpose in life. Happiness should be your priority, not money or "success." If you're happy, you're successful.

 

[Greens]

Unfortunately, genetics is responsible in determining whether a person can have a successful career in fields like Sports or jobs like serving in Armed Forces or Police. Then some people are naturally gifted in some fields like playing musical Instruments easily or solving Mathematical equations.

This doesn't mean you can't learn a musical instrument. Like driving, it's a matter of doing it and getting better at it. You're probably not going to be a top 10 of all time guitarist, but if music is your passion it's perfectly viable as a hobby and maybe a career down the road.

I used to struggle with this "I'm not gonna be important" stuff, but in the end you have to prioritize. What is really important? Is it important to be financially independent, have a social circle (including family) that can depend on you and be able to indulge in your passions and hobbies every once in a while? If so, what do you need to be president for? You can do all of that. It may be a longer, tougher road if you didn't win the economic lottery (your parents' financial status) but it's possible.

 

[Micromind]

This doesn't mean you can't learn a musical instrument. Like driving, it's a matter of doing it and getting better at it. You're probably not going to be a top 10 of all time guitarist, but if music is your passion it's perfectly viable as a hobby and maybe a career down the road.

I never said that one can't learn a new thing (like playing a musical instrument) and get better at playing it with practice, I was just saying find out what that is that one thing that one can do better than others, maybe it's something that hasn't got full attention, like for example story writing or maybe it's computer programming.

Thing is, we get bogged down by what we cannot do instead of finding out what we can do.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Independent spirit, thought, motivation, pushing yourself forward to ANY achievement, no matter how large or small is an achievement, never a failure. At 18, one has barely scratched the surface of life and it's possibilities. Yes, one may have a concept of what one wants to do as a career or job, but the resulting reality of that journey and how it shapes itself has barely started.

There is no failure in life, only those opportunities not yet fully realised.

 

[squeekness]

There is nothing wrong with an ordinary life. The secret to happiness is being content with what you have instead of obsessing over what you don't.

 

[NHawk19]

Ok Kid.

This morning when I woke up I had no idea I'd read this. Neither did anyone here. Now we're trying to make a difference for a random person we've never met. Tomorrow you may get that chance, be it to offer a kind word or help the proverbial lady across the street. So to say you know you won't make a difference is pretty short sighted. Especially if you want a family some day, and who knows maybe you're kids will grow up to be something even greater than you all because you did your best.

Success is more than just how much money you have in the bank. Each person will define it differently, and probably not realize it right away. You have no idea what lies ahead of you and what opportunities you'll be afforded. It surely won't be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

It's ok not to know what you want right now. All you need to do is figure out how to enjoy the ride.

 

[Iceman]

I'm not sure if it's negative thought, or just acceptance. Like, if you examine how quickly you grasp educational pursuits and feel sub par. Or if you are skinny and not muscle bound, not super likely to have an athletic career like professional sports. Pretty much just knowing that no matter what I try, I probably won't do anything special or make a difference. I see myself finishing college and such, but probably end up with a medial job and not really of much significance. It's weird cause all my friends basically talk about outrageous pursuits and I don't see it as realistic or possible. It just sound silly to me when I hear others talk about where they'll be and aim so big: being an actor, musician, NFL player, or what used to seem prestigious such as President of the USA. lol

It's impossible to know that you will be a failure by 18 unless you're already dead and looking down on yourself from above. And I guess it also depends what you consider failure. I'm happy with my life and I would be even if I achieved bugger all during it. My main goal is to be happy and I've achieved that so I'm not sure that any more ambitious goals are relevant as the purpose of me going for those goals would be to attain happiness.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

You can only guess things that are to come, guesses are marginal possibilities.

 

[Mandon Knight]

The flip side to the word 'failure' is deemed to be a 'success'. Success is a word that is purely 'personal' in the sense of what someone possess or strives for in a tangible context (money, power, strong employment etc.) or simply on a more 'passive' level. All depends on the personal context and how much one attaches to artificial, material goods or items or attainment, or not, depending on one's outlook, upbringing or social environment.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Only in very extreme circumstances, like you are sitting in prison for murder or something like that. Unless your fate is truly sealed, things can change. The idea of life being a success/failure is generally up to the individual to begin with. It is all about mental attitude.

 

[squeekness]

Hey, there are people even in prison who turned things around in their lives by doing social work and like. Even jail doesn't have to be the end.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Only in very extreme circumstances, like you are sitting in prison for murder or something like that. Unless your fate is truly sealed, things can change. The idea of life being a success/failure is generally up to the individual to begin with. It is all about mental attitude.

Not all of it, life circumstances and the cards you are dealt with to begin with, play a huge part as well. For example, the geographic location you are born in will dictate your life chances to a degree.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I'm not sure if it's negative thought, or just acceptance. Like, if you examine how quickly you grasp educational pursuits and feel sub par. Or if you are skinny and not muscle bound, not super likely to have an athletic career like professional sports. Pretty much just knowing that no matter what I try, I probably won't do anything special or make a difference. I see myself finishing college and such, but probably end up with a medial job and not really of much significance. It's weird cause all my friends basically talk about outrageous pursuits and I don't see it as realistic or possible. It just sound silly to me when I hear others talk about where they'll be and aim so big: being an actor, musician, NFL player, or what used to seem prestigious such as President of the USA. lol

To answer your initial subject title question: NO

It's human nature to always want more.

A sense of accomplishment does not have to come from your job, how much a different you will make in the world, or how much money you make. It comes from finding things to make you happy. Trust me, people who are rich are still not happy, and people who are poor, always want more.

Set goals for yourself and accomplish them. When you are done with them, set more goals.

 

[chaseter]

Not all of it, life circumstances and the cards you are dealt with to begin with, play a huge part as well. For example, the geographic location you are born in will dictate your life chances to a degree.

Move.

People who make excuses or blame others for their plight are always unsuccessful. Why? Because they don’t value hard work, wise choices, and sacrifice. I bought a condo with $5,000 making $14/hour in 2011. Do you know how much furniture I had for about 18 months? I had a bed, couch, and tv on a mantle. I couldn’t afford anything and I lived within my little budget. I’m on my, with my now wife, third house together in 7 years. I made $65k on my condo and we made $75k on our second house. Put all of that into our house we custom built and we are up $40k within a year. It’s all about hard work, wise choices, and sacrifice. I do not love my job but I’ve turned it into a manager position with double pay from what I was making when I started out. I’ve been at my job for 10 years this past December and survived 2 corporate acquisitions that had me move from Texas to Denver to Nashville. You don’t have to love what you do for a living, I think that’s rare, but if you work hard and innovate your position into more (going above and beyond), you will climb the ladder.

My second piece of advice is find a hobby you love and turn it into a business...which I’ve done. I buy/sell/trade limited art. I love it and it provides nice side income.

I don’t mean to brag but I do love showing people that you can literally do anything and go anywhere with good choices. My family isn’t from means by any means and we’ve earned everything we have by ourselves. I’m not a HUGE success story but I do good.

I’m more than happy to assist anyone on here with any pointers if anyone ever pm’s me.

 

[Donner]

And luck. And a strong support network. And your environment.

You can work hard and never "make it" and that's just ****** luck. But if you work at something you love, you'll be successful in your own right. Too many people do something they hate because they're trying to live up to unreasonable expectations set by society, family, etc.

Screw the lot of them and do what makes you happy. Money isn't the important thing.

 

[Krystal]

I did! Wait, what was the question?

 

[Mandon Knight]

Move.

People who make excuses or blame others for their plight are always unsuccessful. Why? Because they don’t value hard work, wise choices, and sacrifice. I bought a condo with $5,000 making $14/hour in 2011. Do you know how much furniture I had for about 18 months? I had a bed, couch, and tv on a mantle. I couldn’t afford anything and I lived within my little budget. I’m on my, with my now wife, third house together in 7 years. I made $65k on my condo and we made $75k on our second house. Put all of that into our house we custom built and we are up $40k within a year. It’s all about hard work, wise choices, and sacrifice. I do not love my job but I’ve turned it into a manager position with double pay from what I was making when I started out. I’ve been at my job for 10 years this past December and survived 2 corporate acquisitions that had me move from Texas to Denver to Nashville. You don’t have to love what you do for a living, I think that’s rare, but if you work hard and innovate your position into more (going above and beyond), you will climb the ladder.

My second piece of advice is find a hobby you love and turn it into a business...which I’ve done. I buy/sell/trade limited art. I love it and it provides nice side income.

I don’t mean to brag but I do love showing people that you can literally do anything and go anywhere with good choices. My family isn’t from means by any means and we’ve earned everything we have by ourselves. I’m not a HUGE success story but I do good.

I’m more than happy to assist anyone on here with any pointers if anyone ever pm’s me.

Well done on your own achievement, but my point, I think still stands as a possible obstacle, in SOME cases, not all. I'd like to see a refugee orphaned child, with no parental support, influence or income make that same journey you describe.