How Do You Measure Success?

I saw this image popping up on Facebook and tried to reflect on myself how successful am I as a person? Teachers, relatives, or maybe some of your former classmates sometimes measure success on how big your salary is and your job title in the company.

I am not a bachelor's degree holder and I don't even have a high-ranking job title. Back in high school, I was very practical that in college I wanted to take up a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, a 4-year course. But if you finish the first two years, you will get the Administration of Computer Technology diploma. So whatever happens, I could still find a job when I finish college for at least 2 years.

The Reasons Why I Took Up Information Technology

I am not really good at programming and I was really bad at programming subjects back in college. But the reason why I wanted to take up IT when I was in high school were:

• To have my own desktop computer

• I want to work online using my desktop computer or laptop

• I just want to work at home to avoid going to the office company

• To travel somewhere while bringing my laptop to work

Making All My Dreams Come True

All those four reasons actually came true. I've been to several countries traveling with friends and tried solo backpacking in and out of the country.

I Am Not a Materialistic Person

If you ask me what are the material things I've bought for myself. These are:

• Laptop

• DSLR camera

• iPad mini

• Android phone

I still have all these things with a good return on investment for my online job. With my DSLR camera, I did some wedding photography and earn money. These are all the expensive things I bought with my own money. So wherever I go, I can easily travel with all these things without worries.

I Never Thought of Investing or Owning Land Properties or Condominium Units

I have my reasons why I never thought of buying properties and vehicles with my earnings from my online job.

• Internet connection is such a $#!+ in the Philippines

• I didn't see myself settling down in the Philippines

• I want my freedom without paying any monthly fees

• I want to live in a place or a country with a better internet connection

• I don't want to own too many things

• Freedom to travel

I Was Single for a Long Time

I was in a 6-year relationship that ended in 2013. Since then I started traveling with friends until I travel alone. I did so many things and enjoyed my life as a single person. I had some quick and short love affairs along the way but it was not that serious. Or the guy was not serious with me. So I decided to play along the waves. But I learned to know myself more and get to know what I really wanted in life. Also, what I wanted to be if I go into a serious relationship.

Pursuing New Hobbies

Working as an online freelance worker helped me to pursue new hobbies. Of course, I was able to earn money and saved some money. As someone who works online, it just gave me several opportunities.

I saved money to buy a camera for my photography business

My blog reader paid for my Open Water Diving Certification as I keep on writing about it on my blog and also gave me an underwater camera. I will blog this in a separate post. Anyway, the photo above was in El Nido, Palawan.

Freediving in Bali, Indonesia

If you have read my previous article about Why did I quit my office job in the Philippines?, working in an office with a low-paying job won't let me have this kind of freedom to pursue my hobbies.

Life is not Perfect

Along the way, I had some life crises, family crises, love crises, health crises, and financial crises. But for me, back when I was single, I am successful. You have to love yourself first and face your own demons. Be yourself, don't pretend. Fight for what is right. Be an empowered person, be independent.

You don't need to compete/compare with others but yourself

There are times when we are so competitive that we have to compare ourselves to other people. I stop comparing and I don't have to be in competition with others.
What I realized is that I only live for myself. I do what makes me happy. I must live simply and comfortably.

I don't have so much money but I had so much time

I've said many times that I was able to save money but I have to let you know that I never had so much money while traveling around back when I was single. I have to be honest that I was so lucky that I had so much time.

I never had millions in my bank account, I only had a 100K Philippine Pesos. I've spent all of them. But I have 20K PHP on my stock market investment.

I could have been a millionaire if I didn't travel. But traveling helped me to escape from my problems.

Yes, back when I was single, I had so much time. I spent my free time to do volunteering work in a non-profit organization or helping as a receptionist in a hostel in exchange for free accommodation. I immersed myself to experience living like a local and don't spend my money like a tourist. I would never have had this kind of experience if not for being a digital nomad.

Next time, I will write about Work-Life Balance. :D

So how do you measure success? Leave your comments below!
Photo credit: LIZANDMOLLIE on Facebook

Related Articles:

• I love my life as a Digital Nomad
• What are the perks of a travel writer?
• I love my job as a Virtual Assistant
• Why did I quit my office job in 2010?
• I Need to find my Own Luck

Anyway, if you have some questions about how I travel, or volunteer work, saving and investing money, leave a comment below.

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