What got you to where you are today?

Not giving up. I’m very deliberate and persistent.

@MollyMcGuire If I may ask, where did not giving up get you? What did you not give up on?

It was many of those things.

Firstly, having the courage to go after a dream.
Then being prepared to work hard to achieve it and not give up when things got tough.
Gaining the education I needed to get me where I wanted to go.
Being fairly strategic about the direction I took and where I invested my energy.
Meeting people along the way who saw something in me they wanted to support.
Keeping my eyes open for opportunities and taking them when they were available.
Taking some calculated risks.
Being passionate about my goals and my ability and right to achieve them.
Being able to sell myself when necessary.
Plus other things I probably haven’t thought about and a dash of luck.

Serendipity. Opportunities came along that put me in the right place at the right time.

Though it tears me up to say this, when my father killed himself we were a family with significant debt, (we had to sell everything we owned after he died to pay it off). Had that been the situation we had continued living in, I doubt very much that playing a musical instrument would ever have been an option for me.

The man my Mother married after this, who [adopted us and] became my Dad, was (and still is) such a strong influence in all our lives. Always on top of his finances, (there was always money left after all bills were paid,) and his attitude towards life and the importance of trying your best at all you do – he made it possible for me to follow the life I now know and love so much.

I would give anything to have my father still alive today… anything apart from losing the Dad I gained.

Bad luck and disbelief.

“Damn my life is shit, I best try something to fix it. Damn, the thing that was supposed to fix everything made it worse, I guess I’ll have to try something else. WTF, again!? ok ok, 3 bad ones in a row, next one must be good. I can’t believe it, ok, next idea, keep pushing. FML.”

1) Good luck. I got hired by a company that pretty much guaranteed lifetime employment.
2) Dedication. I stuck with it, even when I hated the job, the managers, and my co-workers.
3) My unfailing ability to put up with shit.
4) Marrying the right person. We have had our ups and downs, but I have no doubt that without her constantly wanting a bigger house, better life, and newer car, we wouldn’t be so well placed now.

Thinking for myself. Not relying on religion or fairy tales, but on my hard work.

And some luck

And working hard.

And making good decisions.

making the wrong decisions and listening to my overbearing father.

The desire to do more started it for me. I was the first person in my family to graduate high school in several generations, let alone go to college and get a degree.

The desire to help others while being able to provide for my family lead me to my career in nursing.

Overall, my desires ignited the fuse and my dedication, passion, hard work, and perseverance keep the fuse lit so I can continue pursuing my desires.

Dumb luck, working too damn hard and no health insurance.

A combination of self grandiose, stubbornness, perseverance and optimistic romanticism.

I got what I desired most in life….......I have the greatest family ever….:)

How I got where I am today:
1. Married the right woman
2. Take chances with my career
3. Meet some wonderful people that helped when times were tough
4. Have two wonderful intelligent daughters
5. Follow through on commitments
6. Continue education
7. Stay loyal to family and friends.
8. Stay stubborn and stick to a problem until it is solved.
9. I’m not afraid to ask for directions.

I may as well answer here. I could not have been lazier if I tried. School bored me to tears as it was such a slow process for learning anything. My parents virtually forced me to go to college and even there my efforts were marginal at best. One thing I have always done is live on the edge and take things to their extreme. I know how to play hard and create something from nothing. So after college I bounced around from a few odd jobs until my dad threw a business opportunity into my lap and for lack of nothing better to do I took it on. So here I was a 23 yrd old running a business I had zero experience in and taught myself everything I could about it. 2 years later I started another business to take on the other aspects the other one really couldn’t. 16 years later one on my vendors offered me a job to work for him when he bought the company. I had just had my first son and the benefits and salary were enticing so I said “what the hell!” and 18 years later I now own the company. Some where along the way responsibility hit me head on and I was able to just do what needed to be done and I have to admit I still struggle with wanting to goof off everyday but somehow still get up and do what needs to get done. Life is hard work and a lot of detours but one hell of an adventure.

@Cruiser GA, really great answer!

I have been a very fortunate person all of my life. Blessed would be a better word. Having an Associate Degree did not hurt my situation. Also, having a wife that has been my best supporter, did nothing but help boost me along life’s pathway..

I have been the type person that everything just falls into place for whatever I have seeked in life.

I have had a winning team for 68 years and one team that we hope to win the Super Bowl of Life.

Depression & very poor decision making.

I’m not anywhere special or successful, and in fact, I’ve had better times. Some day though, I will go to Mordor.

Going with the flow.

i am not only the bending sapling in a fierce wind, i am also the rock the wave breaks against.

Life’s been so good to me, has it been good to you?

For me life (so far) has been a mixture of :

1. Good fortune/accident/good luck:
Cases in point: Meeting my husband in Tokyo and his saving my life/limb, having been blessed with 3 healthy and wonderful children
2. Hard Work/Persistence/Tenacity (especially at work, and marriage takes work, too)
3. Careful choices (weighing the pros & cons..making careful progress)
4. Being flexible, adaptable and adventurous.

I’d take another 20 years just like the last 20 years if I could..

Just got lucky.

Innate genius & a cunning masterplan.