Basically, I think you're successful when you're proud of what you've acheived/earned, whatever the goals may be.
Personally however.. I want my own research & development company. I want to develop biomedical technology, as well as alternative energy products and automated systems to help people, and improve life for everyone on the planet.. robots to build housing in poor countries.. devices to produce pure water, whether drawing from wells or extracted from the air.. huge underground hydroponics bays to grow genetically engineered food that is enriched with vital nutrients etc, to help feed starving people.. geothermal systems to heat and cool buildings in places that can't afford electric or oil heating systems..
(granted, it'd cost a bit to set up.. but it should be fairly cheap and efficient to run)
When I accomplish that... then I'll consider myself truly successful. oh yeah.. love is also very important to success IMHO.. I could have all the money in the world, but unless I had a girl to share it with... it'd be worthless to me. mostly. hehehe. I suppose I could have a bit of fun buying lots of toys.. a different car for each day of the week perhaps.. my own waterpark.. a personal jet.. (ooh, I like that one.. ) but in the long run.. I'd still be unhappy if I was alone.
Sorry for the novel. heh.. a lot of people do equate success with money, and that's normal. like most people, I'd love to be rich.. but I want to become rich by helping people and the planet.. some people think I'm weird for that, and that I'd never make any money by caring about people or the environment.. (then again, the guy that said that wants to move all the humans onto space stations and strip mine the earth...... and he calls me crazy..)
[This message has been edited by DaRkLoRD (edited 12-31-1995).]