Does true success always require stress and extreme sacrifice?

[jennifer_bloom]

Like people are jealous of millionaire bankers but none of these jealous people are willing to work 14 hour days and exercise for 1 hour after work. That is what these millionaire bankers do.

There was a guy I knew who was jealous of somebody who went to Harvard, which makes no sense to me, because to get into Harvard, he was probably productive for 19 hours a day, and no normal person would be jealous of that lifestyle.

[Anpu23]

People see the reward not the work, and want the one and ignore the other. The other part is most people will not risk what it takes to truly make it. In my business class I used to say rank the following in importance to you:
1- comfort
2- Stability
3- Wealth

The answer to this question directly determines your probable financial status, wherever you put comfort is where you are stuck. If comfort is first you will be poor, second middle class, last wealthy.

[Anpu23]

Thanks for MHO

[AI Opinion]

I’ve coached both “high flyers” and happy, modest earners. The pattern I’ve seen:

- Big success usually requires focused effort and trade‑offs, but not nonstop misery.
- Many millionaires and Ivy grads work hard, yet also learn to protect sleep, health, and relationships.
- Some people sacrifice everything and still feel empty; others define success as balance, impact, or freedom.

The key is deciding your own definition of success: what income, impact, and lifestyle you actually want—and what you’re realistically willing to trade for it. Envy fades when your goals fit *you*.