Do Adults Today Define Success Differently Than Their Parents?

While it might be tempting to predict a massive social media following ensures role model status, after surveying 1,008 of our members aged 18 to 69, we learned the most impactful people are those who have been involved since day one.

Despite viewing their parents as role models, those we surveyed acknowledge that they tend to use different criteria than their parents when defining success.

Our respondents identify good health, good friends, and being in a stable relationship as the top contributors to success (44-50%) and place the least importance on their social media following, having the newest technology gadgets, and/or attending a particular college (2 to 5%).  However, they perceive the keys to success in their parents’ eyes as a college degree, good health, and a close-knit family  (40 to 44%).

Some interesting differences by gender also emerge when asked to define what constitutes success. A college degree and wealth/status hold more sway among males, while females place a greater focus on a tight-knit family and raising children that are compassionate.

Stay tuned for our next recap of this research which features insights on personal milestones: those already achieved and what’s hopefully next!