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In China by tradition, success of men was measured by the number of mistresses he had. Nowadays fancy cars, luxury homes, expensive branded watches, clothes and golf equipment have replaced mistresses as measurement of success. For the Chinese government, the traditional measure of success was the GDP. According to the current Chinese premier Xi, GDP is not any longer the measure of success in China, but the happiness of Chinese people.^[46]

A survey amongst 200 private high school students in South China showed that about 25 % of respondents equaled success with money, 25 % with achieving goals and improving oneself. For 15 %, success meant realizing ones’ dreams, and for 7 % it meant doing what one wants to do. Some respondents’ answers included: ‘having a positive effect on others’, ‘not regretting anything’, ‘trying to reach something without sacrifices’. For about 8 % success meant ‘being happy all life’. Roughly 15% had no idea how to define success.

A survey in a Chinese private company amongst 100 middle position employees with an average age of 35 showed that 25 % equaled success with setting goals and achieving them. For 25 % it meant making best use of one’s potential. 15% defined success as ‘being happy’ or ‘family happiness’. Only 5 % equaled it with money, 5 % had no idea how to define it and 3 % thought of it as freedom to do whatever one wants to do. The remaining respondents defined success as feeling, transcending limitations and showing value to society.

Table 1: Examples of Chinese success definitions in different areas