ive always based success on quality of life. For example, I once took the RHCE and failed by just four points. Looking at the cost of the exam at around $400,

ive always based success on quality of life. For example, I once took the RHCE and failed by just four points. Looking at the cost of the exam at around $400, I decided to forego a retake as a hundred dollars per point seemed silly. What did it mean to me, and my definition of success, to be able to regurgitate old Apache ACL's on command? Not much, seeing as Nginx is of a higher priority to me. In the end I relegated the experience to that of a rat race. Being told you've failed the RHCE hurts but in no way does it mean you should settle with never achieving your dreams. Sometimes you've got to understand who sets the terms and definitions, and make adjustments as necessary. Letting others decide the objectives of success is tacitly hoping their outcomes and objectives for that often very personal success are as altruistic and self serving as yours. At some point, everything from Body Spray to luxury sedans set this bar in a predatory manner. Theres no reason to think the Olympics and private corporations in general wont at some point do this as well.