In summary, what are your thoughts on what it takes to be successful?

[Gentle_Idiot]

Is "success" judged internally or externally, or, both?

I see it as measurable. Some people are objectively more successful than others. Honestly, I don't give a rat's behind how a person feels. If he looks like a loser from the outside, he's a loser.

I personally would say the criteria for success are Twitter followers, material wealth, physical strength (for men), raw beauty (for women), accumulated skills, and number of close friends.