Everyone is going to have a different definition of trading success. The alphas will always want as much as possible and, more importantly, more than anyone else. They can't help it they are wired that way and there are a few in here. Then there are those who thought they were alphas until they took one or more good beatings that left them cautious and bitter. There are quite a few in here as well. You will also find many analysts in here who drive as much pleasure building models and looking for validation. For them, money is only a byproduct of the reward, building predictability, which is their real kahuna. There are some, like me, who are happy little fish. We watch the sharks battle it out for the dead whale's body while we grab as much of the tiny pieces of meat floating around. With time, we learn where the whales travel and when the sharks attack.
If you enjoy it, never too late or too old. If you are really serious, I recommend you do what we newbies here on ET do: Read up and follow some of the masters' posts.
My apology, in this day and age, I should not use the word master. It is now a dirty word, rather I should call them experts: @destriero, @TheBigShort, @taowave, @Sweet Bobby, @Same Lazy Element, @newwurldmn, @Sig, @Handle123... just to name a few. And you shouldn't take me, a newbie, too seriously.
You summed up the participants well. Also very thoughtful to admit you and I are small fish, surviving on scraps from the pro boys. Anyone who can recognize and admit to it will go far. No wonder where you are at there are so many Crazy Rich Asians.
Many years ago, in my early 30's and novice at everything except life experiences, I was working on a scrap metals business deal in Eritrea with a crooked Palestinian living in Doha. Thankfully the deal never came to be, but he did say something that stuck with me all these years. He said, to be successful as a little guy you need to make sure you don't come under the radar of the bigger guys.