What determines a successful teacher? People all over the world become teachers for different reasons. Some do it for money. This is not a good reason to be a teacher, for several reasons. 1. Most teachers don't make large amounts of money. 2. Doing any job for the money does not bring satisfaction nor happiness. 3. Someone who teaches for money, usually has little compassion for his students and little desire to see them learn. Some people want to be a teacher, simply for the prestige of being known as a teacher. In many cultures, the position of teacher holds a great deal of respect. However, respect will only be maintained by those who have earned it. Yet others want to teach because they have a genuine desire to help people reach their goals. This kind of teacher will never lack for students, because every person will be seen as a student. This teacher is also a perpetual student. He keeps learning, so that he will have a continual supply of subject matter to teach. Every student is different and this teacher works at adapting to the students' different needs. The successful teacher is measured, not by his salary, nor by his prestige, but rather by the success of his students. A successful teacher never arrives at a level of success, but is continually working at becoming more successful.