Do something you really like, and hopefully it pays the rent. As far as I’m concerned, that’s success.

Petty defines “success” in deliberately modest, human terms: doing work that feels intrinsically right (“something you really like”) and having it sustain an ordinary life (“pays the rent”). The line rejects fame, awards, and wealth as primary measures, emphasizing autonomy and daily viability instead. It also carries a musician’s pragmatism—artistic fulfillment matters, but so does making a living—suggesting a balance between passion and practicality. In framing this as his personal standard (“As far as I’m concerned”), Petty presents success as subjective and self-authored, not dictated by industry metrics or public acclaim.