For one thing the definition of a 'successful' life is fluid. It can mean many different things to many different people. Conventional society has it's own definition of success but it's not the only definition.
For another thing societal norms are fluid. What was considered unconventional a few decades ago is now considered normal.

Unless the society you live in, conforming is necessary to have a life. However, that as well can be argued.
Fortunately, the United States doesn't need us to live like robots. A "successful life" is a bit subjective; there's no widely agreed definition for a successful life. It is similar to morality, there's several different approaches to having a successful life, and not everyone has to agree upon them. For some, conforming to societal norms may be the only qualification for leading a successful life, others may add more qualifications upon it.
Fanfly already explained it well enough.

It shouldn't be, however I think it is. For instance if you don't conform and get an education you struggle to get jobs. Another biggy is tattoos (I plan on getting one so I looked up some info on it) a lot of sources stated that if you get a tatt, it's harder to get a job. According to workopolis a poll was done on the matter and this was the result; Turning to the general population, we asked nearly 5,000 people – not necessarily in hiring positions – if they take a person less seriously if the person has tattoos. Forty-nine percent said “No,” leaving half (51%) of respondents who either do take someone less seriously for having tattoos, or might, depending on the situation and how many tattoos the person has.

“Do you take people less seriously if they have tattoos?”
Yes, I do. 22.04%

No, I don’t. 49.39%

It depends on the situation. 18.63%

It depends on how many. 9.94%

When asked to comment, respondents said: “No matter how much meaning they have for the owner, they are just not attractive nor professional looking. It does affect my decision making process when hiring.”

“For the large majority of our positions, no it would not impact. For a position however that had a large customer facing role, depending where they were, it may impact our decision.”


“For me looking at the miserable decorations on the skin is repulsive.”

To get a tattoo is by a lot of peoples' standards not conforming. And as shown it does affect one's ability to get a job. Which is really silly and it shouldn't be that way. But apparently it is.

But is getting the type of job that requires you to be tattoo-less a universal standard of success?

Also, tattoos are pretty easy to hide. They've come out with some pretty awesome make-up that covers them up nicely, so it's pretty easy to pass as tattoo-less, even when you've got tattoos in obvious places. And most employers are willing to hiring tattooed people, so long as they keep them covered. They aren't nearly as taboo as the workpolis poll makes it seem. (And that's coming from someone who's job requires her arm, hands, and face be so distraction free they ban colored nail polish).

If you want to go with a non-conforming idea, piercings and gouging probably would have been better, since you really can't hide some of those, depending on where they are/how big they are.