It all depends on the person for what they do to find contentment, and also what you mean by success.
I meditate and that helps a lot.

I try to remember that its just a body and isn't who I really am. I often wear what I want, regardless of what gender the clothes are marketed at--just being myself without hormones/surgery makes me happy.
Other people can pass quite well without hormones and/or surgery. They live their lives in their preferred gender. Even some who don't pass well just live how they please.