is it worth a life to be number one in chess for your lifetime...?

You could say the same for many professional sports as well. Or some people dedicate their entire lives to study math or physics. World class level requires a lot, chess is no different in that regard. Is it worth it? It depends on who do you ask. I am sure that almost every GM will say that it was worth it. Some hobby player might say otherwise, but in the end it is up to the individual.

Everyone has different goals.

Some players want to be World Champion. Others just want to improve at a game that they enjoy.

The value that chess offers changes, from person to person.

i know that money isn't everything.

But, lets say, you are NOT talented.

you took training in chess too.

But, you improved only a bit.

Now, do you think that's worth it? Pursuing your dream?

If you’re not that talented at the game, then why set a goal like being world champion? Lmao

yes that's the point i wanted to talk about in the first place! maybe u misunderstood lol

I have a friend who dropped out of high school and had to train hard to get her 5th grade level math to GED math level and now is in community college majoring in physics. I asked her on the likelihood of it being feasible being relatively small and her answer was this. All her life, she thought she coudnt do so many things and now that she is working hard and seeing results of the grind and developing a passion for studying to choose physics is to dare the world to show her she really  cant do this. I am eagerly observing her progress and hoping she goes far.

the point of this story is, that some people cannot rest without trying to accomplish nearly impossible things on account of living a life filled with  regret otherwise. strictly from a consequentialist perspective this daring illogical way to life is foolish (or perhaps cursed and necessary like a painful affliction) .

Of course you can also pursue your crazy dreams and the opportunity cost is so high, you end up regretting your venture. Then the question remains, what will you regret more? to not accomplish your implausible ambitions and the byproduct consequences of this failed venture or to not try to pursue your heart's desire? people answer that with their blood as ink. 

Too many people nowadays will give up at the first serious set-back.

Sir Winston Churchill was fond of pointing out that one vital ingredient to eventual success was the ability to go from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.

You don't see much of that attitude nowadays.

If I'm very good at chess and love chess, Can I make living out of it?

there is ok money to be made as a coach, especially if you can do so online and live in a cheap country. Dan heisman is only an NM and commands like 80 and hour for coaching. 

 Depends if you are really good or not.

the problem is, chess players want to make a living playing chess, (and honestly do so like wrestlers do as contracts and not payed for winning events unless money is very high, events should be bonuses). coaching, lecturing , simuls and things like that are more like necessary evils to make a living than pursuits. 

the very brief time i was a coach, i was making 25 an hour and the one who got me the gig kept the other 25, so right off the bat a weak NM like me can charge 50 an hour with the right marketing to the community. The problem is the time. its not steady, a lot those hours are scholastic players so you have most competing for slot times between 4-8 on weekdays so you get bottleneck.

I used to live by this philosophy. At least I thought I did. The dedication part was the easy part. Not so much the work. In the end, if you start with talent, and work hard, then you'll succeed. But at what? A physicist? Sure. But not someone at the top of their field, like Hawking. If you want to be good at chess and maybe write on the subject, or teach, that is absolutely do-able. If you *want* to be GM material, you already aren't. (Not you specifically.)

Why being worried about money? Have grand masters ever took the time to just stop and think. Have at least one good hour to self reflect on what they have accomplished. Do they give themselves the time to think? And do nothing but just think? Not about chess or anything in particular. But have they ever saw themselves and thought, “where am I?”.

what the heck does this mean lol

Lots of their lives right now are focused on chess. Do they ever think about a life where chess doesn’t play such a big role in their life? Other than chess, what do they want to do.

why would they?