Recently, I was listening to an amazing woman talk about success and it really made me think about how easy it is to let others define success for us.

For most of my adult career, I've defined success by how well I've done at work, how far up the corporate ladder I've gone, and what my professional title had become. This definition of success had twisted my inner being, so much so that years ago after I left a high profile career as a producer for ABC News Primetime Live, I had a terrible time figuring out who I was.

I spent almost 10 years working for ABC in one capacity or another, and boy was it easy to have doors open for you when you're making calls and identifying yourself as a producer from ABC. After my departure, all of a sudden I was Allison Sesnon-still a career woman-but Allison Sesnon working for a start-up with no history, no name recognition and no power.

I went from, "Oh, you work with Diane Sawyer!" to "What do you do, again?" At the time, I knew leaving ABC was right for me, but I never realized how much I had become ABC. Everything about me was ABC. Even my clothes were ABC.

In the years that followed, I would ponder as I found myself wearing my ABC zip-up jacket and think..."What are you trying to prove?" Secretly, I knew I still wanted to be "someone". I wanted people to know that I had an impressive past. I wanted them to know that I wasn't another struggling start-up wanna be. I wanted them to know that I had made it...even though I had given it up.

Now, I look back on those years with fondness for what they taught me. I still love the fact that I worked at ABC and had some incredible opportunities to change lives. But as those years drift farther and farther away, and become just cherished memories, I have finally become me. Now, I proudly identify myself as the mother of Sophie and James. I love the job of being a mom more than anything. Don't get me wrong; I still love my career. But I no longer let it define who I am or who I aspire to be. It is no longer what makes me a success.

So, a special thanks to Jennifer Rothschild - that incredible woman who reminded me that we can all be successful. The key is to define success for yourself, and not to let society or the gals down the street do it for you.

Relish in your successes and be the best "you" you can be.

Resources: If you'd like to learn more about Jennifer Rothschild, who lost her vision as a teenager, click here. Jennifer's advice about success can be viewed for free, along with over 30 other video answers, at iQuestions.com.

Written by Allison Sesnon
Mom of Sophie and James, wife of Ken,
& VP Programming iQuestions.com

Source: www.isnare.com