Success is about me having the ability to do things on my own terms.

Success is about me having the ability to do things on my own terms.

We recently had a conversation with one of our mentors, Kellee Wip, about the idea of success. So many women are juggling a full-time career alongside of being a full-time mom. It’s tough to find balance between work and home. Often, this problem leaves women feeling like they are falling short in all areas of life. Kellee can definitely relate to this feeling, which is why she shared her story about redefining success. Read on for the full conversation!

What was the idea of success you once had?

When I sit back and think about my story, I had a vision of what success looked like and I was achieving it. I had my undergrad degree, my master’s degree and was working in some incredible companies. I was working my way up the corporate ladder and had financial freedom. Then, I had kids and while all the things I just said were so important to me, I was forced to ask the question “what does success for me look like now?” 

When did you realize that the definition of success could be redefined to meet your goals and lifestyle? 

Before my kids, I was comfortable working 70 to 80-hour work weeks. But when they came into the picture, all of a sudden, someone else is raising your kids. You are juggling the expectations of your boss, your job and those kids are being raised by daycares and nannies, which was my case. These little humans need their mother. It was at that point I realized something needed to change. I wasn’t feeling successful anywhere. I was torn at work, missing my kids and when I was with them, I was thinking about work.

 I had to completely redefine what success looked like to me. Contrary to popular belief, changing the definition of success did not mean I had to give up the financial benefit or the feeling of achievement in a career, but it meant it all might look a little different. 

After learning about how Moms Making Six Figures could help you replace your corporate income, did you struggle to find the belief in yourself that you could make this career change?

I think I had belief in myself from the beginning. Although I had never done anything remotely similar to the work with Moms Making Six Figures, I knew if I wanted it bad enough and it could benefit my family, I could make it happen. Part of the reason that belief was there is because I had been successful in my past careers. More importantly, I saw the success of the women on our team who come from a variety of backgrounds and thought “if they can do it, so can I.” I leveraged the strength of what they’ve achieved to give me the strength and belief that I could do it, too. 

So, what do you redefine your success as now? If you could just sum it up in a few sentences?

I think success for me now is to be thriving. I am no longer working for someone else. I am working for my ability to thrive in my personal life so that I can be present with my children, financially have the things I need, and frankly, the things I want in my life. To me success is not about pressure and having to do something. Success is about me having the ability to do things on my own terms.

What advice would you give to other women still struggling with the idea of success? Perhaps the ones who are in the position you used to be; climbing the corporate ladder, the kids are in daycare and they don’t necessarily feel successful at work or home.

I think my biggest piece of advice is to take a bigger picture look at where you want to be in life. Are you truly set up to thrive? Or are you just purely making your way through the day. If there is no end in sight and a year from now things won’t feel or get better, then it is time to make a change. It’s time to say that your story of success can change and own it. You can figure out where you belong, the right type of people to surround yourself with and then just do it.