Women manage everything. We are strong, resilient, and should always focus on our future. Our past doesn’t define us; instead, it serves as a pathway to the opportunities that lie ahead. The current political climate demonstrates what not to do—highlighting shortcomings and prioritizing financial gain. I have never let money define my worth. Today, I proudly manage four companies. My dreams have become my reality through hard work, perseverance, and a deep care for what I do.
This reflects the essence of womanhood. On any given day in our offices, you’re likely to encounter two dogs and small children making their way from their mom or grandma’s office to the “Montage Kids” room. They bring life and energy to our workspace, and I truly cherish their presence as a reminder of progress and change. It evokes memories of missed opportunities when I could not fully participate in a “job” because I had no one to care for my three-year-old daughter.
When I interviewed various women for an article, a recurring theme emerged:the countless responsibilities they juggle at various stages of their lives. I’ve always viewed my life in decades, reflecting on accomplishments, lessons learned, struggles faced, and opportunities embraced. As I approach the end of this current decade, I plan for the next with the same passion. I feel blessed to reflect on my life in this way.
Attending a Tony Robbins seminar profoundly changed my perspective. During one portion of the event, he asked us to envision our lives as individual scenes in a slideshow. One by one, we were to remove the slides with negative memories, ultimately revealing a new mental picture of our lives. While history cannot be erased, we can change our perspective to recognize the impact of wrong decisions and how we or our loved ones have over- come them.
Years later, when I attended “Unleash the Power Within” with a client, I was astonished at how much I recalled Tony’s words. However, during the “film of your life” session, I came up empty, unable to identify any painful moments from my past. In that moment of clarity, I recognized the suffering around me; my client was in tears, and the auditorium echoed with emotion. I had to leave the room, realizing that many people are held back from achieving their goals and dreams because of the weight of past traumas.
We can either blame others or choose to reframe our lives and perspectives. It’s ultimately up to us to shift our focus from the past to the bright possibilities that lie ahead and persevere to live life to the fullest, creating experiences that reinforce beliefs.
Danone Simpson is CEO at Montage Insurance; chairwoman at Simpolicy; president at Legacy Heir; and CEO at Bene.