Tuning in to OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, last Sunday evening (with Part 2 airing this Sunday) you’ll find an in-depth interview Oprah did with the entire Kardashian family in their Calabassas, California home. Most of the interview is unsurprising. Kris Jenner defends what many call “pimping” her children, Kim Kardashian opens up about her unhappiness in her marriage, and Scott Disek admits he’s kind of a jackass. Nothing new, right?
One question, though, caught my ear. Oprah asked the Kardashian children if they “always wanted to be famous.” The answer came from sister Khloe who said that they never longed to be famous, but that they grew up around famous people, children whose parents had risen to the top of their fields, and that it was ingrained in them at a young age that they should pursue success. Khloe said, “We just want to be successful.” All four of the Kardashian kids agreed and refuted that they set out to be famous.
Whether you believe what Khloe and the other kids said or not, it brings up an interesting point. Success is in the eye of the beholder, and even more so it’s in the eyes of a child who is picturing success in the place or circumstances they grow up seeing. It’s no wonder that children who grow up in underserved neighborhoods have difficulty graduating or going to college. And conversely, it’s no wonder that children who grow up with incredibly successful parents will want to model that behavior.
What do you think? What is success in your eyes? Does it correspond to the success you viewed as a chidl?
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
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