The Moment HIMSS Executive VP Carla Smith Knew What Her Future Would Hold

Carla Smith vividly remembers the exact moment the meaning of her life made itself clear.

Now the executive vice president of HIMSS, a nonprofit that focuses on better health through information technology, Smith shared with HuffPost Live's Nancy Redd her aha moment that brought everything together in a way she didn't expect.

"I was putting together a presentation, and part of the presentation was for me to give a little background about myself. When I started to put that together, it came as a eureka moment to me," she said. "All of a sudden, I saw how the puzzle pieces fit together and that the trajectory that I was on was purposeful and meaningful."

Smith knew she wanted to make a difference in healthcare, and once she realized that all her work had been pushing her in that direction, she was able to pursue success on her own terms.

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