Last night I sat down with a glass of wine, and an old ledger I pulled out of my grandmother's things. I have a box that contains letters and photos and newspaper clippings, much of what I have looked over numerous times - but this book I had not seen before.
I knew the minute I opened it that it was a personal journal, as I recognized my grandmother's barely legible handwriting. She was a smart woman so far as common sense and intuition... but not so educated in reading and writing. Still, I discovered that she was a beautiful writer. Not something I would have ever guessed, even after knowing her my whole life.
This particular journal was for the year 1937. The year she left her job at the 'dirty old mill' to open her first business.
She worked in that business, loving it every single day, until she was 91 years old. For 66 years - until 2003, when I moved here to stay with her for her last two years of life.
I was born in 1973, and my grandmother was already an incredibly successful woman. All I'd ever known of her was her strong work ethic, her business success, her awards and honorable mentions. By then she was doing so well that she was also investing in the stock market and in real estate, among other things.
But this journal told another story. She poured her heart out on those pages. She shared her doubts and her fears, her internal desire to find or create something more out of her life.
I always looked up to my grandmother, and most of you know she has been a great source of inspiration to me. It never occurred to me just how human she was...
Reading her entry the night before she opened her business - full of dreams and fears and doubts - I found a great source of personal inspiration.
All too often we look up to the people who have succeeded, or gone before us, and think it must have been handed to them on a silver platter. We imagine that they must be greater than we are in some way, or that we are missing something they obviously possess.
She spoke of that too, in a separate entry titled "All I am, I owe to my mother". Her mother lived an incredible life, and lived to be 103 years old...
As I closed the ledger, carefully tucking all of the loose pages in, I realized that there is no pedestal. Only our doubts playing tricks on us, encouraging us to see others as more special or more talented. As larger than life, or at least larger than us.
I would guess that most people have that internal desire to make more of life. More than just waking up, working and sleeping - day after day, year after year. And if so, what separates those that do create an exceptional life... and those that do not?
After reading Grandmother's story, it was clear to me that she made her own path. There was no divine intervention. There was nothing handed to her. She had an idea, and she shared that idea under a full moon with a dear friend, sitting at the farm's gate. That friend told her to do it, to make it happen. And so she did.
She later gave credit to that moment for her success, and shared how it stayed with her throughout her first year. She thought back on it often, and used it as a focal point on the days that were hard - the days she wanted to give up.
Maybe it's as simple as having someone or something that inspires you beyond your own fear and doubt. Perhaps success is not a mystical elusive thing - but freely available to anyone willing to step out and take action.
If all it took for her was that desire, plus a tiny bit of personal inspiration - and plenty of hard work - then maybe it really is that simple. Fully sure that may very well be the case... I wanted to pass this bit of personal inspiration on to you as well.
Best,
p.s. On the night before my grandmother opened her business, she defined her objective. In that journal entry she never mentioned fame or wealth, but instead defined it like this: "I want to make people happy, and I want them to make me happy too - through my work." She was describing personal fulfillment.
As I read that entry, I thought back to her last days when I sat by her bedside. Every now and then she would resurface from the depths of dementia and squeeze my hand... and she would say that she was not afraid of death. That she had a long and rewarding life and that she was content with how it ended.
One small-town farm girl turned successful entrepreneur. One tiny speck of life in one very small corner on this huge planet. And her success continues through the happiness and inspiration she passes on to all of us...
About Lynn Terry
Seems like your family has been blessed with an abundance of 'The Right Stuff' 🙂
Interesting generational comparison though. Until recently, we had to rely on journals, letters and family stories to build an understanding of what our ancestors were like in life.
These days though, kids have grown up online - just imagine the wealth of information, pictures and video that will potentially be available to their descendants!
'The Right Stuff' being action. I hope you were being sarcastic 😛 Otherwise you missed the point entirely! LOL
Thank you for this post Lynn! Very inspiring indeed. What a great way to start the day.
In those early days, it's very hard for them to be an entrepreneur and succeed. Kudos to your grandmother. She was a great lady with the determination to WIN in life!
Simply Beautiful!
There's so much I could say but I can't see thru the tears 😉
"There is no pedestal." Thanks for your insights, Lynn, and especially for that sentence.
Peggy
What a wonderful remembrance of your Grandmother! It's amazing that a woman was able to do that all her life - considering she was just a generation behind women who were not allowed to vote! She must have been so special 🙂 You are lucky to have had her in your life 🙂
Thanks for sharing this Lyn.
It's amazing to think that some successful people didn't aim for success at the first place. It just comes naturally along with their pure unselfish motives. This is one great example of life's rewards to self actualized individuals who are ready to face what lies ahead of them.
I wouldn't say she didn't aim for success. I could definitely see that through her writing. I think it's just a matter of personal definition for "success". No doubt she intended to create a nice lifestyle for herself in the process 😉
Man...that was a great post Lynn!
Dave
Great post, Lynn!
It is WAY too easy for people struggling to have success in life to excuse themselves from the competition by always thinking the successful ones had something they didn't.
We all have the tools we need if we just have the strength like your Grandmother to use them.
Interesting that I always saw her as a great source of strength. Strong - that would definitely describe her. Tough as nails even. But reading her journal gave me an entirely different view of her. The side of her that had doubts and fears, that needed reassurance and obviously felt her weaknesses. I drew great inspiration from that...
I could not agree more, that side of us that has fears and doubts sometimes gets the best of us and never to taste success. It is good to see that it never took the best of your granny and it is a great lesson to me.
Thank you so much for the post.
Grace
{{{{hugs}}} Lynn - awesome post.
I believe the reason why most people are not successful - is that our society has grown lazy. Everyone wants everything fast: our food, our cars, our internet connections 😉 - even our success.
The truth is - the only thing on the road to success that should be fast - is the action you take to get you there.
Full fruition takes time; but with a purpose, a plan and taking action - one should see money coming in sooner, not later. It won't be a million bucks, but it will be something.
Complacency is evil. It robs you of that burning desire to create change. The very core of Think and Grow Rich concepts... Certainly nothing new to our generation, but definitely more of a situation now than ever...
Reminds me of another very inspiring, yet very human, someone I know...:)
We all could benefit from adopting her objective: “I want to make people happy, and I want them to make me happy too - through my work.”
Clear, concise, simple and true.
I have no doubt she will always be proud of you, Lynn.
Dan
I sincerely appreciate you sharing these stories of your grandmothers life and the influence that she's had on you.
It's obvious that her definition of success has certainly rubbed off on you. I see the joy that you get out of the supporting your Elite Members and encouraging us to spread our wings and become the best that we can be.
Your grandmothers definition of success has one key element that I see lacking from other peoples definition of success. It's easy for us to say that we want to make a difference in the world and have a positive impact on the lives that we come in contact with... but it seems like we leave out the part of those people making us happy through our work.
That's key, because if we are making others happy, but not feeling happy in return for our efforts, it makes it difficult to push forward and share the best within us.
I can finally say after 9 years of business that each and every one of my customers brightens up my day and brings incredible joy to my life.
That's not to say that I haven't had customers in the past who made me happy through my work and brought tears of joy to my eyes. It's just that now, every single one of my customers are bringing a great deal of joy into my life.
I'm seriously blown away with the impact that they are having on me and my family. I have never felt so in harmony with my work, health, and life.
I have had to deal with a lot of hardships and overcome many doubts... not just from me, but from my family and friends. I'm definitely not greater than, more special than, or more talented than anyone else, but...
I am GREAT! I am SPECIAL! I am TALENTED!
I think what makes your grandmother special from what I've read about her through your posts, is that she didn't define success by how many others were. She listened to her inner voice, defined what success meant for her, listened to her dreams, and shared them with a close friend. That one defining moment may have had a huge impact on the path that she followed, but she planted the seed by allowing her self to dream and realize that her dreams could become reality with some hard work and persistence.
This is stuff they should be teaching us in school. Thank you very much Lynn for sharing this with us. It has had a wonderful impact on me and many others.
Thank you for being you and sharing valuable lessons that very few ever share.
You ROCK!
Scott Tousignant
So very inspiring, thank you for sharing Lynn 🙂
This is the very reason why I blog at my personal blog. One day my children will read it, either online or printed out. One day it'll give them the opportunity to see Mommy or Grandma as more than just me in that role... they'll get to know more of me than they ever did before.
What an amazing blessing to you that your Grandma wrote and kept that journal for so long. My dear sweet Granny kept journals of many years of her life and it's one of the neatest things to read.
It does make them seem more "real". I've been so deeply touched by your words. Your relationship with her was so very special. And what a blessing to be surrounded by such a successful woman.
You're just as beautiful and smart as your Grandmother.
Nell
Lynn, thanks for sharing your grandmother with us. You writing is so very inspirational. A great way to start a Monday morning! Thank you for being you!
Wow, what a treasure you found. I'd love to have something like that from one of my grandparents.
What kind of business did she have?
Thank you for sharing this, Lynn. It gave me a much needed boost.
I can't help but wonder...what kind of business did she create?
Robert
Robert & Cathy - someday I may share 😀
Beautiful post Lynn! You peel back all the "systems" and "blueprints" out there to find that you need the same determination and drive to succeed online in 2009 and beyond as you would have needed in 1937. It's in all of us but we tend to be our own worse enemy when it comes to succeeding in our own business. Offline, online, 1937, 2009, 2109, etc.
Exactly. Thinking anything is outside of us, or difficult to attain - where did we get this learning? Was it school, society, or some natural barrier we are born with - as the one and only real challenge to achieve an exceptional life?
Some of the oldest works discuss it, all the way back to the Parable of the Talents in the Bible itself. Those who are willing to use what they have... will be given more.
I'm seeing more and more that success begins at the source - within - like love or happiness or anything great worth having.
Hey Lynn, although I DO agree with what Traci said... "The truth is - the only thing on the road to success that should be fast - is the action you take to get you there"...
I've momentarily teared-up and ironically forgot all about success in a "Financial" way. I think of how Cool My own Grandmother was (the one that died last month), and I'm reminded that at the end of it all, it's only about people, not the dollar.
The "People" that matter most in My Personal life are my Daughter and Son. I must earn enough "Dollars" to give THEM the best life that I can, it doesn't take a "million"! Again, like Traci said.
I better stop now or I may not stop 😉
Gary Anderson II
@GanderCo
Such a beautiful blog post, Lynn. Every time I hear you mention your grandmother, I find myself wishing that I had the chance to meet her and give her a hug.
I had to laugh 😀 Ironically, she was not a hugger - or an intimate/soft person at all. She was always the life of the party, with a big smile and a big personality to boot, but not one to give hugs. Or even accept them very well -LOL.
Wow, Lynn, good story. And wise words, to say the least. Your grandmother was a wise lady.
Wonderful post Lynn ~ thanks for sharing such a personal & inspirational part of your life!
It's funny, yesterday Bob was in a golf tournament & I sat down at the computer as I do every morning & thought to myself, "You need a break, do something you wouldn't normally do." I considered my options and put on a movie to watch as I decided whether to go to the zoo, or to the park or...
Well, 5 movies later ~ lol! Since they were all on Lifetime, they were all movies with a woman as the main character. The two that really had an impact for me were Coco Chanel and Georgia O'Keefe. I have been a long time fan of Georgia O'Keefe not only for her art work, but for the way she lived her life. I knew nothing about Coco Chanel and was amazed at her story and the adversity she over came to create what she did.
There are countless woman over the generations who have been hugely successful whether on a regional level or an international level. Today we have many more advantages and freedoms that make it much easier than women like your grandmother, Georgia or Coco had it. Their stories are inspirational and a little reprimanding...
If each of them could create their definition of an exceptional life, then what is holding us back? We are so very lucky to have this amazing thing called the Internet that lets us create circles of support and encouragement. And so armed with our abilities, the tools available and this tremendous interaction with like minded people, there is no reason at all why we cannot all achieve our own version of an exceptional life.
Wow Lynn, great post. My grandmother recently passed away. She had Parkinsons disease and her last few months were very tender like that.
A writer, painter, and family historian she was a wonderful person and a source of inspiration in my life as well.
Thanks for taking the time out to share tender moments!
-Jennie
Hey Lynn:
Thanks for the meaningful, and inspirational post... It's refreshing to come across such tenderness yet astoundingly powerful when I least expect it!
Very inspiring indeed. Thanks a lot for sharing her journal.
I agree with you. If you really want to be successful in any fields, every person must have the desire and right attitude. Otherwise, it would be hard for him/her to attain all his/her dreams in life. Just simply love your work, then rest will follow.
I really wanted to write something witty and profound to go along with your post but for some reason words escape me, so, simply put, Thank You...:)
Lyle
Lynn, your grandmother's story illustrates the importance of believing in ourselves...that we have something the world needs, that we can make a difference in the lives of others, that we can make something happen for us instead of letting things happen to us. Thanks for sharing!
Lynn, what a dignified woman your grandmother was. I totally didn't expect to come across this post on your site today, but feel it was best that I did.
I have been writing about finding identity through crafting, through the work of my hands rather than the might of intellect. I wan't to create, leave an impression. A woman named Kim commented on my blog this morning to relate her fears on striking out on her own. She should be connected with you!
Thanks again!
Lynn,
I am always so deeply touched whenever you write about your grandmother. You had a wonderful relationship with her. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.
All of us should be blessed to have an inspiration and role model in our lives.
Lexi
The essence of the post is take action, stay focused on that action and only change course if you hit a brick wall. Remember doing the exact same thing and expecting a different result is one definition of insanity.
The main real difference btweeen a brick and mortar business and a online one is one is physical and the other is virtual. They both require action and hard work. Granted the monetary expenditure is possibly less than for a real world business,but it isn't the lottery nor your personal cash(ATM) machine(which has to be restocked periodically or it will cease to dispense money)
Lynn, debated awhile whether to write this or not, but here goes. God does work in mysterious ways. When you maybe needed that special touch from your grandmother in a most difficult time, he made sure this time looking in the box you found what was needed to reinforce all of your hard work and efforts. I have found that some of my most difficult times in life I learned the greatest lessons about me and others. I have learned a great deal in the past day. Thank you for all the wisdom shared and some of the personal side of what made you take massive action.
Lynn, I debated to post or not and then decided to go for it, God really does work in mysterious ways, sometimes we don't recognize it until after the fact.
This time when you were digging around in the box you found what was most needed from Grandmother to help you reinforce that yes, you are on the right track and it's okay to have these doubt's and fears cause she did too.
Thank you for all that I have learned just in the last couple days, also thanks for the massive action you took years ago and being a mentor of where I want to be.
Right now I am suffering from constipation of information and struggling with the action part. Your example with certainly help me to keep moving forward.
Your Grandmother pushed ahead with strong will and never stoped reaching for her dream. thanks for sharing lynn. :}
An excellent, excellent post, Lynn. Thank you so much for sharing what I know was a personal moment. A truly inspirational story to hear the 'rest of the story' or in this case 'the beginning' of a success story.
Don't take this wrong that my mind went in this direction, but your post sounds like a wonderful prologue to a book based on your grandmothers life. 🙂 I'm not thinking of the monetary gain, but that her story (and your skill at connecting with readers) could be such an inspiration to many.
My personal and professional wish for those of us who want to do - but have not yet begun: Take a minute to breathe, regroup and focus.
Lynn Terry is one of several 'doers' and teachers I am meeting on this journey to take charge of my life. There are so many motivators in this community who share, teach and offer tools that will enable us to succeed in our goals; then there are those who are "all that and a bag of chips” PLUS inspirational. These entrepreneurs, like Lynn, are inspirational because they actually care about the people who come to them for knowledge and guidance.
I may – or may not – get off my well-intentioned butt and ignite my own unique gifts with the knowledge I am finding in this online community. That is my personal responsibility.
What I do know – and believe – is that success is not only possible, but probable if I take what is offered and light that fire.
~ RT: @BobTheTeacher "What I know is, if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come." - Oprah
Lynn,
What a beautiful story and how precious that your grandmother's journal turned up exactly when it did, giving you and, thus, so many of us what you needed at this point in time. Thank you and her, as she watches over us all, for sharing.
What an inspiration you both are!
What a treasure! Thanks for sharing this. I write in a journal several times a week and I write about life and my business too. I hope it will be an inspiration to others some day. Thanks for sharing that! Now it is not just inspiring you but us as well!
I absolutely believe it takes a little bit of inspiration, desire and work and absolutely anyone can succeed!
Thanks Lynn!!
WOW definitely an inspirational post. I just love hearing about your grandma. You were definitely meant to find that journal this week.
Thanks Lynn for sharing it, very inspirational
Here I sit, all choked up over another one of your tributes to your Grandmother. Lynn, you have such a wonderful way of showing us what REAL success is - having a warm, loving, and generous heart.
Can I share one other thing... There are always people out in the world that look at a "successful" person and say "Gee, she's lucky. Look at all she has." etc. etc. I have a hard time with that attitude because luck has very little if anything to do with achieving goals.
A quick story to illustrate how truly ridiculous the whole "luck" argument is.
I worked with a gal many years ago, and she and I were the same age, but she had a baby, and my daughter was in high school. One day, she came into work all frazzled because the baby had been up all night and said to me, "You're so lucky your daughter's all grown up!" 😮 I kid you not. Didn't she realize that luck had nothing to do with the fact that I had my child 16 years before she had hers, a-n-d, I WAS up all night with a crying baby, it was just 16 years EARLIER!!!
Your Grandmother's story reminds me of this episode. We all get through what we have to get through in our lives, and I can't think of anyone who has a success story built on "luck". Life is hard and making a success of your life through all the obstacles in the way is even harder.
There are no free rides and you and your Grandmother have proven that with determination and hard work, you can build a nice life for yourself and your family, AND keep a generous, loving heart in the doing.
Thank you all for the wonderful comments - I read and enjoyed each and every one 😀
I just love this image: "She had an idea, and she shared that idea under a full moon with a dear friend, sitting at the farm’s gate." I can picture that so vividly.
You might consider writing a memoir someday using excerpts from your grandmother's journal interspersed with your own thoughts and observations as a granddaughter, mother, caregiver, and entrepreneur.
I'd buy it 🙂
Thank you Juli 😀 I actually have 4 titles in the works. I'm saving completion for that project for when the children leave home. This is my "sanity plan" for empty nest syndrome -heh. I've been working on them for several years now, and look forward to moving into the writing phase of my career full-time then.
Wow that was great Lynn, I would love to hear other snippets of grandma's wisdom if you care to share some more some time. 🙂
I am always saying "perception is not reality", my best friends has struggled a lot lately trying to make her 'normal' marriage live up to her parents perfect 54 year marriage ... only to discover from her mum things were not always as they seemed.
We have to live our lives our own way and be happy with the result. If you choose to take action, or not, your journey's future is in your hands.
What a beautiful gift to find that wonderful journal. I hope you get great pleasure out of it.
Leigh 🙂
Thank you Leigh 😀 I often share thoughts here and there on her, and I'm sure there are plenty more to come... I like your share on perception. How very true!
hi.!your title is very good and meaningful.your article is very touching for me and for everyone.in my opinion:-my mother inspires me everyday.she's practical and creative. And since im one of four she's always made time for me and what i aspire to do. She inspires me to be myself.thanks for sharing this article.keep it up.
That's great! My own mother has been a huge source of support for me as well, so I can relate. Welcome to ClickNewz 😉
What a wonderful blog post Lynn.
It brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of my mother's last days when I was with her and held her hand.
And happy birthday to your mother - or is it father - I came here via your tweet "Today is the birthdate of my Grandmother's only child. Good day to read again: Personal Inspiration"
Blessings
Isha
It's her son, my father - thank you 🙂
Lynn,
Wow - what a treasure to have that journal and be able to see inside the mind of an entrepreneur just getting ready to step into the unknown. Truly an inspiration for those times when you might feel afraid to venture out into something new or the terrible "unknown."
Jane
Lynn,
beautiful story of inspiration, I also have a grandmother that is an amazing woman who is very inspirational to me and many others. It is a wonderful gift to have and some day you will pass on your own successful story and inspire your own granddaughter.
What wonderful and encouraging words. Brought a tear to my eye. Your grandmothers story and your words about it.
You are so right Lynn there is no secret to having or gaining more in life besides the desire and willingness to do so and making it happen through sacrifice and hard work.
What an inspiring woman you had in your life and thank you for passing some of that inspiration onto us today.
Hey Lynn! You said in a recent blog post that you'd go back to Internet Marketing tips soon. Personally, I think you should do more posts like this. Thanks for sharing! Actually it is related to IM because without the drive to succeed (no matter how you define success), we're pretty much wasting our time. We should all note that her mission was not to make lots of money but she apparently did. When your business is heart-centered, the money comes naturally. God blesses those who bless others!