Look Who Caught The Bouquet!
This weekend my Nana turned 92!
(If you think that’s impressive… her husband is almost 94!)
My Nana, who is my paternal grandmother, is the child of German immigrants. She grew up in San Francisco, California, close by to where she stills lives. She tells dazzling stories of playing as a little girl in the sand dunes of the Sunset, a neighborhood in SF which was long ago covered by urban development and apartment buildings.
She was one of four students at her high school that went on to college, and attended UC Berkeley in the late 1930′s. (In fact, she graduated *exactly* 60 years before I did from Berkeley!)
She went on to raise three successful sons with my Papa, and together they began traveling internationally in their 60′s. Her travel scrapbooks are so extensive that they would make Marco Polo blush!
She and my Papa just celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. And even in her old age (don’t tell her I said that!) she is still an avid reader, has lots of friends, and is so clever that she keeps you on her toes with her witty comments!
Surely you’d agree that there are pearls to be gleamed from a well-lived woman in her nineties, and in honor of my Nana I wanted to pass some of her wisdom along to YOU!
When my sister Nicole and I were teenagers, she opened a fortune cookie that read: “Ask a septuagenarian for wisdom.” Nicole sent the fortune to my Nana, and her advice was a one-sentence reply: “Look before you leap!”
I thought the line was cliche at the time, but it has popped into my head over the years when I have made rash or greedy decisions.
Buying real estate for me was easy and exciting… and now I have a home that’s underwater.
I have been over-eager to sponsor new team members… and shortly thereafter wish I’d never met them!
When things move fast for me or opportunities fall into my lap, it’s easy to say, “Must be meant to be!” But the reality is that I need to heed my Nana’s advice and carefully weigh the consequences of my major decisions.
When I was engaged to my husband, I asked my Nana to share what it was like for her when she married my Papa in 1942. I wanted to hear about her bridal shower and wedding dress and reception. Instead, she told me one thing: “Just be sure. Marriage is a Very. Long. Time.”
This sage advice was one of the many reasons I gave her my bouquet at my wedding (pictured above) and I don’t think I could have given her more of a surprise that day!
I now call my Nana every week just to say hi, and at the end of our phone call she always says, “You made my day!” I thought she always just said that to be sweet.
Then last month I was compiling my 2011 business goals, and “better team communication” was at the top of my list. I decided to “make someone’s day” with an unexpected phone call each week, just like I do for my Nana.
We never know what challenges our team members are struggling with or what obstacles they are facing unless we ask, and just reaching out to people and saying hello goes a long way towards building a relationship.
I’ve made phone calls to team members in the past couple week that couldn’t have happened at a better time, and it really is magical when you reach out to someone without a business appointment and hear them say, “You have no idea how glad I am you called.”
And so you better believe I’m making an earnest effort to keep my weekly call with my Nana now!
Good people advice is always applicable to our arsenal of network marketing fundamentals since we work with a variety of folks representing all walks of life. And it is our expertise (and patience!) in adapting to different personalities that can define a leader in our industry.
What are some special lessons you’ve learned from your elder relatives or friends? What about your most valuable network marketing “pearls”?
Please share by commenting below, and thank you for re-Tweeting this to your network!
1. February 2011 at 10:35 pm
wanted to share one more anecdote from my nana… when the internet took off i took my laptop to her house and hooked it up to her phone line. it was SO SLOW that she quickly got impatient and said, “THIS…? THIS…? This is the ‘internet’ everyone is talking about? This is SO SLOW!” oooooh I thought it was so funny…!
25. February 2011 at 9:39 pm
That comment right there is hilarious!! I don’t know your Nana, of course, but I don’t have to… I’ve been blessed to know a few very elderly folk… and I can picture her saying it!
The one remaining member of my hubby’s parents’ generation is Aunt June, who was married to Ian’s father’s brother. The entire extended family helped Aunt June celebrate her 90th birthday several years ago, and she is still as funny and dear as ever. What made her birthday even more special and amazing was the fact that her ONLY sibling, her sister Alice, was also there… and she was 99!
Thanks so much for sharing your Nana with us, Melissa. What a wonderful blessing that you have her and your Papa… and you’ve brought back some warm memories for me.
Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling´s last [type] ..Gourmet Kitty – Personification of Persistence
2. February 2011 at 11:31 pm
Aloha Melissa,
Thank you for sharing your very heart-warming story about your relationship with you Nana. It’s so true, you do get much wiser as the years go by because the wisdom of experience is priceless!
I am so proud of you for calling your Nana each week and truly “making her day”! We often forget that saying “you may be one person in the world, but to one person you may be the world”! You are doing a fabulous job by taking those wise lessons and calling to make someone’s day!
I also had the privilege of being raised by my Grandma because she lived with us when I was young and she lived to be 100 yrs old! The one lesson I remember from her was “Live for today because you never know what may happen tomorrow”. She taught me to be happy and enjoy each and everyday!
My network marketing pearls come from 3 of our mentors: 1) Mark Hughes – “You’re more than you think you are”! 2) Jim Rohn – For things to change, I have to change. For things to get better, I have to get better. 3) Geri – No matter what…LOVE THEM ANYWAY!!
Thank you for your beautiful post Melissa! Thank you for asking and allowing me to share and mostly, thank you for sharing your Nana with us!
Much love,
Kellie
Kellie Hosaka´s last [type] ..2011 Is Already Your Best Year Ever – The Final Step
3. February 2011 at 8:41 am
what a privilege to have been raised by a centenarian! we both have good longevity genes in our families
thanks for taking the time into sharing your grandmother’s and mentors’ pearls of wisdom. i had forgotten about the mark hughes one… brilliant! (and so very true). i need to revisit that DAILY.
3. February 2011 at 6:03 am
Hi Melissa,
Ah .. we can learn so much from our elders can’t we and how each generation had its own challenges right? I learned to leave a story behind in the written word. My mom and dad died years ago and I was so sorry I never asked about their personal lives. So now I write letters to my son. I have a stack of them now which I’ll give him when he’s old enough to be interested in them. He’ll have a story of his growing up and who his parents are. Very thoughtful post.
Lesly Federici´s last [type] ..No One Knows But You
3. February 2011 at 8:38 am
that is a such a great idea lesly! what a treasure you are leaving for your son. i’m gonna do that!
3. February 2011 at 3:28 pm
I have my Grandfather to thank for giving me the dream of long life and health. At 60 he experienced some health issues and has gone on to change his life to make it what it is today. At 97 he still dances, walks and drives ( although that one can be a bit scary!!). He doesn’t indulge when it comes to food because he knows what it will lead to, but takes pleasure when he sees my growing sons eat what they can! If I need to know something, I can give him a call ( although he isn’t home often as he is out dancing visiting neighbor/ family or his girlfriend! I have to make my visit around his schedule. But rest assured I do. He told me last year how great I was and coming from my Grandpa that was pretty Awesome–just about knocked me over!!! As for networking “pearls” so many come to mind, I have little things from them all that truly sink and and have stuck. Although one of the first that I listened to was Zig Ziglar! Fantastic post Melissa… Thanks! Your Nana looks great and so happy!
Holly´s last [type] ..Simple Strategies for Computer Stiffness
3. February 2011 at 4:46 pm
Wow! Great story. Go Bears! I attended from 1993-1998.
Reaching out makes a huge difference. Most people, myself included, tend to isolate when things are not going well. Getting a phone call with no agenda to check in to show that you care is priceless.
Marriage is a long long time. It’s a decision to be together for the rest of our lives. If people just committed to their decision to never quit there will be no more divorces. (Actually the high divorce rate is skewed because many of them divorce 2 or 3 times!)
Thank you for the reminder. I will go out and reach out to 3 people this weekend.
To Your Genius,
Eiji
Eiji Morishita´s last [type] ..Speaker Training Video – Mechanics of Enrolling Questions
3. February 2011 at 4:53 pm
Hello there Melissa;
Some very good pearls of wisdom from your Nana indeed. I personally can’t say that I’ve had anyone so precious as your Nana in my life. I’ve overcome a lot and went through over 10 years of being put into state custody as a foster child.
However; what I’ve learned comes from the wisest of all elders, the Almighty God Himself and His holy word. The pearls of wisdom there can and should be diligently sought.
I’m reminded of the story of the old man who while on his death bed told his 2 sons; I’ve buried all my treasure in my field. After they mourned their lost; they dug and dug to find the hidden treasure to no avail. They forgot about it then planted their crop. That harvest was the richest they’d ever seen in their lives. What they then realized is their father had blessed them by giving them very sound wisdom.
You’ve got dig deep for the best treasures!
Thanks again for sharing Milissa
7. February 2011 at 2:11 pm
Hey Joe. We don’t know each other. I just read your post here. First let me say I am sorry to hear of your childhood experience but I believe that everything happens for a reason and that reason will one day be revealed to you.
I would also like to make a suggestion. You say you never had anyone so precious in your life.
Take the time to go visit a nursing home, retirement home, etc. in your area. Get to know some of the residents and I believe you will find some precious people who will share their experience with you freely.
Some of them have no one to share their experiences with. Many have family who just never takes the time to come visit.
One day they will realize what they missed out on!
Hope you do not mind this suggestion. It is meant with all due respect.
God Bless!
C.L. Atkins
4. February 2011 at 6:39 pm
Melissa,
Thanks for sharing such a personal and endearing story of your grandmother. “Look before you leap” is great advice. My grandmother was an incredible woman and while I can’t remember any particular advice, I know that she made me feel safe and loved in a world that was very unlike that. If I have any modicum of sanity in my life, it is truly because of her love.
Thanks for bringing this up,
Adam
Dr. Adam Sheck´s last [type] ..3 Tools To Reignite Your Relationship By Valentine’s Day
7. February 2011 at 1:07 pm
Isn’t it sad that so often the younger generation dismiss advice given by their elders as ‘out of date’ or old-fashioned?
It’s such a pity that our kids are raised all too often without the gentle wisdom of someone who’s been around half-a-century or more.
I never really knew my Nana – we lived on different sides of the world – but my mom-in-law was the same age and from her I got the nuggets of truth that only LIFE can give you.
My greatest one?
Everybody does what they think is best at the time.
I remind myself of it often and always hear her voice in my head.
Thanks for sharing your Nana with us, Melissa.
Can’t wait to see the pics of her holding her Great Grandbaby!
Bliss-ings,
the goddess known as Jacqui
Jacqueline Gates´s last [type] ..The Power of Labels When You Work For Yourself
7. February 2011 at 2:17 pm
Melissa, Thank you so much for this post. It highlights a Truth that most people in this world do not want to hear about.
That being that we need to Respect and Honor our elders with due respect and love.
We hear all the time how the best way to learn our business or our hobby is to seek out those experienced in the activity we are interested in.
If that is so then why do we not seek the advice and wisdom of our elders in our lives?
They have “been there, done that”! The government seems to be trying to drive a wedge between generations at times. Don’t let that happen either by government or by our individual decision.
8. February 2011 at 9:01 am
What a great story. I so enjoyed reading it.
This is such a great example of how stories are so much more helpful than just giving out information.
You could have just said you need to give your team members a surprise call just to check in and see how they are doing. The intrigue is just not there.
Sometimes if we just sit down and start writing our stories out the lessons within them unfold.
I can’t think of any sage advice but do have a really vivid memory of sitting down at my Nana’s house with a Highlights magazine, cutting things out and making things at her house. It was quiet and I was in front of a sunny window. I think it ended up on her Christmas tree. Maybe that was why the memory sticks out for me.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
Nicole Rushin´s last [type] ..Preparing to Prepare
11. February 2011 at 9:19 pm
Great story Melissa,
My grandmother is going to be 100 this year and she still is active and reads several books a week. I haven’t talked to her in a while but after reading your post I feel inspired to ask her what she’s learned throughout her century.
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