From the Heart
“If there be righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there be beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there be order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”
That quote was one of many by Mary C. Crowley. Mary was the CEO of Home Interiors and Gifts. Most people will remember it as one of the first “party plan” companies.
On Thursday evening, I had a reunion with a dozen former directors with whom I shared life for 26 years as an accessory specialist and director with HI&G. Oh, the stories we had to tell.
Mary Crowley was one of the first highly successful females in the world of direct sales. In 1957, she was a single mother of two and “shopped” many a bank in the Dallas area until one finally gave her a loan. Eventually, she became part of the board of directors of that bank. Let’s just say that they took a chance on her and it paid off in dividends … multiple ones.
As we sat around the table, talking about how we became involved with Home Interiors, I thought about the impact this one lady made on so many women and their families. She decorated lives, not just homes.
Her words of wisdom are now quoted by motivational speakers. “If it is to be, it is up to me.” “Treat everyone as though they have a sign around their neck that says, I am special.” “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Many of her wise words became a way of life for me.
Most people consider being a success with how many sales you make and how much money you have in the bank. I never saw numbers as what made me successful. I truly have believed that if you show people how much you care by both actions and words, then you are a success. The numbers will follow the caring.
It’s not rocket science. It’s simply treating people the way that you want to be treated.
Mary taught us to “dress up” as well as “show up.”
When she was battling cancer, she always showed up for her treatments wearing a bright pink dress with a polka dot scarf. She focused on the other women going through treatments. She always had a word of encouragement for them.
Mary always kept a slogan on her desk that said, “Attempt something so great that it is bound to fail unless God is in it.” It was a great way to live and to lead others in business.
Mary would bring motivational speakers to our seminars, yet, it was her words that truly motivated us. Why?
She knew what it meant to struggle, not only as a female, but as a single mom in the 1950s. Banks were not looking to take chances with women back in the day. She had a positive attitude long before motivational speakers began speaking about it. She always spoke from her heart and my heart understood what she was saying.
Every woman who gathered there in Shipshewana on Thursday night had a Mary Crowley story. Her legacy continues. Even after each of us retired or found a new career, we still remember her words. We still live by them.
May we continue to seek righteousness, beauty, harmony, order and peace. We may not be able to change The World but we can change Our World.
Every day … Show up. Dress up. Stay positive. Make those around you feel special. At the end of the day you will feel like a success if you made a difference in the life of at least one person. You, my friends, can take that to the bank!