The letter arrived on a Tuesday and immediately caught Mike’s attention. This was real mail, he noticed, not another bill, a fund-raising pitch by a politician, or an offer for a “free” dinner in exchange for an hour of his time.
The customized stationary with the printed return address told Mike that it was a note from his beloved great-grandfather, so he eagerly, but carefully, unsealed it and retrieved the handwritten note.
“Mike, I’m so proud of you for finishing your college degree, and I regret that I can’t be there next month for your graduation ceremony. I’m 98, you know! My doctors tell me I should no longer travel, but I will be with you in spirit. I can’t wait to see all that you will accomplish in the next phase of your adventure, and I am here for you if you need me. With love, Grandpa D.”
A few tears began welling up in Mike’s eyes, and he made a snap decision.
I’m going to take a break tomorrow from the books and my not-so-active social life, he thought, and make the five-hour drive to pay a visit to Grandpa D.
Mike was the product of a prosperous family, but he knew the roots of their success began with his great-grandfather.
Grandpa D’s parents had immigrated to the United States with no formal education and very little money — just $25, according to family lore — and both died when Grandpa D was still a teenager. Still, Grandpa D brought the American Dream to life and forged a path to personal and financial success.
Mike knew he was a beneficiary of his great-grandfather’s legacy. He wanted to thank him for that. Besides, he thought, who would be better to ask for advice before leaving college for the so-called real world?
Grandpa D, of course, was thrilled to see his great-grandson the next day, and they dove right into conversations about family, sports, and Mike’s dating life. Then Mike hit Grandpa D with a question that had swirled in his mind since he received the note in the mail.
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“What do I need to do to have the type of successful life you’ve lived?” he asked.
With a thin smile and a sparkle in his eyes, Grandpa D countered with a question of his own.
“Do you want my answer for guaranteed success in life?”
Advice that would guarantee his success? That seemed too good to be true!
“Bring it on!” he said.
“You don’t have to spend much time on Google,” Grandpa D began, “to find a long list of ‘keys’ to success. Confidence, perseverance, organizational skills, responsibility, relational intelligence, emotional intelligence, passion, commitment, open mindedness, gratitude, integrity, and, of course, good old hard work. None of those things will guarantee your success.”
Grandpa D paused.
“Want proof?” he added. “You are 5 foot 7, Mike, and let’s face it, you can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. So all of those traits combined won’t get you to the NBA!”
Mike chuckled and agreed but still looked puzzled.
“Now here’s the guarantee,” Grandpa D said, reading the younger man’s thoughts. “Without hard work, perseverance, responsibility and the right technical skills, you won’t succeed at anything. I guarantee it. So work hard. Persevere. Embrace your responsibilities. And learn the technical skills you need for whatever you want to do.”
“That’s not all,” Grandpa D went on. “Without passion, integrity, love for other people, and gratitude, any worldly success you have will leave a hole in your soul. I guarantee it. So pursue things you’re passionate about and enjoy. Live with integrity. Love the people around you. And have a grateful heart.”
Mike nodded as he thought about the advice and how it applied to his hopes and dreams, not just for a career but for having a family and making an impact on his community.
“I’m sure I forgot some things,” Grandpa D said. “Curiosity. Creativity. Collaboration. And that’s just words that start with C! They’re all good. So whatever things you do in your pursuit of success, do them because they are worth doing regardless of whether you know that they will result in success. And guess what? Some success will follow, but even when it doesn’t, you can still have peace, joy and satisfaction. I guarantee it.”
Mike knew it was time to leave, but he couldn’t resist one more question.
“OK, so what about my love life?” he said. “Any guarantees in that area? Because it hasn’t been going so well lately.”
“Of course!” Grandpa D said without missing a beat. “I highly recommend that you marry a successful banker. As long as you don’t lose interest, things will be great!”
Mike rolled his eyes. “I guess we can call that a great-granddad joke,” he said. “But it’s still pretty good advice!” And with that, he hugged Grandpa D and headed home from the spur-of-the-moment trip he knew he’d never forget.
Note: This is a work of fiction.
