Twenty-five years ago, I stumbled upon a copy of the Library of Congress magazine, Civilization, while waiting at the dentist’s office. One of the articles captured my imagination, and I’d like to summarize it for you. I give full credit to Civilization for the content of this story:
He was born in upstate New York in 1856…. He was one of the many wandering Americans of his generation. The late 1880s found him in Aberdeen, SD, first opening a department store and then working on a newspaper. A few years later, he popped up in Chicago; he eventually settled in California. Along the way, he failed in the axle grease business, managed an opera house and a baseball team…, was a traveling salesman and a buyer for a department store before becoming the editor of THE STORE WINDOW for the National Association of Window Trimmers….
After the publication of his first children’s book, MOTHER GOOSE IN PROSE, the 39-year-old author inscribed a copy to his sister; it may well reveal the true disposition of [his] heart. “My dear Mary, when I was young I longed to write a great novel that should win me fame. Now that I am getting old, my first book is written to amuse children. For, aside from my evident inability to do anything [great], I have learned to will-o’-the-wisp will-o’-the-wisp, which, when caught, is not worth the possession; but to please a child is a sweet and lovely one’s that warms one’s heart and brings its own reward.”
That was it. The would-be success had given up. He resigned himself to the reality of his life. He would never achieve the success that he had wanted. However, he discovered a more profound joy in telling stories that delighted children.
Shortly thereafter, he wrote another children’s book, which he titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Where would the world be without the Wizard of Oz? That book has blessed our planet for over a century, enchanting millions of children and adults through books, movies, plays, and musicals. In his moments of service to children, Lyman Frank Baum was laying the groundwork for blessings that would go unseen by him. Although Baum enjoyed some success in his lifetime, he passed away without knowing the profound and lasting impact his work would have on future generations. It’s as if he had to relinquish his dreams of fame to gain a more significant legacy—one that continues to inspire and delight.
Civilization’s story serves as a powerful reminder that success is not always measured by the standards we set for ourselves. Instead, it can sometimes be calculated by the impact we have on others. Often, individuals feel unsuccessful because they did not meet predetermined requirements for accomplishment. However, those who benefit from their work view them with respect, awe, and gratitude. That is the true measure of triumph.
Mark
Dr. Mark Edge
The WorkEdge Company
Telephone: 903-245-7851
Email: workedgetexas@gmail.com
Website: www.workedgetexas.com
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