Eleanor Ross

I attribute my success to faith. If it worked today, I can build on it tomorrow. If it didn't work today, I can go back and try again tomorrow. And that is the stick-to-itiveness, the perseverance, and the faith that eventually I will reach whatever the end goal is that I had in mind when I began. I make a call today, and if I don't reach the person I need to reach or I don't close the deal I need to close, then I try again tomorrow. And if tomorrow doesn't work, then I try the next day. I did a project once where I had a line of greeting cards in Kmart stores across the country, and it took me 9 months of calling the buyer every single week, 9 solid months of calling that buyer every single week to ask for the deal. I finally got the deal after 9 months of persevering and calling, and not giving up.

The best career advice I've ever received is to be patient and to persevere. In other words, to wait, but work while you're waiting. I apply this to my everyday life by trying again when things don't work out. If I make a call today and I don't reach the person I need to reach or I don't close the deal I need to close, then I try again tomorrow. And if tomorrow doesn't work, then I try the next day. I did a project once where I had a line of greeting cards in what was then known as the Kmart stores across the country, and it took me 9 months of calling the buyer every single week, 9 solid months of calling that buyer every single week to ask for the deal. I finally got the deal after 9 months of persevering and calling, and not giving up.

My advice to women in my industry is to be true to your calling, whatever that calling is, because that's where your power lies. If you're true to your calling, you're going to use your God-given talents. You're going to be energized every time you approach your desk to undertake a task that leads to the finalization of that project. Being true to your calling means doing the thing you love doing, and the thing that you know you can pour your natural gifts and talents into, because at that place is where you'll find your success.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is getting people to understand the connection between history and culture and the current state of affairs that we find ourselves in in this country. A lot of times, people see history and culture as something that has happened. There is a living connection between history and culture and the current state of affairs that we find ourselves in today. If you don't believe me, just look around and see some things that are resurfacing today that we thought had gone, had come and gone. From a historical perspective, we're still fighting some of the same fights in terms of voting rights. We're still fighting some of the same battles in terms of inclusiveness for women. We're still fighting some of the same battle for inclusiveness where others are concerned. So helping people to see the connection between history and culture and some of the current affairs that's happening today, and how we can use some of the same strategies that were used in the past, and maybe even improve upon those to win the battles that we're currently facing now.

Integrity is the most important value to me in my work and personal life. Integrity literally governs everything you do, if you'll keep your word. If you will follow through on a commitment that you made. If you will endeavor to treat people the way you want to be treated, integrity, to me, is the overarching value that guides everything I do.