A 'Weird' Retired Couple From Nashville, An Art Dealer Who Had A Wonderful Eye, And A Christmas Card That Changed Literary History: Why 'Lowering The Ladder' Should Be Your Mission

The 3-Word Quote: “Lower The Ladder”

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1.

Will and Anne Vereen recently retired.

Like many retired couples, they found themselves with quite a bit of extra time to do as they pleased.

But without full-time work, they became slightly bored with their suburban retired life.

They had hobbies, but they still felt in a rut.

So the pair sold their house in suburban Nashville and moved to Sylvan Park - an urban neighborhood closer to the city's downtown activities.

The move came about because they were looking for something different and 'loved live music,' so they figured they would live closer to the many music venues they frequented in the city.

But things didn't go as planned when they moved to their new neighborhood.

The neighbors began questioning their choices and thought the Vereens were 'weird.'

Some of the Vereens' actions had neighbors asking them, 'Why do you do this?'

Others asked if they were 'nervous?'

Some other Sylvan Park residents asked the Vereens if 'anything weird' had happened to them since moving into the neighborhood.

Others, even people outside the city, began to hear of the Vereens - some in other states had heard of their actions through the grapevine.'

Word of what they were doing was traveling.

But the 'weird' stuff the couple is doing is something we all might want to emulate in our work and personal life.

2.

She died virtually penniless.

One biographer called her a 'homely Jewish spinster with spectacles thick as goldfish bowls.'

She left little record of her business in Paris, and few of her letters survive, making it difficult for historians and biographers to create a detailed sketch of her life.

But this is known:

Her name was Bethe Weill, and she was an art dealer in Paris for decades, beginning her career in 1901.

Despite not having much money or notoriety in the art world, she sold works by Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, Modigliani, and Henri Matisse.

Despite being almost lost in history, several articles have recently highlighted her art career.

Today, art historians recognize that Weill's taste was ‘groundbreaking.'

Another article said she 'had an astounding eye' - despite those 'glasses thick as goldfish bowls.'

But what Weill did at the start of her career made her unique in the art world.

And like Vereens, that 'weird' couple from Nashville, Weill did something that most of us should replicate at our jobs - even if we aren't art dealers.

3.

In 1956, Michael Brown had a successful career as a composer in New York.

He wrote music for prominent companies such as JC Penny and DuPont.

He also was a Broadway composer.

Throughout his career, Brown made a lot of money and wrote many words.

But his most famous words were fifteen words that he wrote in a Christmas card in 1956.

Those fifteen words in that Christmas card changed the world of literature forever.

The Takeaway:

So what do a 'weird' retired couple from Nashville, an art dealer who died penniless in Paris, and a Broadway composer's Christmas car all have in common?

They are all examples of people who choose to be benefactors and mentors.

They are all people who choose not to pull up the ladder when they are in a position to help others.

Pulling up the ladder is a phrase that refers to people in successful and prominent positions who prevent others from following the same path to success.

Once in these higher positions, the people metaphorically 'pull up the ladder,' making it more difficult for others to reach new heights.

But the Vereens, Bethe Weill, and Michael Brown all choose to help others succeed by lowering the ladder.

Success is not a solo trip. Others assisted most people who have reached the pinnacle of their careers - someone chose to help them, mentor them, or share their path with them.

People who lower the ladder for others help shine a light on the path to success and help raise others to their level.

They lower the ladder so others can climb to their positions.

Let's take a look at three who chose to lower the ladder.

***

The Vereens moved to downtown Nashville.

They were retired and loved music.

If you love live music, Nashville is a town to be in, and downtown Nashville offered the Vereens easier access and more opportunities to see live shows.

However, they began to get a reputation upon moving into their new downtown neighborhood.

A reputation that caused some to call the Vereens odd or weird.

Because of the Vereens' actions, other neighbors were nervous and fearful for them.

What did the Vereens do that seemed to cause issues in their new area? What made the new neighbors think the Vereens were strange and caused some to even worry about their safety?

It was a simple act that caused all the chaos.

The retired couple decided they would open up their new home to touring musicians - for free.

What did that mean?

It means that the Vereens allow touring musicians who pass through Nashville a free place to stay - and often free food.

'We've got the space; we have extra bedrooms; why not use them?' Anne Vereen said in a recent article about their generosity.

So when a band comes through town, they might have heard of the Vereens open house policy, and the band can opt to stay with them for free while performing.

Nashville is a fun town but not a cheap town - and hotel rooms can be costly, especially for musicians just starting their careers.

The Vereens knew of the financial struggles of some artists, so they wondered how they might help those struggling musicians.

The couple can't get the artist signed to a record contract; they can't improve the artists' songs or book more shows for them. They can't get their tunes on the radio.

But they can help by offering some of these traveling musicians a free place to stay.

One musician who is grateful for the Vereen's generosity said of his stay in their house, 'Once we get there, it was open arms and open fridges.'

And if the Vereens aren't home when a band comes through Nashville and wants to stay with the couple?

'We leave them a key.'

They leave them a key.

The couple leaves a key - for a group of people they haven't met to stay in their house and eat their food - for free.

The Vereens love music, and they just want to help musicians in some way.

Their gift might not seem like a big one. It might seem like a small gesture, and others think it is a strange thing to do.

But to many musicians, some free food and a free place to crash for a few nights is a wonderful and welcoming gift.

***

Berthe Weill was an art dealer.

She collected the greats - among them Matisse and Picasso.

But once an artist rises to the top and establishes a name for themselves, it is easy to collect them, provided you have the money.

Buying a Picasso today is a good investment - he has been 'vetted.'

Over the years, others have shown respect and value to his work. It doesn't take talent to collect a Picasso - just money.

But as an art collector and dealer, Weill was different.

You see, she did buy Picasso's work.

But people celebrate Weill as an outstanding art dealer because she championed this artist and many like him before anyone knew who these artists were.

She is credited with jumpstarting both Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso's careers.

Upon opening her gallery in 1865, she decided she would celebrate and deal in emerging artists.

Opportunities abounded for established and well-known artists, but life was difficult for unknown talent.

Weill's mission was to serve the 'unproven' artists.

Many of the artists Weill championed became icons of the art world - Picasso, Matisse, and Rivera, among others.

However, many artists she represented did not gain fame and notoriety. She still displayed their works, too.

She was the first art dealer to purchase Picasso's work.

She was the first art dealer to give Diego Rivera a solo show.

And she was one of the very first art dealers to show Matisse's work.

No other dealer can claim these accomplishments.

And she also encouraged well-known buyers to purchase work by these emerging artists, including many women artists of the time.

Weill was confident in her eye and confident in her taste.

A Smithsonian article describes Weill telling collectors- 'Trust me, you should buy Matisses.'

Most collectors didn't listen to her. The ones who did were rewarded.

Her gallery closed because of World War II, but her eyes were always open to new talent.

And her heart was always open to championing struggling artists.

She relentlessly promoted these young talents, helping make careers for many artists.

***

Recall Michael Brown, the Broadway composer.

He wrote a lot of music and was well-paid for it.

However, the most impactful words he ever wrote were on a Christmas card he sent in 1956.

You see, Brown was like the Vereens and Berthe Weill - he loved creatives and championed them, too.

In his home in New York city, he was acquainted with several writers and artists - some well-known, most not.

And it was one of these unknown writers, he was sending a Christmas card to in 1956.

He thought she had talent, but she had no novels published.

The writer worked days as an airline reservation agent and wrote some at night.

The writer despised her day job. It took much effort, and she had little energy at the end of the day to write later in the evenings.

But writing was what she wanted to do. She was discouraged.

So Michael Brown sent her that Christmas card in 1956.

He sent it to this talented but unpublished author. He wanted to help and provide encouragement.

In the card, he wrote fifteen words.

That card and those words changed literary history.

The fifteen words scribbled inside the card were:

'You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please. Merry Christmas.'

Perhaps, two additional words were also just as important - his first and last name, signed on a check included in the card.

The check was the equivalent of a year's salary at the writer's airline reservationist job.

Michael Brown told her with his words and wealth to do what she longed - write.

He wanted to help her do what she wanted to do.

He could see her talent, but she didn't have the time to focus on her talent.

His card, words, and check gave her encouragement, money, and time to write.

It was a perfect Christmas gift.

As a successful writer, he lowered the ladder to help someone climb to the top.

And climb to the top of her field, she did.

She quit her job, and for the next year, the unpublished author wrote.

She produced one manuscript during that year.

She called it Atticus.

However, the book's title was later changed to To Kill A Mockingbird.

And with that book, Harper Lee wrote perhaps the most significant American novel ever published.

The novel went on to sell millions of copies.

It won the Pulitzer Prize.

And the novel was listed as the number one book to 'read before you die' by a large panel of librarians.

The number two book on the list was the Bible.

But To Kill A Mockingbird might never have existed except for one Christmas card sent in 1956 - by one man who just wanted to help a young struggling writer.

***

The Vereens had the time and space to share; they were retired.

Berthe Weill had the talent to share; she had the experience.

Michael Brown had the finances to share; he was successful.

And all shared what they could to help those just starting in their fields.

This isn't always common.

Many pull up the ladder, not wanting others to join them at the top.

But those who pull up ladders have short memories.

They forget what it was like toward the start of a career - when you are sometimes unsure of what to do to be successful, sometimes unequipped with the tools to be successful, and sometimes unconnected to those who can share the path to success.

However, lowering the ladder is not the same as lowering the bar.

Lowering the bar is accepting lesser quality work. The Nashville bands still need to write great music, the artists still need to create unique pieces, and writers still need to put amazing words on paper.

Lowering the ladder doesn't excuse poor work or allow shortcuts - it still demands excellent work from others.

But it does help pave an easier path that might help those starting out to find more success, no matter their chosen career.

Berthe Weill's business cards had a phrase printed on them that read, 'Place aux jeunes.'

The phrase's meaning in English?

'Make way for the young.'

So if you have the time, experience, or even, at times, money, find someone young, hungry, and talented and share what you can.

And lower down your ladder to help make others’ journey toward the top easier.

3 things before you go:

1. watch: if you are down today, take a minute to watch this; it will leave you smiling.

2. listen: just a great song; should have been a bigger hit

3. share: this newsletter with someone you know - thanks.

Hope to see you in 10 days.

-Jeff