Be Ready When the Luck Happens

by Ina Garten

In fact, I believe that you don’t build a brand; you just do what’s true for you every day, and then one day, you realize that you have a brand. I was Barefoot Contessa, so I had to be my own compass: make the right decisions and hold them to my standards. It’s a big responsibility to be accountable to yourself and to figure out what feels right. But it’s the only way I work.

First and foremost, stay true to yourself and your vision instead of focusing on becoming a brand. I ask people I trust for advice, but in the end, I have to do what’s right for me.

Swing for the fences! You won’t hit a home run every time, but that doesn’t mean you should never swing at something. Every time you swing, you learn something.

As it turned out, while I was listening to her music, Taylor was actually cooking from my books! I had no idea at that time she was a great cook. She told an interviewer that I inspired her to be more confident in the kitchen and to think of cooking as “self-care.” How could we possibly not have a fabulous time together?

“Sometimes you have to trust that the hard times, the pain and the tragedies in life have purpose. They may make no sense at the time, may bring you to your knees and you will wonder why this hell is happening and if you’ll ever get through it. But trust is your trajectory, sending you along your path, and if you listen, learn, heal and grow along the way, things will one day make sense.”

I knew the past couldn’t hurt me now, but it’s always there deep inside. It’s what we do with those feelings that can determine the rest of our lives.

Standing in front of that house, I had an out-of-body experience. I was transported back to 1978, when Jeffrey and I had sat on those front steps, uncertain if our marriage had a future—when he was still hopeful, but I had serious doubts. I didn’t have a crystal ball then, so I had no way of knowing the real stakes, that walking away would have meant missing out on a lifetime of happiness. I felt sick thinking I came this close to losing Jeffrey and the life we shared. Rationally, I knew we created a better outcome by discussing our issues and working together to solve them. Still…what if?

Thirty-seven consecutive number one bestsellers later, the same John Grisham who couldn’t sell a book has become one of the most popular storytellers in the world.

I found his story fascinating, because everybody thinks that successful people are smarter, more talented, or just plain lucky. I don’t think it always works that way. The people I’ve known who are successful have faced enormous challenges, but they didn’t let the challenges stop them—they figured out some way over the wall or around the wall, or they just smashed the wall down. In fact, it was exactly those challenges that shaped their success.

In each case, my guests’ successes were hard-won. I learned, and continue to learn, from their stories that seemingly insurmountable problems not only make us who we are but can propel us to exactly the place we want to be.

The second thing a troubled childhood taught me is to work hard and swing for the fences. What’s the worst that could happen if I failed? Everything I experienced made me stronger, and I’m ready to deal with whatever comes along.

but one thing I know for sure is that everything changed when I met Jeffrey. This is when my life began. We all need only one person to believe in us, and for me, that person is Jeffrey. With his love and support, I learned to believe in myself and found happiness and peace.

Immediately, she turned and smacked me on the arm, saying, “You weren’t lucky. You make your own luck.”