Every entrepreneur will face challenges getting a business off the ground. One of the biggest barriers to break through is getting past all the people who don’t believe in you and who try to get in your way.

Today I wanted to highlight the story of Lillian Vernon who kept pushing until she hit her stride and made her company a success.

Lillian Vernon became a household name at a time when women were not even supposed to work outside the home.

From the humble beginnings of an immigrant family, Vernon started a business in the kitchen of her small home and grew it to be one of the most well-known multi-million dollar companies in the U.S as well as the first female-owned company to be listed on the American Stock Exchange.

Today, the Lillian Vernon Corporation earns almost $300 million in revenues, has over 4,500 employees and continues to be one of the country’s leading catalog retailers. in Vernon’s own words:

“I first got started in business because I needed to supplement the family income. This was a good way to do it because I was going to have a child. Frankly, I was 20-odd years old and didn’t know anything.

It was a risk. I had a husband and I was pregnant with my oldest son. But I don’t look at risk the way other people do. When you’re an entrepreneur, you have to go in feeling like you’re going to be successful.

I became successful due to several reasons. I never gave up and I never let anyone or anything get in my way. I use the power of positive thinking to tackle obstacles and challenges so they don’t defeat me.

Passion for my work and my business is another important reason. I really love my work and I get great satisfaction from it.”

Evan Carmichael