Lessons from My Immigrant Grandparents
I had the opportunity to travel to Norway in August. Part of my trip included learning more about my heritage by exploring the areas where my maternal grandparents were born and raised before they immigrated to the United States in 1904.
When they set sail from Norway, my grandma and grandpa were strangers to one another. They were two young people who fell in love on their voyage to America. It’s difficult for me to imagine the courage it took just to get on the boat and sail away from the lives they had known. Just as today’s immigrants do, they left family, friends, and all that was familiar to them to pursue what they believed would be a better life in a new country.
As an executive coach, I’ve often witnessed leaders wrestling with uncertainty, indecision, and the daunting challenge of forging new paths. In these moments, I find myself reflecting on the greatest leadership lessons I’ve ever received—not from business books or corporate offices, but from the stories that shaped my immigrant grandparents and the leadership lessons derived from their struggles.
Their journey began with a single, audacious dream: to create a better life for themselves and ultimately, their family. In leaving their homeland, they embraced a future filled with ambiguity, unfamiliar customs, and unpredictable roadblocks. Yet, it was precisely in navigating this uncertainty that they modeled the kind of courage and adaptability every leader needs today.
Acting on Dreams, Despite Uncertainty
My grandparents weren’t propelled by guarantees or comfort. Instead, they acted on their vision, fueled by hope and a quiet belief in possibility. Leadership, I’ve learned, is not about waiting for perfect circumstances—it’s about taking that first step in the direction you believe best.
As leaders, we are frequently called to move forward without a roadmap. Whether launching a new venture or championing change within an organization, the willingness to act on our dreams—to pursue what we believe possible, even when evidence is scant—distinguishes bold leadership from mere management. My grandparents’ leap of faith reminds me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the resolve to move ahead in spite of it.
Embracing Ambiguity and Navigating Roadblocks
Upon arrival in a new country, my grandparents faced language barriers, economic hardship, and cultural differences. Their future was, at best, a foggy horizon. Rather than be paralyzed by ambiguity, they learned to find opportunity amid uncertainty.
In executive coaching, I encounter leaders who struggle when outcomes are uncertain, or plans unravel. My grandparents’ story teaches that the ability to tolerate ambiguity—to remain calm and resourceful when the path forward is unclear—is a vital leadership skill. Instead of resisting change or wishing away discomfort, effective leaders lean in, seeking lessons and possibilities even in adversity.
Willingness to Course Correct
No journey, immigrant or otherwise, proceeds exactly as planned. My grandparents’ initial aspirations often were met by unforeseen circumstances—jobs lost, opportunities denied, new realities revealed. Their true leadership lay in their willingness to course correct: to adapt their plans, revise their expectations, and pivot with agility when necessary.
For executives, this flexibility is essential. The willingness to release attachment to a specific plan while keeping the goal in mind, and instead adjust as conditions evolve, is at the heart of resilient leadership. My grandparents never saw change as defeat; instead, they reframed it as redirection—a necessary part of growth and achievement.
Perseverance: The Steadfast Pursuit of Purpose
Above all, my grandparents’ legacy is one of perseverance. The success they earned was not instantaneous; their journey was marked by setbacks and slow progress. But through it all, their commitment to the outcome they set out to achieve—the safety, dignity, and opportunity for their family—remained unwavering.
As leaders, perseverance is our engine. It carries us through rejection, failure, and disappointment. It reminds us that the pursuit of purpose is rarely linear, but always worthwhile. Perseverance is what turns courageous action into lasting impact.
Leadership Lessons That Endure
The story of my immigrant grandparents is a testament to the kind of leadership our times demand: courageous action, comfort with ambiguity, adaptability, and relentless perseverance. These qualities are not reserved for the few—they are accessible to all of us, if we are willing to learn from those who walked before us.
When I coach executives facing major decisions or unforeseen changes, I invite them to consider this: What would it look like to boldly act with the courage of a dreamer? What will you need to adapt or change to reach your objectives? In a world that celebrates certainty, perhaps our greatest strength lies in the willingness to journey into the unknown, course correct as needed and keep moving toward a vision that matters.
As you reflect on your leadership journey, may you find inspiration in the stories of those who dared greatly—who remind us that courage isn’t just for explorers and pioneers, but for anyone willing to lead with heart, hope, and resilience.
Now more than ever, we are dealing with uncertainty. Executive coaching can help you or your leadership team navigate through these uncharted waters with more clarity. Perhaps it’s time to bring in a resource to help meet your most compelling goals. Contact me and we can start the journey together.
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Lance Hazzard, PCC, CPCC, is a Master Certified Executive Coach and Executive Team Coach helping people and organizations achieve success. Lance and Eric T. Hicks, Ph.D., co-authored Accelerating Leadership, published in June 2019. Lance is Executive Coach and President at Oppnå® Executive & Achievement Coaching. More information on the book, Lance and Oppnå® Coaching can be found at the links below:
www.acceleratingleadershipbook.com