The Power of Persistence: Honoring Women Who Open Doors
From early protests to modern leadership, how persistence drives progress and why the work of expanding opportunity continues.
Mar 08, 2026
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International Women’s Day traces its roots to early 20th-century protests, when thousands of women took to the streets demanding fair pay, safer working conditions, and the right to vote. Their persistence expanded opportunities for future generations.
Now celebrated each year on March 8, the day recognizes the progress that has been achieved and the women whose courage helped make it possible. As they challenged the norms of their time, those protesters could hardly have imagined their impact.
More than a century later, women lead corporations, serve at the highest levels of government, and drive scientific innovation. At the same time, they continue to perform the vital, often unseen work that keeps our families and communities whole.
International Women’s Day reminds us that vision combined with persistence can shape the course of events. It’s a moment to reflect on the progress that’s been made, the work that still lies ahead, and the women whose influence has touched our lives in ways big and small.
Lessons from my grandmother
In my family, there is no better example than my grandmother, Margaret McCann. She embodied both the expanding roles of women and the power of persistence, all while passing values and lessons down through generations.
When my grandfather died unexpectedly in 1949, my father was just 22 years old. He stepped into the family painting business at an age when most young men are still finding their footing. While he learned the trade, my grandmother took on a critical role behind the scenes.
She managed the operational side of the business — pricing jobs, preparing estimates, overseeing finances, and making sure customers were well served. Her steadiness kept the business afloat and moving forward.
Years later, after I started my own flower business and acquired a company with a certain toll-free number, we hit a difficult stretch. The business was carrying heavy debt, and conversations began to turn toward bankruptcy.
During one of those discussions, my grandmother pulled me aside. She wagged her finger and said firmly, “We don’t do that.”
Instantly, I understood something about the McCann family that had always been there. Giving up easily was not in our nature. We would find a way forward.
And we did.
Continuing the work
Looking back, I realize that what my grandmother showed in that moment was the same quality that has carried progress forward for generations: persistence. The circumstances may differ, but the principle is the same.
The women and men who marched in the early 20th century understood that change rarely arrives all at once. Nearly a decade passed between the first International Women’s Day and when American women gained the right to vote. Progress came because people continued the work, step by step, determined to expand opportunity for others.
The milestones we recognize today are part of that history, but the work is not finished. Expanding opportunity still depends on the willingness of men and women to support one another and open doors for the next generation.
Often that work begins close to home — by mentoring someone starting out, volunteering in a community organization, or participating in professional groups that foster growth and connection. Sharing the stories of those who shaped our own paths can also inspire others to continue the work.
A pause that matters
International Women’s Day has a complicated history. Its roots are intertwined with socialist and communist movements, while today the message is sometimes reduced to corporate marketing campaigns and social media hashtags.
At its best, though, it offers a reason to pause and reflect on the progress that has been made, to appreciate the people who helped make it possible, and to carry forward the stories that remind us why that progress matters.
To all the women in our lives, days like this give us an excuse to say something we don’t say often enough: I see you, and I’m grateful for the role you’ve played in shaping my life.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
