I am a bit of a late bloomer on this one, but have experienced the rewards of creating the life I want long enough to know they are rich and wonderful – and involve people like you. “If you aren’t in love with what you do, then you haven’t found your true calling – and need to make a change.” I owe each a debt of gratitude, thank you. I have benefited from the lives, wisdom, kindness and generosity of family members, friends, teachers, classmates, colleagues, acquaintances, authors, and people, I met for fleeting moments here and there. The list of the people who have guided and inspired me is long and varied and continues to grow. “Try to associate with people who know things you don’t know who have skills you don’t have who have done things you haven’t done who have been places you haven’t been.” Lots of new positive psychology research supports Myra’s thoughts: one of the quickest way to increase your happiness, is to help someone else. “Giving creates a positive energy that not only makes us feel good about ourselves, and others, but it also enables us to see solutions to problems and to break out of the ruts in our lives.” (I am a Gemini – should have figured it out long ago.) I tried for years to be one or the other to no avail – research/party, research/party – so now I just accept, who I am and do both. Hard lesson to learn I am a geek and an extrovert. “Learn to embrace the adventure of being different and your life will be infinitely more interesting and rewarding.” Her book is an enjoyable, fast read detailing her life and her 8 secrets for success, which I thought you might enjoy reading – I did. Last year, at the age of 80-something, Myra celebrated 20 years with the Arts Center and the publishing of Secrets of a Rut Buster. Myra and Draper were successful partners in business and marriage until Draper passed away from cancer a few years after they retired to Marco Island, Florida.ĭuring the 1980’s, Myra Janco Daniels devoted her efforts to fundraising and spearheaded a hugely successful campaign to build the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts, which she still heads today and has expanded to include the Naples Museum of Art. Draper was the advertising guru behind the Marlboro Man campaign, and the real-life version of Don Draper on the television show “Mad Men.” The Daniels - back in the day. In 1967 her life took an unexpected turn, when she found herself marrying Draper Daniels. In 1961 Myra was a bit disillusioned with the world of academia, and decided to return to the advertising world full-time, and by 1965 had once again expanded her business and won many prestigious awards. (She kept her agency open and afloat throughout this period.) While still in her 20’s, Myra decided to go back to college for her doctorate in marketing management, which led to an associate professorship and six years of teaching. To make traveling for business easier she learned to fly.

This was only one of many glass-ceilings she would break.Ī few years after college graduation, Myra opened Wabash Advertising Agency, and within a year was doing a million dollars worth of business. At 18 years of age college student Myra Janco went from making $7.35 a week to $10,000 a year as the advertising manager of a department store in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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