The Last Laugh! (YES, Lucy, You Can!)

The Last Laugh -Dr. Anya Miller Hall

How many remember the sitcom or have seen reruns of the show “I Love Lucy?”

Lucille Ball was the star of the show along with her husband Desi Arnaz, who played “Ricky” her husband in the show. Ricky was a successful cabana singer who met and sang with celebrities at the night club where he performed. At times he was featured in movies or television specials. Whatever he was doing, whether at the club, in a movie, on television or at a celebrity event, Lucy wanted to be included but she was always told “NO.”

The comedy of the show was that even though Lucy was told “NO” she was always trying to find a way to get in on the action and be a part of the show. And guess what? No matter how hard they tried to keep her out, she always found a way in!!! She never took “NO” for an answer!!!

Lucille Ball’s True Life Story

Lucille Ball was a great actress and a superb pioneering business woman. In her time, it was unheard of for a woman to have any kind of behind the scenes clout in Hollywood. Because Hollywood was racist, they most certainly would not allow a foreigner to have any say and Lucy’s husband, Desi, was Cuban. Lucy had already established a successful acting career, having appeared in several movies as well as on stage. She wanted her husband to experience some of the same success, so Lucy did not take “NO” for an answer!

Who Can Say “NO,” When God Has Said “YES!”

I want to share some lessons from Lucy that will help to inspire you today to STEP OUT on God’s “YES” for your life and in the end, you’ll have the last laugh! ~Excerpts from the article by Adrienne Graham

1. Own your stuff. Because of all the politics, genderism and racism in Hollywood that said “NO,” Lucy came up with her own solution: Desilu Productions.

I Love Lucy was the first real sitcom developed by a husband and wife team, and under Desilu Studios pioneered the multi-camera shot, and filmed in front of a live audience. Nobody else was doing that at the time. Lucy let Des run things, however, it was she that came up with the idea and developed it.

When people deny you, create your own! You must believe in yourself and your God-given ability enough to step out and do it any way!!! Even though they said “NO” . . . “YES, Lucy! You Can!!!”

2. Do it anyway! Each week on “I Love Lucy” Ricky constantly tells Lucy “NO you can’t be in the show!” Week after week she did everything she could to get into Ricky’s show. She was told she couldn’t do it, that she had no talent.

Everyone’s definition of talent and success is different.

Lucille Ball was 40 when she decided to go for what she wanted (with her career). She didn’t let the fact that Hollywood considered her “old” stop her from achieving her dream. “YES, Lucy! You Can!!!”

3. Be fearless when you want something. When you have an idea, go for it. Don’t let fear of consequences (most time imagined) hold you back. “God has not given us the spirit of fear,” so if it’s not from God then we don’t want it. Therefore, stand strong and be courageous to reach for and achieve your goal! “YES, Lucy! You Can!!!”

4. Know when it’s time to move on and invest in yourself (and your business). Sadly, as I Love Lucy came to an end, so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. She had done all she could to hold that marriage together, but it had become a business liability. She had to cut it loose in order to move forward in her career.

There may be relationships: friends, business partners, associates, associations/organizations and sometimes even relatives that you have to cut loose in order to move forward (prosper).

====>Just make sure you are not cutting away assets because you have wrongly identified them as liabilities. Seek God and surround yourself with counselors full of godly wisdom.

Even though Lucy and Desi divorced, she maintained her ownership in Desilu Productions and focused on her own career. She cut loose the baggage of the past and forged ahead to hone her craft, build her brand (America’s funniest redhead) and give the fans what they wanted.

Lucy’s studio, “Desilu” went on to produce some of the most famous shows of all time: (Star Trek, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mission Impossible, My Three Sons, I Spy, The Untouchables, That Girl, and many more). By 1962, she bought out Desi Arnaz’s share so that she would have complete control of the company.

She was the first woman to own a major studio. I’d say that’s investing in yourself in a big way. She not only invested in herself, she invested in others.

Even though it may be painful, don’t be afraid to cut your losses and move forward with your life and vision. I know it seems hard and circumstances, situations and even your emotions are telling you that you can’t but “YES Lucy! You Can!”

5. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself (or your business) while still honoring the brand. When you hear the name Lucy you think comedy. However, she did not start out in comedy but rather as a “B” movie screen actress. Nevertheless, at 40 and considered “old” by Hollywood, she had to re-invent herself and she found her niche in comedy.

When she did “I Love Lucy,” the TV executives didn’t believe she could pull it off. Clearly, they were wrong.

Lucy was responsible for green-lighting many shows that were not the typical comedy prototype. She wanted Desilu to be a studio/production company that wasn’t singularly focused. She realized she had to give the people the content they wanted. And that meant a variety of programming.

So, even though seasons of your life are changing, and certain things may be coming to an end, you STILL have much to offer! It’s time to discover the “NEW” and the “NEXT” and DO IT!!! “YES Lucy! You Can!!!”

6. Don’t let your gender, your race, your background or the fact that you’re considered the least likely keep you from calling the shots. Desi Arnaz was Lucy’s husband and in fact he was responsible for many of the innovations at Desilu. He knew the financial benefits of reruns before CBS or any other studio (he bought the episodes of I Love Lucy from CBS outright, which was a very lucrative decision).

However, Lucy had a knack for knowing how to pick just the right programming, and she did all the approving and all of her approvals have gone on to have long runs and remain popular in syndication. Three of the shows went on to become successful movie franchises- Mission Impossible, Start Trek and The Untouchables.

When it made financial sense, she bought out her partner rather than sell to someone else or become an “employee”. She preferred to be an entrepreneur. This gave her the creative and financial freedom needed to continue to succeed and build a legacy.

She showed she could multi-task and still run a successful company. She starred in her own weekly show while still running the studio and while being a Mom.

You are intelligent, creative, gifted, skilled and talented. In the beginning God endowed you with everything you need and then He “blessed you,” gave you the ability to advance, push forward, accomplish and make progress regardless of the situation or circumstance. So, I say to you “YES, Lucy!! You Can!!!”

Interesting fact: Lucille means “LIGHT"

I John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”