Everything is Figureoutable: Spotlight on Margarete Steiff

I absolutely love doing these Sendy Mom spotlights every other week. These bonus episodes have introduced me to women from history I might never have encountered otherwise. I don’t always get a ton of time to research. I do my best. Hopefully, the stories and reflections I share give you something meaningful to think about. You might even find a new role model to look into.

Margarete Steiff is one of those women. Heidi Aeschbacher recommended her, and now I understand why. Margarete Steiff changed the world for children everywhere—without ever having children of her own. Her life is a reminder that everything is figureoutable. If you want something, take the first step and make things happen. Don’t let your limitations limit your success.

She once said,

“Freedom is believing in yourself.”
Margarete Steiff

And she lived that motto with grit and grace.

That quote stuck with me. Freedom is something I value deeply. I’m so grateful to live in a place where I can choose how to educate my kids. I can choose a vocation. I can even start something like a podcast that I probably have no business doing. Her words remind me that when we believe in ourselves, we aren’t limited by other people’s expectations. We’re free from the fear of disappointing others. That’s something I’m still working on—believing in myself a little more and letting that belief lead to freedom.

I think about my son-in-law James, who’s a great example of this. He has a passion for music mixing. He moved with my daughter to Los Angeles to pursue it—one of the most expensive and competitive places to live. People doubted his dream, but he didn’t. He believed in himself, worked hard, and kept showing up. Now he’s hosting the popular “Mixing Music Podcast,” networking like crazy, and making his dream a reality. That’s freedom too—not just believing, but building.

Part One: Demanding Education

Margarete Steiff was born in 1847 in a small Bavarian town in Germany. At just 18 months old, she contracted polio, leaving several of her limbs paralyzed. She couldn’t walk and had limited use of her right arm. In a time with zero accommodations for disability, she could’ve easily been sidelined. But not Margarete.

She wanted to go to school like her siblings. Her family made her a cart to travel there, and a neighbor carried her up two flights of stairs each day. When no one could help her in, she’d sit outside the classroom window—rain or snow—just to listen.

When asked about her childhood, she said

“All the children gathered around me and I organised games in which I was the center of attention. However, the older children often ran off and then I was left babysitting the tiny tots.”
Margarete Steiff

Even then, she had what I call “Sendy Spirit”—courage to show up, try, and keep going. She wouldn’t let her limitations define her.

Part Two: Music, Machines, and the First Yes

One of her first dreams was to play a musical instrument. Everyone doubted her—how could she with only one good hand? But she learned to play the zither which is a harp-like instrument. She even taught lessons. She saved her earnings and bought her first sewing machine.

That alone was an act of vision. Nobody in her small town had ever seen a sewing machine. I watched a German-language movie about her life. In this movie, Margarete meets a man on a train. He tells her about the machines. She gives him all her savings, worried he won’t return. Eventually, he does—and even helps her sell her clothes.

When the machine finally arrives, Margarete faces a crushing realization: she can’t turn the crank with her right hand. But instead of giving up, she literally turns the machine around, sews backwards, and uses her left hand to power it. She invented her own way to sew.

That’s the essence of “figureoutable.”

It made me think: What have I figured out?

A few years ago, I was exploring how to teach piano in a new way—online. I use apps like Better Practice App and Piano Marvel, which track practice time, include instructional videos, and even score students in real time. I considered combining these tools to teach remotely. Marketing it felt overwhelming, so I researched social media marketing, eventually earning a certificate through BYU Pathways. I decided against teaching remotely, but I gained confidence—and the skills that helped me start this podcast.

You might not know all the steps yet. But what are you figuring out? Or too tired to figure out, but hoping to someday?

Part Three: Building with Scraps

In 1877, Margarete opened a small felt clothing shop. She simplified sizing—small, medium, large—making her clothes more accessible. One day, seeing scraps pile up, she stitched together a tiny elephant pincushion. Children loved it—not as a pincushion, but as a toy.

She saw the potential and expanded. Soon her catalog featured donkeys, monkeys, cats, and giraffes. Demand exploded. What began as a one-woman operation became a growing team of women sewing toys for children across Germany.

Part Four: The Bear That Hugged the World

Her artistic nephew, Richard Steiff, joined the company and began sketching new designs. In 1902, he proposed a soft, jointed bear made from mohair—completely new at the time.

At that year’s Leipzig Toy Fair, an American buyer ordered 3,000. The teddy bear—later named after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt—took off worldwide. Margarete Steiff’s company became a global brand, and her legacy lives on in every beloved stuffed bear.

What You Can Learn From Margarete

Margarete Steiff never let her limitations limit her. She built a life of purpose and impact out of scraps, setbacks, and sheer determination. Her story reminds me—and hopefully you—that we all have the power to:

Take the first step
Believe in our own vision
Learn and adapt
Work hard even when the outcome is uncertain

What do you want to figure out next?

If you liked this spotlight, you can listen to the full Sendy Mom podcast episode on Margarete Steiff with the link above or wherever you get your podcasts. I’ll also share the link to the German film I watched—it’s touching, and worth your time.

And remember: everything is figureoutable.