3 Big Business Tips That Mom Taught Me

My mom is getting up there in age (92) yet she refuses to admit it. Maybe because her attitude is so young…or maybe she just does not believe it. She raised to two sets of children spanning an 18 year gap between my older brother and youngest brother.

Unfortunately, my dad died when I was 9 and mom fell apart for a while. In time, she found her strength and continues to be a constant source of inspiration to myself and those around me. At 92, she is still an independent woman. Although she never pursued a career outside of her family, she has passed down a wealth of practical wisdom that helped me build mine. The wisdom is timeless and has helped me to become a better leader and a better mom. Her attitude has been especially valuable to me in running a successful home-based business and in coaching entrepreneurs how to gain confidence.

Now living in an independent Senior Living apartment, mom gets to finally accept help from me. In honor of Mother’s Day, here are a few of my mom’s mom-isms that help me in business:

1. Just Smile And Say Thank You.

Mom understands how to build self-esteem. As a young chubby, adolescent girl, I would frequently bat off compliments when they came my way. “I like your new shirt”, someone would say. “I would reply, “It’s not new, I got it a few years ago.” or “You did really well on your presentation.” And my reply, “But, I messed up…”

If mom ever heard me deflect kind words or recant my errors, she would firmly say, again and again…”Just smile and say Thank you.”

Now I realize that compliments are a gift. Someone wants to notice you and we demonstrate poise and worthiness by accepting the gift. Smiling and saying thank you communicates self-esteem, a state transferable and essential to all situations. Attitude is everything!

2. Make It Easy On Yourself

One day when our daughters were little, I felt so overwhelmed by the amount of business deadlines, kid’s activities and mounting stressors on my To-Do list. There was no relief since the home was our mecca for family and business. I called my mom, she listened and could hear the pressure I was putting on myself. She gave me a few ideas: