In honor of my mom’s 70th birthday, this month’s #10things is about Sara (or Bobo if you ask my son). She influenced my decision to be an entrepreneur, and her love inspires me to be the best mom I can.
1. Be nice to everyone.
I never understood why she made me invite the kid that didn’t have any friends to my birthday party or why she helped the elderly lady with her garden every summer. Now, I get it. Everyone matters, and the positive energy we spread makes an impact on our community and neighbors.
2. Tell the truth.
Sometimes it’s hard and unpopular to be honest. Speaking with integrity is the foundation of leadership.
3. Stop complaining and do something.
It’s easy to gossip or complain. Taking action requires courage and also creates the opportunity for growth.
4. Don’t be an idiot.
My siblings and I laugh about her shouting this as we left the house as teenagers; however, it really sums it up. Bad decisions have consequences, and you’ll pay for it later.
5. Apologize when necessary.
When an employee makes a mistake, I want to know, “what did you learn” and “how will we prevent this from happening again?” If we fix our mistakes and make improvements, our business is growing. Making excuses will hold you back.
6. Finish what you start.
Your commitment to your clients, employees, family and friends is your word. Following through shows you can be trusted. If you know quitting isn’t an option, you’ll be selective about what you take on.
7. Pay yourself first.
When I started my school, the idea of paying myself seemed impossible. She sat at my desk, wrote one of my business checks out to me and said, “sign and deposit this. If you don’t pay yourself and pay everyone else, you’ll just get resentful and frustrated.”
8. Take care of your teeth.
As a kid, I didn’t realize how our mouth actually effects our overall health. Daily flossing and brushing will keep our immunity up. In fact, one of the things most centurions have in common is that they floss daily.
9. Don’t waste time.
She would sprint up and down the stairs during commercials of Magnum PI to do laundry and time us to see how fast we could pick all the cherries on the trees in the backyard. She always had so many things for us to do that we always moved at a fast pace to get it done. I think my siblings and I are exhausting to our spouses because of this training.
10. Manners are important.
Etiquette is about creating a space where everyone feels comfortable. It’s also a way to show respect and an appreciation for all humans.
I follow these “momisms” every day, both in my professional and personal life. I’m so thankful to have had such an awesome role model. I hope you can use these #10things in your daily life too!