Seven business lessons I learned from my mother

The author and his mother.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I can’t help but reflect on the impact of the lessons my mother taught me. Many of them, including these seven, carry over into my professional life.

1. Love everyone and hate no one. While bullying is a big issue when it comes to today’s youth, it can also, unfortunately, be an issue in the workplace. A kind and respectful attitude can take you a long way with in your career. It makes you feel good about yourself and your work.My mother always said, “Love everyone, and hate no one.” She didn’t want me to carry malice or treat people unequally. Don’t forget to use “please” and “thank you” often, and always treat others – those you report to and those who report to you – the way you want to be treated.

2. Be honest and be yourself. My mother taught me the importance of being honest; it’s the beginning and end of every relationship. In business, we start and end relationships every day. To maintain positive self-worth, don’t be afraid to be honest and be yourself. Really knowing yourself and what you stand for, and then standing by your word makes you authentic. Never underestimate the power of your reputation; it truly means everything. So, build a reputation that is true to you and your character – one that makes you proud.

My mother taught me the importance of being honest; it’s the beginning and end of every relationship.

3. Share. If you work with others – no matter if it’s one person or 100 people –  you should be sharing all the time. Share important information. Share regular updates on your business progress and future goals. Share praise. Compliments can help keep people motivated to replicate success. And really, who doesn’t like applause?!

4. If you fall down, get back up. This lesson is especially important in everyday work life. Whether you liked it or not, your mother was usually the first person telling you to get back out there after you made a mistake or experienced a failure. You will surely hit road bumps along your professional path, and it’s important to not let them keep you from moving forward. Take what you’ve learned from each setback, and use the knowledge as fuel. My mother always told me I could become anything I wanted to be. She taught me to believe in abundance, not scarcity.

5. Think before you speak. We’ve all witnessed someone who says something they probably wish they hadn’t said. Whether the remarks made them sound rude, mean, or just plain uneducated, the remarks likely weren’t pleasant for anyone involved. I always stress the importance of listening to my team. As a customer experience executive, listening to our customers is my number-one priority. If we listen twice as much as we talk, we have more time to think before we speak, or at least to be more knowledgeable about the topic on which we’re speaking.

6. Don’t skip the most important meal of the day. This is a pretty basic one. Breakfast is the meal that fuels you through the first half of your day. It can help keep you mentally strong. Starting the day off right is also a good reminder when starting off a new project. Make sure you have the value and fuel needed before kick-starting a new task or idea.

7. Laughter is the best medicine. While work life can certainly be challenging and stressful at times, it’s good to remember to insert some fun. While you may not be able to turn an office into a day at the beach, you can try to bring a little laughter and fun to each day to keep spirits high, fight boredom, and make work enjoyable.

This Mother’s Day take a moment to remember on the lessons your mother taught you. Are you practicing them in your daily business life? If not, try to make them part of your routine.

Happy Mother's Day, and thank you to all moms across the country. And, I’d like to extend a special thank you to my mother, Sally Smith, who lives in Florida and recently celebrated her 85th birthday. She made me the man I am today.