We all know moms should be celebrated every day of the year, but Mother’s Day is especially fun because we get to shine an extra spotlight on the mamas that make our world go round. From new moms to grandmas, the ladies in our life never fail to provide some of the best advice. We caught up with 10 successful women to find out exactly what type of wisdom their own moms gave them that helped them get to the top. Read on, then go call your mom.
1. “Be kind no matter what, because you never know what someone else might be going through. Everyone is fighting their own battle.”
“Because my mom taught me kindness, compassion, and love, I have always tried to look at others with more acceptance and understanding. Love is so powerful, and if we all gave each other the benefit of the doubt, and a little less judgment, the world would be so much better!” — Megan McEwan, co-founder of Jane.com
2. “You have one reputation and that is all.”
“This is why I’m never quick to judge and respect everyone I encounter. My mom has taught me that a good reputation not only facilitates engagement, competitive advantage, and resiliency to non-supporters, but it also creates opportunity for growth. And to me, self-growth is what ultimately fuels me to live a better and truer life.” — Harriet Mills, CEO and founder of Wine & Design
3. “You are filled with strength, leadership, and willpower, and you have the choice to use these qualities for good or evil.”
“I’ve always had an extremely strong personality, with a low tendency to conform and a strong will. My mom said this to me constantly to remind me that these characteristics can be used in a variety of ways and it was only my choice to make. These words have stuck with me my entire life, guiding my development as an adult and being there as a gut check when the right decision wasn’t the easiest one to make.” — Kat Eckles, co-founder and chief visionary officer of Clean Juice
4. “Just rise above it.”
“If I were ever despondent, my mother briskly deflected any teenage caterwauling with this simple directive. Perhaps her rural Depression-era childhood made my adolescent suburban complaints seem dismissively petty. In a later era, my own children received very similar ‘shake it off’ advice from Taylor Swift.” — Paula Wallace, president and founder of Savannah College of Art and Design
5. “I like that you are not afraid to be different.”
“I grew up in a rather traditional town and I was not a calm little girl. My dad and the town didn’t approve of my running around, playing football, climbing trees, and fighting. As I grew, my crazy fashion statements added to my wild behavior. One afternoon, as I was preparing to go out, I started thinking if maybe the time had come to calm down, adjust, and accept the measures of society. My mom saw me standing in front of the mirror, reading through me, and said this to me. It made me think that being afraid to be different is like a prison and I realized how free I am. That sentence has stayed with me to this day.” — Natasa Djukanovic, CMO of Domain.Me
6. “Most new things are a little bit exciting and a little bit scary.”
“My mother was an adventurer, avid hiker, and traveler who encouraged me to challenge myself to overcome my more timid nature, and to accept fear as part of new experiences, not a barrier to them. Her words remind me to focus on the opportunity for positive outcomes in new endeavors, rather than just the risk. — Buffy Simoni, president of Paper Mart
7. “Four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.”
“I live and breathe this quote my mom used to say to me, written by Aiki Flinthart in The Yu Dragon. It’s something I knew by heart as a little girl. When my sister died at age 30 from ovarian cancer, ‘the past life’ words became real. I started Snapper Rock with this quote in mind. I wanted to make a difference, help save lives, and work for myself.” – Liz Eglinton, CEO of Snapper Rock
8. “There are no limitations to accomplishing your dreams.”
“Not only did my mom immediately get me the tools and education to nurture something I expressed interest in and showed talent for, but she also showed me by example that it was possible to do anything. She has been an animator at Disney for 25 years and demonstrated that it is possible to have a thriving career while having lots of fun.” — Natasha Case, CEO and founder of Coolhaus
9. “Slow down and listen to your intuition and instincts, even when the world and people around you say otherwise.”
“My mom has given me a tremendous understanding of why quality — not quantity — of everything in life is important and that attaining material wealth doesn’t lead to happiness. She taught me the importance of having strength of character, relentless determination, and a positive outlook. She showed me that what counts is family, love, homemade fresh food, and cooking from scratch.” — Tamara Arbib, co-founder of Rebel Kitchen
10. “Don’t ever think you’ve been ‘lucky’. You worked hard to get to where you are and that’s the only reason you’re seeing rewards. Learn to recognize yourself for the work you’ve put in. Only then will you be able to do it again!”
“When I was struggling to run my failing startup and found a job at Yelp, I was really beating myself up about all the bad decisions I had made for my business, and thought I didn’t really deserve this job. I felt I had landed it just because I got lucky. When I expressed this, my mum told me this. That piece of advice has remained one of the most effective guiding principles in my professional and personal life.” — Sharadha Ramakrishnan, engineering manager at Yelp
Tweet us the best advice you got from your mama @BritandCo!
(Photos via Getty)
