My mom is a renaissance woman in every sense of the word. After graduating from college (she finished in three years because she couldn’t afford to go for four years), she married my dad and they settled down and started a family. I was first in the line-up and I have three younger brothers. The amazing thing about this is that there are only five years between my siblings and I. People used to say that we followed my mom around like little ducks in a row. I was very fortunate growing up, I had a stay-at-home mom. She was at home with us for 10 years and in that time my mother ran quite a few businesses and I learned something from everyone.
She was first attracted to MLM or multi-level marketing businesses. She sold Tupperware, Copper goods, Shaklee, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and Melaleuca. She also framed and matted art, and prepared taxes. Then she made special occasion dresses and even reupholstered furniture for neighbors and friends. As a kid, it always seemed like she was up to some new hair-brained scheme. She never seemed to make much money, she really just enjoyed interacting with people. I thought she never made much money because she was always a protector of “lost souls”. I struggled a lot to understand her, and though I didn’t realize it at the time, she was planting the entrepreneurial bug in me very early.
Here’s a few things my momma taught me about business:
Don’t sweat the small stuff: Often people would not pay my mom on time or at all and she never let it bother her. She said that you had to pick your battles and she believed that it was never her job to take care of people, she said God would get them.
Be a life-long learner: My mother took classes at the local community college to learn how to reupholstered furniture to start her new business. She also earned her MBA at age 52. She is the type of person who constantly seeks new experiences and self improvement.
Excuses are for those who make them: My mother had four kids, including one special needs child, and a husband who worked two jobs. She never let that be an excuse for her not to do something for her business or her own education. She just made us a part of her business. I learned early how to stuff her promo bags or help her get ready for a Mary Kay party. She was very focused on all her jobs and she loved helping people.
I guess I am my mother’s daughter. I work hard to fulfill my mission to end small business failure, and I find myself thinking often about all my mother’s businesses (the good and the bad). Now I want you to make sure that you only court the right customers who have money to pay you, I want to encourage you to constantly look for opportunities to grow yourself and grow your business, and stops making excuses about a lack of money or time, and do what you need to do for your business.
What lessons did you mother teach you that you use in your business?
Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is one of America’s leading small business experts. She is an author, speaker, and small business coach whose areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development, and social media marketing. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to End Small Business Failure. She publishes a resource blog at: www.succeedasyourownboss.com and hosts a weekly talk show on Twitter called #SmallBizChat for emerging entrepreneurs. Forbes Magazine named Melinda Emerson one of the Top 20 Women for Entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. Melinda has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fortune, and Black Enterprise. She’s the author of the bestselling book “Become Your Own Boss in 12 months: A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works”, and she writes a column for www.secondact.com and is an instructor for the Black Enterprise Small Business University.
My grandfather was a business man, and mom learned from his success that a good reputation worth more than gold. And she passed this on to me early.
Besides, she has been teaching me with her life – i mean, her whole life (who she is and how she deals with things around her) the importance of independence.
She is a beautiful woman.
My mama was a Greekschool teacher for 35 years, and had a tea room restaurant. Her schedule was brutal, but she was so dedicated to both jobs- and she recruited all of us to work in the restaurant. Many Saturdays I would be home from grad school so I could pour coffee and serve sandwiches while my dad (a research chemist) would take care of the cashier, and my younger brother would also be waiting on tables. Some of my most precious memories come from those Saturdays.
My mom taught me to “always trust my first mind”. A lot of the conventional wisdom in business involves lots of planning and details, but this one tidbit of information has been the most helpful. My initial “gut instinct reaction” is generally dead-on, and every time I’ve gone against it, or “rationalized” my way into some other course of action, it’s always led me astray!
My mother has given me tons of advice and words of wisdom, and this is definitely one of the best!
My mother taught me to always be nice to the support staff–never look down your nose at, or talk down to, them–for they are the ones who can really help you shine and get your work done!
Hi Melinda,
Great post, very inspirational and just what I needed this morning, thank you!
Elaine x
Ooops sorry, my big “momma” lesson was to treat people how you would like to be treated yourself! 🙂 works well for me!
My mother taught me many lessons about business, but the ones that really stuck with me were:
1. Do your homework! Always make sure to understand as much as possible about what you’re getting into.
2. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can get done today! It’s easy to push things back, but to be successful in business every day counts.
3. Learn and grow from your mistakes! Things happen, be ready to roll with the punches and grow from mistakes. That’s where real knowlage and experience come from.
I owe a lot to my mom who has been a major inspiration in my life… Listen your mother! They have a lot to teach us.
Hi Melinda,
My Mother was very similar to yours who passed away 21 years ago. She used to do dress-making for others and never got paid some of the times or well below what the job was worth. Unfortunately, I experienced the same when I did dress-making. I recall making bridesmaid dresses for my friend’s daughter’s wedding and to this day never got paid for it. Each time I asked for payment the person became conveniently ill. Now that person leads a very lonely life.
She was also very protective of me as I was very shy and allowed people to take advantage of me. After she passed away, several of her friends told me that she worried what would happen to me when she’s gone. I did managed to leave my hometown, shortly after she passed away and moved to the Midlands in 1995.
I am now in my mid-50s and still miss her, but I think of all the things she taught me such as treating other people as you would like to be treated. Always make sure you eat before you attend a special occasion as you many not get anything to eat or they may run out of food before you get served. Work before pleasure was another thing and I have passed these onto my 10 year old grand-daughter who has been living with me for a year. I have also taught her the importance of learning as much as you can whilst you are young so that you don’t have to depend on others.
During this past year I have searching for ways to earn money at home and learnt a lot. I have even managed to build 4 websites all by myself and I’m proud of myself. I’m still continuing to learn even though I gave up working 2 years ago due to ill health. Anyway, I won’t go on anymore.
Hi Melanie
What a great post, very inspirational and good tips. I am 26 years old and having my own printing business which started as a hobbie until a year ago I took the plunge and am now doing it full time.
Your moms tips I will definitely keep in mind always as I Have too dealt with people not making full or all payments. Just reading how urom approached this matter made me realize that I was seriously sweating over the small stuff and devoting lots of energy and time to these people. I’ll forever keep this in my head from now on : leave it in the Lords hands.
I am the first generation in my family to be running by own business and every step has been by trial and error and reading alot. I hope to one say be a inspiration to my kids as ur mom has been to you. I have two beautiful little girls and they too try to help me in what I do .
Thanks again. Love reading your posts
My mothers life teachings help me in business.
1. Be a good communicator by listening efficiently & being rebound to body language.
2. Make decisions according to your first thought & never 2nd guess myself.
3. Be well rounded in my interactions. She taught me that I can learn from all kinds of people from all walks of life.
“attentive to body language” Typo!
A wonderful tribute to your mom! So many lessons tucked away in what may seem to be a routine life of raising children and doing odd jobs. One of the most memorable lessons my mom taught me:
I was riding on a bus with my mom in Brooklyn, NY. I was 8 years old and the bus was packed. We were fortunate to have seats, but when a very pregnant woman boarded the bus, my mom poked me and offered our seat to the woman. I was puzzled, but my mom quietly explained to me that we can do nice things for people, even if we don’t know them. Duly noted: none of the men on the bus offered their seat. Circa 1970.