How did your mom inspire you to start your own business? Maybe she ran a business herself. Maybe she lent you money to help you get started. Maybe she always supported your dreams.
Beyond that, moms have a way of teaching life lessons that stick with us. And many of these lessons turn out to be just as valuable in business as they are in life. In honor of Mother’s Day, here are 10 business lessons inspired by the wisdom of moms everywhere.
1. Make a great first impression
“Wash your face, comb your hair, and wear clean clothes.” It’s one of those timeless reminders many grew up hearing, and it still rings true in business. Just like a neat appearance leaves a good impression, so does how your company presents itself.
Your small business’s marketing materials, from your logo to your business cards and brochures, can be the deciding factor in whether customers do business with you or choose the competition. Start with a professional business website that sells customers your products and services.
2. Communicate with kindness and respect
If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. It may seem just a simple tip from our mothers, but it becomes all the more important the moment you own a business. The tone and messaging your business put out, especially online, can influence how people see your brand.
Social media marketing is key to promoting a small business these days. But remember, whenever you’re online, you’re representing your business. Keep your social media posts positive, entertaining, and inspiring. Even if someone lashes out at your business online, never respond in kind.
3. Believe in yourself
Cliché as it may seem, believing in yourself is a must when running a business. As a small business owner, you will go through many hard days (and long nights). Self-confidence is what helps you keep going.
Focus on your goals, have confidence in your abilities, and surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. The more confidence you have in yourself and your business, the more others will, too.
4. Show appreciation
Simple gestures of gratitude, like saying “please” and “thank you,” can go a long way in life and in business. People are more likely to stay loyal to a company that makes them feel seen and valued.
Your employees, suppliers, and customers play a huge role in your business’s success. Show them how much you appreciate them through kind words, thoughtful gestures, or incentives. Above all, never take them for granted.
5. Be accountable for your choices
Running a business means being the one who makes the call and, more importantly, the one who takes full responsibility for them. The buck stops with you, so don’t try to pass it on when making decisions.
Get feedback from others and evaluate all the information at hand. Then, make a choice and project confidence in your decision. Remember, if you want people to follow you, you have to act like you know where you’re going.
6. Do the work before you enjoy the reward
Mom’s advice that you have to eat your vegetables before you can have dessert might’ve been about dinner back then. In business, this translates to having discipline, most especially in the startup stage.
Running a business means doing lots of things you may not enjoy, like managing finances, handling admin work, or taking care of day-to-day operations. Your reward: getting to do the things you enjoy, like baking pies or chatting with customers. And of course, growing your customer base and seeing your profits rise.
7. Don’t follow trends mindlessly
If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you? Stay on top of business and customer trends, but don’t blindly follow the crowd. Just because every other business owner is purchasing a new type of technology or pursuing today’s hot marketing tactic doesn’t mean those things are right for your business.
Trends come and go. What your business needs is something more solid to stand on. While it’s not bad to follow trends from time to time, remember to constantly assess whether the trends actually align with your goals, budget, and audience.
8. Learn, then move forward
Don’t cry over spilled milk. Every business owner makes mistakes from time to time. A failed product launch, a missed opportunity, or a decision that didn’t pay off—they’re inevitable.
Don’t brush them under the rug, but don’t obsess about them, either. Learn from them so you can do better next time. Then, let them go and move on.
9. Manage your money wisely
Money doesn’t grow on trees. This lesson from mom takes on a whole new meaning when you’re running a business. When every penny comes from your own ingenuity and hard work, you quickly realize how important it is to manage your finances carefully.
If you want to succeed in business, you need to be mindful of your finances. When spending or reinvesting, set clear budgets, control costs, and make calculated decisions. How you manage your money can affect your company’s long-term growth.
10. Focus on what you can control
Life isn’t fair, and some things just won’t go your way. That’s a reality every business owner faces sooner or later.
Many factors affect the success of your business, from economic downturns to unexpected delays and shifts in customer behavior. You can’t control all (or most) of them, but you can control your reaction and response to them. Rather than stressing over what you can’t change, focus your energy on the decisions you can make. The more flexible and solution-oriented you are, the easier it will be for your business to progress.
