We asked the Women 2.0 community for the best advice mom gave them that makes them better entrepreneurs and leaders.
By Women 2.0 Staff
She’s the first woman you looked up to. Long before you first heard “you can’t,” your mom made sure you knew “you can.” We remember the lessons our mothers taught us growing up daily as entrepreneurs, innovators and as women.
So we asked the Women 2.0 community: What’s the advice your mom gave you that makes you a great leader, founder, business woman or innovator?
Here what they had to say. Thanks to everyone who replied! If you didn’t get a chance, let us know in the comments, on Twitter or on Facebook.
Patti King Fletcher: Her best advice to me is that I can do anything I set my mind to doing and to embrace who I am. — Marketing executive, entrepreneur, & writer
Matthew M. Gonzales: When I was a kid and would get upset about something, my mom would tell me to go outside and kick the fence until I felt better. It always worked. As an adult, if something is troubling me I go for a long run — same principle and same result. I always feel better. — Business development & sales executive
Shalini Rehil Katariya: My mom used to teach us what her father taught to her: “All beings are equal. Don’t treat anyone as if they are beneath you, and don’t allow anyone to treat you like you are beneath them.”
Mico J Yuk: The only opinion about you that matters is God. — Founder of BIBrainz.com & Author of “Data Visualization for Dummies”
JoAnn Peach: Never learn how to cook or sew. Set your sights on the boardroom — and either learn domestic stuff if you want to…or just be able to pay for someone else to do it. (#dragonmom ;)) — Head of Global Developer Marketing at PayPal
Srish Jain: To believe in myself. To listen to my gut
Vanaja Rao: To never give up and to realise the driving power is always in our hands.
Susana Garcia Robles: I could get as far as I’d set myself to — Co-founder of WeXchange
Jin Zhou: God makes no mistakes. Trust in the journey and in your unique lessons- they are meant to grow you to who you become. Hold your head up high. Laugh a lot. Be useful and kind. Get uncomfortable sometimes. Don’t let your ego get in the way of you truly living. Be financially savvy. Love fearlessly. — Programs Manager of Women 2.0
Anna Padideh Moshefi: To always have faith in myself
Leigh Honeywell: When giving a talk, speak so slowly it’s uncomfortable. It will sound like normal speed to everyone else 🙂 — Co-founder of HackLabTO and Seattle Attic Community Workshop
Ümit Yalçinalp: Never give up, never surrender. — Founder of myAppellation.com
Avni Patel Thompson: if you don’t try you can’t succeed. #momwise — Co-founder papaya+post
Jami Morton: If you aren’t confident about what you are doing, just fake it until you make it. — Co-founder and COO of SnowShoeStamp
Peggy Mangot: Take time to celebrate & appreciate. — Technology Executive at Google
Holly Liu: If you don’t know something, tell them “you can learn.” — Co-founder at Kabam
Christine Lu: When I was in high school, my mom in her broken English said: “Before finish college, if boy tell you he love you …don’t believe him.” — Co-founder and CEO of Affinity China
Just For You Mom: Mom told me “You can do anything if it’s in your heart. Believe in yourself!”
Cristina Fernández: “Even before you were born, you have been always loved, and many people have prayed for your life. That’s why you have a purpose” — Biobusiness Social Entrepreneur
Arusyak Abrahamian: it’s ok to have fears sometimes, you don’t always need to be the strong one! — Founder of TimeRaven
Arusyak Abrahamian shares a photo of of her mom on Twitter: Happy Mother’s Day to my lovely Mom and all of you mothers in the world! You are amazing! #love #MothersDay #Mommy pic.twitter.com/h58hHBuDrn
Bonnie Fahoome: “This above all- to thine own self be true,” or in her own words, “Be yourself.” — Director of Operations for InsYght at Digerati, Inc.
Brianna Collins: Never stop asking questions, even if they make people uncomfortable. #BeCurious #BeBrave — Account Manager at Webranx Internet Marketing Strategies
Lora Rosenblum: It all comes down to being your own best advocate. And, slingback heels are hard to walk in.
The Coye Candle Co.: Mom told me “Always listen to your intuition. It’s a gift we have that should be embraced, not ignored.”
Vanessa Richardson: “Remember how I told you to “Stop, Look, Listen and Think” before crossing the street? Same rule applies to work — and life.” — Writer and editor
Ewenz: “don’t let anyone say you can’t do it because you’re a woman” and “treat others as you want to be treated.”
Chelsea Rustrum: My mom didn’t tell me — she showed me. She was always reinventing herself, trying new things, and believing that anything was possible. I saw that that was in fact true, and decided my life was going to be how I constructed it. Entrepreneurship is just that — redefining reality the way that you want it to be. She showed me and that belief is now integrated – I can’t imagine seeing the world any other way. Thanks mom! — Entrepreneur, writer & Marketeer
Melody McCloskey: My mom has a strong intuition and an understanding of what drives people. She’s a great listener and can connect deeply with others. I learned a lot from her about how to be more thoughtful — though it’s still a struggle. — Co-founder and CEO of StyleSeat
