With Mother’s Day coming up it’s a good idea to reflect on all the things Mom taught us over the years. Of course she taught you how to tie your shoes and do the dishes, but did you know that a lot of what Mom taught you can be applied in a business sense? Here are five common things that mothers teach their children that are excellent tips in the business world as well.
1. The Golden Rule
Common courtesy should be common sense but that’s not always the case. Whether you’re speaking with investors or clients, interviewing potential new hires, or negotiating with other businesses, it’s important to remember that these are people you’re dealing with. Treating others with respect and kindness is something that can help establish your business as a company who cares and respects the people you come into contact with in all areas of your business relationships. Treat others the way you would like to be treated and you’ll not only help your business succeed, you’ll also make your mother proud.
2. Clean Up Your Room
Whether organization comes easily to you or not, it’s an important aspect of any successful business career. A messy and disorganized office (or computer) is a surefire way to lose valuable productivity time. Most business owners spend a significant amount of time switching between tasks throughout the day. If you’re spending a large portion of that time trying to find important documents or trying to remember when your next appointment is, you’re losing valuable time that could be better spent working towards growing your business.
3. Stop Whining
Negativity has been proven time and time again to limit your abilities as a human being in all areas of your life. This is especially true in business. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, frequently attributed to Henry Ford, that “Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re right.” Positivity is not just about warm and fuzzy feelings; it contributes dramatically to productivity and can be the difference between a thriving business and a mediocre one.
Positivity also has a drastic effect on your employees and anyone on your team. If you model negativity and pessimism your team will follow suit. Aside from simply making your company a miserable place to work, negativity can also severely limit your company’s growth potential.
4. Work Before Play
Self-control is essential to any work situation. If you can get yourself into the habit of doing the most annoying tasks earlier in the day, you’ll be significantly more productive the rest of the day and will most likely finish all of your tasks much more quickly. That way you’ll be free to enjoy the things you truly enjoy doing whether they’re related to work or not. This has a snowball effect of making you feel more positive in general which will then help you be more productive. Mom had it right all along.
5. Get Back Up After You Fall
Learning from your mistakes is an extremely important skill for anyone wishing to be a successful entrepreneur. Thinking that you’re immune to making mistakes is a foolish idea that will lead you to disappointment and will definitely hinder your ability to succeed. On the flip side, acknowledging your mistakes and learning from them will set you on the path to being truly successful.
Whether you’re treating Mom to brunch or sending flowers and chatting on the phone, this Mother’s Day be sure to thank your mother for all the sound advice she’s given you over the years! It’s a great way to let her know how influential she has been on your life and in so many ways.
