Why Moms Make the Best Business Owners
by Steve Strauss on May 11th, 2009
Q: My wife is a great mom and a great business owner. Coincidence? I think not.
Kirk
A: This comment got me to thinking. Although my sweet mom isn’t with us anymore, her lessons live with me still, and now that I think about it, they even apply to business. And my wife, the great mom to my kids, not only teaches them well, but me too in the process.
Isn’t that what moms do? They teach and help and share and give. If you think about it, I bet your mom’s advice might also apply to your business:
“Look both ways before crossing the street”: What is she really saying? What mom means is that it is a dangerous world out there and you have to careful.
That is certainly true in business, is it not? Before doing a deal with someone new, before taking out that line of credit, before opening that second location, look both ways before crossing the street. It might just save your business life.
“Play nice”: In business, this sage piece of advice could have many meanings:
· It could mean, be kind to your employees, and be a good boss
· It might mean, in a negotiation, think win-win
· Maybe it means, remember that business is about more than just the bottom line
However you want to interpret it, playing nice usually means your business will be more fun and more fulfilling than if you don’t play nice.
“Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do”: This is something my mom used to tell me (like maybe when I knew my Aunt Rhoda, bless her heart, was going to place a big lipstick kiss on my cheek.) It is advice that has always served me well, in life and in business.
In business, sometimes you do indeed have to do things you don’t want to do: Let someone go, pay a bill for services poorly rendered, do your taxes, that sort of thing.
The good news: Doing the unwelcome thing means that you can then go back to the fun things.
“There’s always a solution”: This is something my wife always reminds my kids. It’s good to learn, and true. No, the solution is not always easy or simple, but guess what? Sometimes it is, you just have to look harder. The important thing is to remember that solutions are out there.
“Eat your vegetables”: Really Steve, this has to do with business, really? Yes, I think it does. What is the underlying point of ‘eat your vegetables’? Isn’t it, be well-rounded, be healthy? That, I think we can all agree, is in fact good business.
“Have fun!”: Good moms are not just about teaching life lessons, they also want their kids to enjoy themselves ( safely, of course.) Well, this certainly is some great business advice. You have to keep things fun, especially in this economy.
Whether that means being a good boss and giving yourself Wednesday afternoons off to golf or whether it means keeping things light and playful around the office is of course up to you. Just be sure to have some fun.
“Because I said so”: It used to drive me nuts when my mom said this, but needless to say, now that I am a parent, it is a sage saying. Sure, it is good to listen, but the bottom line is that you are the boss.
“Clean your room”: Mom knows that it is hard to work in a messy place. She also knows that impressions count, and the cleanliness of your room (or office) matters.
“Actions speak louder than words”: How many people have you met in business who talk a great game but can’t seem to deliver when push comes to shove? Many, I bet. We don’t want to be that guy. In business, your word is your bond, or it should be.
“Remember to say please and thank you”: I am amazed how often people with whom I do business forget their manners. Please and thank you are basic, essential, and make a difference.
Moms: What would we do without them? To my mom, and the mother of my kids, and to all the moms out there – thanks for everything!
Today’s Tip: MasterCard has a nice program for small businesses called The Easy Savings Program. It provides cardholders with automatic discounts, savings, and rebates when they use the card to buy products and services from a wide variety of participating merchants, such as the U.S. Postal Service, Dunkin’ Donuts, Avis, Budget, DHL, Monster, Administaff, McCormick & Schmick’s, and so on. You can learn more here.
My Mother also is a dear woman and runs a business, compassion as well as making your customers stick to the rules like you would your kids helps keep your business out of debt and out of trouble.
Emily Ceder
May 12th, 2009
at 11:50 pm
ver la ropa y accesorios
marisela ramos
May 16th, 2009
at 3:45 pm
My Mother was a wonderful mother and business person. She taught us while working in her business or in a public setting to always say “Please” and “Thank You”. Because of this, most of her customers were repeat customers, as they were treated respectfully.
Snow Bunny
May 27th, 2009
at 4:55 pm
my mother also runs a business and deal it well.
shile lin
June 2nd, 2009
at 9:40 pm