Four Ways My Mother Influenced and Inspired My Career

“Coming from a large family, as a child I lacked in self-confidence. I can always remember my mother telling one motto that stuck with me. ‘I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.’ You never know until you try. That is what my mother taught me and why I have been successful in my career.”

“Besides love, my Mama showed me the importance of PATIENCE and PRAYER – both essential in achieving a successful career.”

“Always showing up on time and being prepared. Because of my mother’s example of prioritizing work in her life, I learned the importance of stability and dependability.”

When I sat down to write today, I thought about all the mothers who day-in and day-out wonder how often their children see the examples they put forth. Because we each have our own unique story, I wanted to see what others were thinking about their mothers. How their mothers influenced and inspired their careers. So, I reached out on social media and to those who I passed throughout the day to hear their thoughts on the topic. Those are the words you read above. And when it came to figuring out how I thought my mother influenced me, I immediately thought about business and my client experiences.

Lately, my world has been filled with business thoughts. It is an exciting time for me. Everything is very new. And most importantly it is a time to figure out what qualities I want present in my brand. That’s when I thought about my mother and the women in my family. My grandmother had faith bigger than any one mustard seed. My aunts showcase a love for friendship and family like no other. And my mother has a strong work ethic that is just one of the many qualities I believe allows her to be successful. Her willingness to always help and her fun spirit are also key components to her success. It is because of their examples that I had direction when it came to creating aspects of my business.

Today, I am sharing with you a few ways my mother and the women in my family influenced and inspired my thoughts on business and my career.

1 | Be Hard Working and Dependable. My parents divorced when I was younger. As I grew up, I saw my mom do everything she could to give us a fun and enjoyable childhood. And she did. I never went a day without the necessities. Now as I grow into my career, I realize just how much her example plays into my work ethic and dependability. It is because of her that I do my best to give my all and keep the commitments I make in my life.

2 | Put People First. I’ve been brainstorming quite a bit lately about the type of client experience I want to create. How do I want my clients to feel? What do I want them to walk away with after our photography experience? As I begin to approach this task, I can see my mother’s influence peak through. You see, she has a way of putting people first. Of listening to what they want and need and finding was to make things happen. These ideas I know will be a part of my end product for my clients.

3 | Share Encouragement. One of the easiest ways I now how to take my mind off of something, especially if I have been overthinking an idea, is to show my support for someone else. I offer kind words. I give them feedback on how something they did affected me in a good way. I ask how things are going and make it a point to listen to them. I can get engulfed on the tasks that I am working on, but in reality life isn’t just about me. I know there are people out their with bigger problems than mine. When I get pulled into that mindset, I know it is time to walk away and offer encouragement. And what has inspired me to be this way… My family’s example of unconditional love for people.

4 | Find Time to Relax. As I dive into entrepreneurship, I am realizing just how much there is to do. With some days having a long to-do list, I can easily lose myself in work and forget about doing things that relax and reenergize me. But, here is the thing, I can’t. I can’t let that happen. I can’t forget about what I love and what makes me happy and what puts a smile on my face. And as I have learned from my mother, nothing resets your mind and body like a vacation and a new adventure. I am lucky I have developed a similar sense of love for travel and adventure as she. And, I am thankful I understand the importance of relaxation.