Why are Great Entrepreneurs Raised by Good Mothers?

“Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” — Marion C. Garretty

A mother deserves to be praised and appreciated 365 days a year, not just on every second Sunday of May. I would like to dedicate this article to those female entrepreneurs who are full-time workers and full-time mothers, the stay-at-home mothers who raised life-changing and innovative entrepreneurs, and the entrepreneurs who find words alone are vain and vacant to describe their gratefulness and indebtedness to their mothers.

(My mother Ana and me)

Growing up I never quite understood how difficult a mother’s job really was until I became a father to two children. I can honestly say that being a mother is the hardest job in the world. And that is a hard fact nobody can deny. Mother’s Day is always a bittersweet celebratory day for me since my mother and I live in different countries. Therefore, I sat down yesterday, decided to reflect on some of the values and core principles that I learned from my mother, and how they have influenced me in an entrepreneurial way, put my thoughts into writing as a way to thank my mother’s selfless love.

Here are 5 qualities I would like to share with you:

1. Working Long Hours: Mothers are always the first one up and last one down. Just like many mothers caring for have young children, my mother would get up at 5AM daily, packing lunches, getting clothes ready, and making sure we were all set for the day. She kept that habit for years, and it really stuck with me. I have always been an early riser no matter what. I always believe that your head is the sharpest in the morning hours, especially after a morning run. Planning your day and getting the most productive tasks done  for your business during the early morning hours gets you a jump start. Sloth turns the edge of wit; sloth is the mother of poverty and the origin of failure.

2. Unconditional Support: Great mothers give their kids little doubt and lots of ‘blind’ support. They are the only ones that make you feel special, constantly feed your ego, and make you feel invincible in every way. My mother gave me all the support I needed, when I needed it the most. If I wanted to go to a tennis camp, she would make it happen. When I insisted on getting music lessons (I have no musical ear or talent and everybody knows that), she encouraged me by getting me a keyboard. I remember so clearly that when I failed my exams in school, she always showed me the bright side of the situation. This is exactly what I try to do at my firm with my employees, no exaggeration. In return, I receive loyalty and them working late hours without complaints. The kind of unconditional support I get from my mother continues to fuel my entrepreneurial ideas.

3. Multitasking: We all know that women are better multitaskers, and they love hearing this compliment! Great mothers can tackle many chores at the same time. While my mother worked extremely hard, she was able to find the balance needed to work the way she wanted to work and be a qualified mother. When running a law firm or any business, if you can’t balance your work and personal life, you will soon feel burnt out. Clever planning and setting priorities is what makes all the difference, and I continue to remember that because of my mom’s habits.

4. Patience: Most mothers have a natural gift called Patience. Kids are truly the toughest patience testers. No matter how much I messed up growing up, my mother always kept her cool and continued to educate me with patience. Starting and growing a business is not a walk in the part nor for the faint of heart. It comes with challenges and frustration, and will continue to test the entrepreneur during every stage. It is so important to be patient, stubborn, and persistent to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

5. Leadership: Try getting 2,3, or 4 kids to do their homework. My mother never raised her voice when she needed me or my sister to do stuff – because we respected her so much and we understood the boundaries we we could not cross. Entrepreneurs who are also great leaders must set principles and boundaries for the company to follow to gain control and respect from the team members.

As I was about to wrap up my thoughts, I decided to ask my son what he likes and admires about his mother. The answer coming from a little boy may not surprise you: It is the attention he receives from his mother that impresses him the most. Every night before he goes to bed, she sits by his bed for 15 minutes, talks to him, asks him about his day, and simply makes him feel important. Who doesn’t love to feel important? And this level of importance is only made possible by one’s mother. My regular readers know how often I talk about listening and paying attention to both clients and employees. Entrepreneurs who care about their people, take time to listen and care, empower their people, and forge loyal and awesome employees, just like what a nurturing mother would do.

I know Mother’s Day is now over, but our obligation of making our mothers feel important and loved never expires. Like how George Washington put it brilliantly: What you are you owe to your mother. Keep caring and be enchanting.

How did you celebrate Mother’s Day? Please leave me a comment below or email me at jacob@enchantinglawyer.com. I would love to hear from you and have a chat with you!