I launched this blog in February with the vision of virtually mentoring and coaching others. At the time, I couldn’t have envisioned the loss of my mother in early April. Nor did I anticipate the effect that would have in all areas of my life.
I still can’t fully express how I feel; however, I am greatly impacted by the lessons she taught me and owe my success to her guidance, love, and support.
Mom obviously couldn’t teach me about blogging growing up. However, she did teach me life lessons that I have embodied and will carry with me forever. Her selfless love also provided an example of how the best end result may not always what you personally might want. Allow me to share mom’s most impactful leadership lessons with you.
Work hard
In order to be successful at anything you have to put in the work. It may not be fun. It may not be easy. It is; however, necessary. There is no substitute for putting in the effort. Hobbies, parenting, a profession. To excel requires steadfast dedication. So, quit hesitating. If there is something you want to achieve…go out and put in the work. Great leaders must have a great work ethic and be able to adapt how they work once they achieve a leadership position.
Be resilient
You will go through hard times and must be able to persevere and learn from it. The ability to push through, learn from the experience, and bounce back are critical attributes of successful leaders. The business that fails, being passed over for a promotion, the seemingly dead-end assignment. Handling those things with grace and having the resiliency to push through and learn from those experiences will not only take you far but prepare you for the future.
Love others
Sounds strange in the context of leadership, right? In order to lead others you need to love your people enough to care about them and enough to be interested in their success over your own. Relationships, even those at work, need to be established with enough love for our fellow humans that we build them out of genuine interest in the needs and motivations of others and not solely our own.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Mom often quoted that verse to me growing up. Usually when I didn’t want to hear what she was saying. She was often right and, in the end, I’ve found that the above three foundational principles she taught me truly set me on the path to success. They can do the same for you.
Thank you, mom. You provided the bedrock that served as the capstone for my life. Happy first Mother’s Day in heaven!
Dear reader, if you can, hug your mom or give her a call and, if you are a mother, I wish you a wonderful and joyous Mother’s day!