Moms Know Best

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Mother’s Day is this Sunday!

And we hope you have something special planned for the day. Whether you are wining or dining, preparing a fun present, or even sending a simple phone call, Mother’s Day is a time to be thankful for the most amazing and influential woman in your life. But, just in case you are running behind and need a little bit of help in deciding what to do, check out our LAX Coastal Hot Deals. Your fellow LAX Coastal members and community partners pulled together and slashed prices for this occasion to give you the best gifts and experiences possible. This is the last week they will be up, so don’t miss out!

It’s no surprise that Mother’s give us so much, but something they are especially known for is their wisdom and advice (and because she’s your Ma, you’re going to get it whether you asked for it or not). In the spirit of always bettering ourselves, both personally and professionally, we asked the great people around us for their best mom’s advice—as well as did some online searching—and here is a compilation of our favorites!


 

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From Quora:

You can make any choice you want if you are willing to accept the consequences that come with it. Stating your position and sticking to it shows character, which can help in professional and even personal situations.

Don’t spend what you don’t have. This is just simple money cents (get it? Sense? No? No one?). Don’t go over spending to try and look like something you are not. Let us clarify, a little special super awesome treat it okay (like a yummy Ruth’s Chris dinner) but not all day everyday if you can’t afford it.


 

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From Huffington Post:

Never show up at someone’s home empty-handed. It’s rude, disrespectful and thoughtless. If someone has taken the time to invite you over, whether it’s for a coffee or a full dinner, make sure to bring a token. It doesn’t have to be expensive; it could be some flowers, a plant or a box of chocolates. The key is to show your appreciation for your host’s efforts. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way.

Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about yourself. No one can make you feel bad about yourself unless you let them. So said my very smart mother and of course she was right. We teach people how to treat us, and if we accept bad behavior, that’s what we’ll keep receiving. Have some self-respect, treat yourself well and others will follow suit.

Don’t worry about it. Really. Don’t. It’s not worth it, in the long run. No matter how much you think that the situation that you’re in is the be-all and end-all of everything, you will very quickly learn that this is never really the case. Mom knew this and did her best to teach me this very important philosophy. After many, many years of stress, I think I’m finally learning. Variation on this theme: “Better days are ahead” (my mom always said this as well).

You can never be too kind. “Kill them with kindness” was always one of my mom’s favorite expressions. This is particularly the case when you’re confronted with a truculent sort. They’re usually thrown for a loop when you smile sweetly and respond positively to their crabbiness. Try it. It works.


 

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From LAX Coworker/Mother Dr. Angie Courtney:

Treat the janitor like you would treat the king. Angie’s grandmother gave her this advice and it rings very true. People can sometimes lose sight of other’s humanity and just see their social status or occupation, but you should never let that affect how you treat them.

You will be truly happy when you stop caring about what other people think. A mother herself, Angie believes that although kids will often go through the “I want to fit in” phase, it is our differences that make us special. We shouldn’t try to hide who we are.


 

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The Israelson sisters, Aurora and Kirby, and their Mother, Conny.

From Conny Israelson (Kirby’s Mom):

Leave the bathroom cleaner than you found it. Literally and figuratively. How you leave things leaves an impression on those around you, so make sure it’s a good one. Don’t walk into a meeting and not bring something to the table, don’t volunteer for an event and not get your hands dirty, and—hopefully this is common sense—don’t use someone’s facilities and leave a mess.

Anything worth doing is worth doing well. A strong work ethic can go a long way. It doesn’t matter if you’re scrubbing toilets, painting someone’s garage, or running a company. If your name is attached to the work, make sure the work is done to the best of your ability. A hard worker is always appreciated.

Work before play. Play is always more enjoyable when work isn’t hovering over your head. Don’t procrastinate. Finish what you need to get done, no matter how hard it is, and then go out and have fun.

Take credit where credit is deserved. Take credit for your actions. Don’t claim someone else’s hard work as your own and don’t take credit for something you had no control over, but when your hard work hits pay dirt, it’s okay to be proud.

Fake it till you make it. Intimidated by a new position? Unsure of how to continue on a project? Feeling a little blue? Fake it till you make it. Act confident in what you are doing, give it all you got, and before you know it, the confidence will be real. You will have made it. Plus, faking a smile is scientifically proven to genuinely increase your happiness, so why not try faking it a little?

Be okay with settling for “good enough.” If you have to choose between doing something perfectly or not doing it at all, sometimes you need to be okay with simply getting it done. Perfection is not always mandatory. Good enough doesn’t have to be a four letter word. Yes, of course you should always do your best, but good enough is better than letting people down. *Note* This is the only piece of Mom advice that Kirby has difficulty accepting… But she tries!

If you are lucky enough to be graced with a talent, use it. Everyone is born with a talent. From music to writing to kindness, if you are good at something and can use it to better the people and/or world around you, DO IT. Everyone has a purpose, and it doesn’t matter if yours can help one flower, one person, or one planet, you owe it to yourself to realize it.

If you could only follow one rule, let it be this: show respect. If every action was based around the single concept of showing respect, there would be no pollution, no abuse, no war, no hurt feelings, no kicked puppies, no unfilled coffee pots… You get my drift. If everyone showed respect—for things, animals, and people—the world would be a better place. Even one person can make a difference.


 

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From Sandra’s Ma:

You are not above anyone else. My mom originally came from Mexico and received her citizenship in 2000. One day, one of her coworkers was walking around, boasting to everyone that he had received his residency. My mom told me that yes, this is something he had every right to be proud of, but to then say things like, “Look at all of these little immigrants running around” was not okay and never okay. When it was her turn, I wished my mom had flaunted her citizenship with a parade, but she didn’t (that’s why she’s the adult and I’m the child…). Instead, she used it as a moment to remind me that no one is above anyone else and we should all treat one another with respect.


 

Happy Mother’s Day from your local chamber! Don’t forget to share your own best Mom advice in the comments below.

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