Parents teach us many things including how to be a parent. We can learn from their mistakes, sure, but we can also learn a lot from the things they got right. We asked successful entrepreneurs and creatives to open up to us about their parents and what they felt their parents got right.

Natasha Colas

One thing my parents did right was yo serve others and do so with humor. So naturally acts of service has become a major part of what makes me, me. I love knowing that I was able to help someone, particularly in situations where they seem stuck. And of course, if you’re hanging around me, you can rest assure that there will be many moments of comic relief. I, like my mother, am not afraid to be the brunt of joke if it means that it’ll help lighten the mood for someone else. Read more>>

Armin Faraji

My parents didn’t have the best jobs but they provided me with extracurricular activities, travel opportunities, and summer camp — which gave me the chance to explore my interests. I was always encouraged to follow my passions and try new things, so that’s what I did. They also allowed me to listen to any kind of music I wanted and allowed me to be influenced by the outside world, rather than keep me locked up inside the house filled with only our family photographs. Read more>>

Jenny Quinn

This question particularly intrigues me today as I just became a parent myself. My parents were visual artists. They worked from home in our basement (envision a decked out 2 story garage with more wall to wall paint splatters than the eye could see). They worked together, and they were THERE for me. My parent’s parenting philosophy was based on 2 basic things. 1. Try not to get in the way of my kid’s decision (aka don’t micromanage too much) and 2. Encourage and support my kid in her passions. Read more>>

Mallory Oliverson

I had the most magical childhood. I believe that a magical childhood=a creative adult. My mom gave me every chance to create and make things despite all the messes that accompanied it. She built a foundation of confidence in my creativity that I still lean on as an adult. And my Dad was a very hard working small business owner himself his entire life which 100% helped me fall in love with the idea of starting my own thing. Read more>>

Dan Ricketts

When I was a teenager I was always getting into trouble around the neighborhood skateboarding, exploring, and painting graffiti. When I was about 14 years old my mom had to come pick me up from the police station for doing graffiti on a rooftop in broad daylight with my buddy Chris. While my parents were super pissed, they somehow decided to let me practice my graffiti ON and INSIDE our house! I had two 4’x8′ sheets of plywood sitting on buckets leaning against the wall in the basement. Read more>>

Sabrina Wright

My parents instilled confidence in me. My parents always lead with scripture you can all things thru Christ whom strengthens you. That scripture helped me become a force to be reckoned. I believe I can do anything so I am not afraid to open a business or try new things. Most people can’t be who called them to be because of fear. From a child I have been fearless because of what my parents put in me. Read more>>

Joy Nyree

My parents always stressed the importance of paying attention and I see the impact that this has made on my life. Both of my parents were professional athletes who were very disciplined. There attention to details allowed them to excel in their fiels and they have passed that gift on to me. My attention to detail has become one of my super power and is very necessary especially in the field I’m in. Read more>>

Rodi Bragg

The best thing my parents ever did was let my maternal grandmother raise me. My grandmother, Cecelia Trudy Davis, raised me my whole life, and was a huge impact on my character. She passed away in 2016 from a heart attack, and her legacy lives on not only in me, but also in my skincare brand. She inspired me to work hard, be smart and take calculated risks (that ensured some kind of rewards). She was a gambler, but she always paid her bills on time. Read more>>

Kimberly Bowman

In my opinion, my parents are two of the greatest people to have ever lived. I consider myself lucky to have grown up with both of them having a strong presence in my life. My mom was more a tough love type of person, but she never wavered in her support of my dreams and my passions. My dad was literally my personal cheerleader. It was like he knew something that no one else did and saw my potential at a very young age. Read more>>

Tristin Gless

I truly believe that your parents have the most influence on who you become, for better or worse. We learn what to do as well as what not to do by watching our parents’ successes and failures, but our best opportunity is to learn from them. My parents’ most important accomplishment in raising me was instilling independence in me at a young age. I learned that you can’t be successful and have all of your dreams come true unless you carve your own path and work hard for it. Read more>>

Amy Phillips

As a child, I would dream of being an artist, a model and an entrepreneur. I would parade my latest artwork around the house, create small businesses with my siblings, in which we would sell everything from costume jewelry to mud pies. I would also beg my parents to enter me into every modeling contest I could find. Coming from a family of 6 girls, my parents somehow were able to make each of us feel supported and celebrated for all of our talents and interests. Read more>>

Jennifer Langston

My parents are heaven sent! They truly are the definition of supportive. Growing up my parents encouraged me to take chances. They made me and still make me feel like I can fly. That anything is possible. They are my biggest supporters and motivators. When I decided to write my first book last October entitled Antsy Agatha. I told them that I had the idea to write a book. They immediately said “Do it!” Read more>>

Wei Bertram

Growing up in Shanghai, China, was a wonderfully enlightening experience. Not only did I have a very loving and caring family, but I found myself heavily influenced by the traditional Chinese culture and customs around me, including the vast world of Chinese medicine and drinking tea as a daily routine. From the very beginning, my parents supported my individuality and taught me how important it was to listen to my heart. Read more>>

Robert Beverly

Music has always been an integral part of my life. There was never a time I didn’t know The Beatles, Elton John, or The Rolling Stones, thanks to my parents. There are certain key musical moments in my early life that are engrained in me. I remember sitting in the backseat of my dad’s Subaru with my best friend after soccer games when I was about 4 years old. My dad would turn on Elton John’s cover of “Pinball Wizard” and told us to pick an instrument: drums, piano, or guitar. Read more>>

Louise Baigelman

Any walls that my parents could turn into bookshelves, they did. I grew up between the pages of books: from imagination-stretching titles like ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ to mysteries like ‘The Westing Game.’ On vacations, we had daily “quiet reading time,” and on road trips, my sister would read aloud from our favorite series or we’d invent alliterative tongue twisters to pass the time. For our birthdays, my dad gifted us poetry: personalized verse and rhyme weaving in the prior year of our lives. Words were an enormous part of my world for as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Sarah Hanna

I am a third generation visual artist. My mother never, EVER made “real” art tools out of reach or “too special” for us to use as kids. It was simple – she showed us how to use and care for professional tools properly, and, as a result, we created beautiful things because we were using the right tools for the tasks. Read more>>

Vincent Hisle

I think just about everyone is biased toward their parents. I think my parents were fairly unique in how they approached raising me and my siblings. One thing I know as a teacher, is if you invest quality time doing some sort of creative activity with your children, it will shape them into intelligent and creative people. At the very least it will shape them into curious people who are less afraid to try new things, and I would wager this was a huge advantage for me. Read more>>

Torrie Everhart

My mother planted a seed very early in life with her selflessness and eagerness to always help those around her. She served as a team mom for every sport I played, volunteered at each school I attended and physically supported every extra-curricular activity that I participated in. She navigated all of those things while disabled and often ignoring her daily pain yet never missing a “step”. She taught me the importance of serving those in need and just overall being a good human being. Her illustration of love created a call to action and was the jumpstart for a vision to create an impactful nonprofit for the community, Read more>>

Sammy Kay

There is no way on earth I would be where I am today without my parents haha! They have believed in me since the beginning. One of my favorite memories was when they bought me my first guitar when I was 10 years old. My dad would learn guitar chords and then teach me how to play and my mom was beside me while I wrote my first songs. They both would drive me to open mics all around Indiana as I pursued my career in music at a young age. Read more>>

Starre Cannon

The most powerful thing that my parents did that has impacted my life, how I up in the world and why I am effective at what I do was show me the true meaning of love; for myself and others. I will never forget this time when my dad picked me up for the weekend (my parents were divorced since I was 3yo) and there was a song playing on the radio. The daughter of the woman my dad was dating at the time, was singing along and knew all of the words to the song. Read more>>

Blake Givargidze

My parents have done many things right, but I think they did the best in pushing me at a very young age to play the drums. it is like they saw the talent in me before anyone else did. my mom always tells everyone this story about how when I was 3 years old I was playing the drums in the basement of the house we were in at the time and she thought it was my dad playing the drums but soon after my dad came home and she said: “you weren’t home ?” implying that she thought that it was my dad playing the drums in the basement. soon after that, they bought me my first drum kit and I have been at it ever since Read more>>

Arubianna Mobley

I feel like this is the most important part of anyone’s story. How you were raised is honestly one of the main key factors of your self identity. Growing up, my father wasn’t much apart of my life. In fact, I didn’t really get to have a bond with him until I was about 16. All of that time I spent not having that father figure, I spent growing closer and closer to my mom. I never had the chance to process my relationship with my father and how it affected me. I was so focused on my mother. Read more>>

Jessica Lee

My story, much like any other, begins with my parents and their parents. My parents were born in China in families each with four or five siblings in an area of poverty. There were limited opportunities available at this time. What I admire so much was their courage to leave their family and friends, and everything they know to immigrate to a new country in pursuit of a better life and opportunity for their children to come. I imagine moving to a new country, not knowing the language, having limited to no funds, and having to adapt to a whole new culture – that shocks me and I am in awe of their bravery. Read more>>

Noor Rahman

I can never be grateful enough for the kind of parents Allaah (God) has blessed me with. As a parenting educator, I see the importance of a parent’s personality and behaviour toward their children, yet I’m always amazed by the same. My mum is a strong lady who stands up for what she believes in. She’s very patient and calm and she’s been my friend and extra support whenever I needed her. Read more>>

Whit Devereaux

My parents always to told me that I could be anything I wanted to be. My mom stressed the importance of education and independence. My dad demonstrated a strong work ethic. Together, they encouraged me to work hard and do what I love. It was the best of both worlds really. Read more>>

Aimee Jo

I’m so incredibly blessed to have both my Mom and Dad as my biggest cheerleaders. They raised me and my younger sister in a household of abundant love and overflowing encouragement. When either one of us wanted to pursue a new activity or sport, like ballet or karate, my parents worked extra hours, drove countless miles to practices, and were at every major event and milestone. Throughout high school and even college, I reflected what it would be like if my Mom or Dad were musicians. Read more>>

JaNelle Alexander

My parents are very supportive in all aspects of my life. They did a lot of things right but what sticks out to me the most is the way they poured into our dreams. My brother’s and I have always had big dreams and no matter how far across the country our dreams may have taken us, our parents made sure that we were set up for success. Read more>>

Mariah Brown

My parents did what any great parent would do, they supported my decision to become a cosmetologist. They didn’t push me into going to a college for four plus years to do something I was not interested in. Read more>>

Vincent Finney

My parents always instilled into my that hard work will be your salvation & to always put things into perspective. Life can be easier when you put in the hardwork & focus on the goal above anything else that can knock you off your path. They also taught me to do things with love & treat people right. Everyone deserves respect & if we all treated each other with a certain level of respect, the world would be so much better Read more>>

Bridget Jackson

When I was a young girl my parents would make my siblings and I read 3-5 books every month, write book reports, and create pros and cons lists of items we desired for the school year. We did this every summer! Although to some it seemed unnecessary, it helped to shape me into who I am today. It instilled discipline, an inquiring mind, reasoning skills, decision making skills, and most importantly the ability to not have to fit in. Read more>>

Alla Dickson

Everything starts from the childhood. Nothing, absolutely nothing escapes child’s attention. Any active and thoughtful experience with a parent even if it just thirty minutes, may determine the child’s life. That what happened with me. One September Sunday my mom picked up a carrot and a cucumber from our garden in a far away Siberian military base, where my parents, both engineers, worked. I was seven. Read more>>

Deb Oliviara

I was raised by entrepreneur parents. I was also a homeschooled kid. School days often looked like going to dad’s shop, doing school work in the breakroom then hanging out at work with my parents. My parents were amazing at listening to my sister and me. Listening to what our interests were. I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a business owner. Specifically, I knew I wanted to be a successful photographer. My parents let me learn their business firsthand, let me take photography classes, and encouraged me to grow as a person and in my craft. Read more>>

Erin Richardson

In the fifth grade, I was diagnosed with a learning disability in the areas of reading and math. I was performing on a second or third grade level in the fifth grade. I struggled and was just not doing well academically. In the 6th Grade, during one of my many IEP meetings, my mom was told that it would be in my best interest to be on the academic track to receive a certificate of completion, rather than a high school diploma, and the one thing that my parents did RIGHT, would be disagreeing with them. There were forms that needed to be signed by my parents and a host of other things that they needed to do in order for me to be on that track, come high school. My parents said NO and for that I am thankful. They did right by me then and now. Read more>>

Amber Covington

Oh wow! This is a great question. My parents are my inspiration. They instilled in me a strong work ethic. They pushed me to always achieve my fullest potential along with remaining humble on my journey. My father is a retired police officer and army veteran. My mom has been a business owner for the last 20+ years. They provided structure, guidance, and ensured I had access to the best education and resources. They gave me and my brothers the freedom to be creative and tap into our potential always letting us know the opportunities are endless. Plus, both are competitive, so I can’t help but to have the energy that I will always WIN! Read more>>

Valerie Moses

My parents have always encouraged me to embrace what makes me unique. Throughout my life, while I always had strong relationships, I struggled to feel that sense of belonging — I was the cheerleader who was too “dorky” for the cheerleading squad, the Honors student who struggled to stay focused on grades (and seemed to be “smart but missing something,” according to one memorable history teacher). I really began to find my footing in college, where I first began blogging and was able to take classes that truly interested me, but leading up to that time, my parents never made me feel like I was lacking something even when I felt a little lost. Read more>>

Taylor Shiff

Growing up, I was always encouraged to share my ideas. My parents both have entrepreneurial spirits and had side businesses when I was a kid. I have a very distinct memory of watching my dad create the prototype for the product he sold. It was a back scratcher with a golfing glove as the scratcher. He crafted the prototype from modeling clay in our living room, and then went on to sell thousands of them through large retailers. Read more>>

Amber Dawn Fox

From an early age, my parents always taught me to do what makes me happy – in life and in business. They encouraged me to follow my heart and not worry about what others may think about it. So, when in my late 20s with 3 children, I felt unhappy in my well paid Accounting job and longed to pursue acting – I went for it! If it wasn’t for the support of my parents, I would never have made it as far as I have. Read more>>

Terry Jane England

I grew up in Edgewater, Florida and in the middle of an orange grove. My mother was a single parent and I am her only child. My father left us when I was 4 years old and we lived with my maternal grandparents. Growing up I knew we were poor and I knew my mother was different then most of the other moms. My mother was eccentric. She was extremely creative, an artist, an environmentalist way ahead of her time and an animal advocate taking in stray and injured animals. Read more>>

Monica Jones

My Mom taught me kindness! She raised me as a single parent. We didn’t have a lot when I was growing up but the values she taught me have made ego I am today. Read more>>

Barbara Joy

The one thing my parents did right, especially my mom, was to always teach me, to never settle for less. Always thrive to achieve more and want more. Never let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do, and ALWAYS be kind. I think the main thing that stuck out for me with my parents/parent, was their ability to always come out on top, no matter what obstacles were thrown their way. Read more>>

Sebastian Alvarez

Man, those two, what haven’t they done is the real subject! One word always comes to mind when I have been asked this question, and that is SACRIFICE! This is an ongoing subject in my daily routine, rather it is with friends, family, clients, or my career. I ask myself what can you SACRIFICE for that other person involved? Quiet honestly, up until the last 5 years that ideal has shown me what my purpose is to humanity and my craft. My mother and father are polar opposites. I grew up watching two completely different people build. I have grasped most concepts when it comes to again sacrifice, adversity, and the polarizing “idea” of family. Read more>>

Freedom Mitchell

My mother was a single parent to nine children, after our parents divorced. Most of us grew up fast because jobs were necessary to assist financially. I learned many good things from my mother, but one of the most important things she taught me was independence. She allowed us to make mistakes and figure things out for ourselves. I’m a better person because of it. Read more>>

Alyssa Whetstone

I was raised to be independent, involved, and creative. I remember on more than one occasion when I was home alone and bored, I would completely rearrange the furniture in my bedroom. I had one of those full-sized bed frames with drawers underneath, so I couldn’t exactly slide it across the floor to try out a new spot. Nope, instead, I had to drag the mattress off and put that in the hall, then the box spring, and then finally I could piece by piece move the wooden frame and drawers to where I wanted them to be. Then I would bring back the box spring and mattress. Read more>>

Heather Reese

This is quite a complicated story, but so appropriate in the painful yet beautiful path that my life took because of my parents. As a young girl, I was sexually assaulted by my grandfather for 3 years. While this abuse stopped once I told my parents what was happening, they had no idea how to help me, so much so that it only caused further damage until I was able to get help for myself at 19. Read more>>

Cory Richard Jones

I owe my success to my mother. Not because she told me what to do, or how to do it, but because she never had her own plans for me. She never told me what college to go to or what career path to take, instead, she taught me how to fill out a student loan application when I chose a school, and she helped buy me groceries when I got into one. She was there waving in the audience when things were going well, and she was also there to pick up the pieces when they didn’t… which happened more times than I’d like to admit. Read more>>

Nicole Jeffries

My parents grew up in some pretty bad circumstances. My mom had to move often so often that she was never able to make friends or to have any kind of school experience that she may actually enjoy and she was ALWAYS the new kid. Beside the fact that both of my parents grew up very poor, they also grew up in household with terrible abuses. Read more>>

Elizabeth-Jamey Rand

My grandmother is the one who raised me and she raised me to be persistent, strong and resilient. These traits have come in VERY handy as I have continued to grow my business. Read more>>

KingPin Da’ Composer

One thing I credit my parents on is letting me express myself freely with music. I’ve been evolved in music at some capacity since I was 5 years old, My mom and grandmother especially made sure I stayed the course and gave 100% to the craft. Read more>>