Today we’d like to take a moment to applaud the parents who despite many challenges, did they best they could and did right by their kids. We asked folks to share stories of what they feel their parents got right and have shared highlights below.

Tiffany Moon

Although I have traditional Chinese ‘tiger’ parents who were tough on me growing up, I feel that they impacted my life and career because they led by example and taught me the value of hard work. When they immigrated to America to go to school, they barely spoke the language and had few possessions. Through their perseverance and hard work, they were able to achieve ‘the American Dream.’ By watching them work hard and overcome their many struggles, it has given me inspiration to pursue my dreams as well. Read more>>

Hasani Burton

When I was in first grade, I came off as a little…odd. This is because every Friday, no matter what was going on, I wore a suit to school. This wasn’t because my parents dressed me in a suit, but it was a choice I made from watching my father. My father and I have had a strained relationship throughout my life. What he did right though, besides giving me the name ‘Hasani,’ was building a foundation that modeled a positive image of a professional black man in America. As one of the first black managers for GM Financial in his region, he wore a suit all the time. Read more>>

Markie Mica

Growing up, I watched my parents run our family-owned Czech restaurant in the suburbs of Chicago. At just 23 & 28 years old, my parents had become business owners. They started a restaurant and showed me what following your dreams looks like. They taught me what a good work ethic looks like, how to be reliable and to always stay humble, all equally important to success. They had the drive, to make it and they put everything they had into their business to make it successful. It was all those years of watching them go into work early, stay late, and run the business, that I saw just how hard they worked. It was because of them that I knew that I wanted to become an entrepreneur someday. Read more>>

Bill Muter

Behind every successful musician is somebody who believed in them… I’m going to take a moment to brag about some special people and show you why I was destined for success as a professional tuba player. Crazy, I know. It almost seems like an oxymoron, “professional tuba player.” Well I have two very important people to thank (or blame) for that. I was very fortunate growing up to have two very influential teachers in my life, my mother and father. The lessons I have learned from them both are different and have helped me build a career doing the thing that I love most in life, music. Read more>>

Nari Ro

Oh my parents. I look up to both of them so much + I hope that they know it. Maybe this article will help them fully understand how much I owe what + who I am today because of the sacrifices they made for me when growing up. Both of my parents immigrated to the states in their early twenties from Seoul, South Korea. My mom made her way her way here first, while my dad was still serving his time in the Korean Military. First of all, their love story is one that inspired me to take up photography when I was 16. My parents had BOXES of love letters they wrote to each other during middle school, high school, all the time they spent together in Korea and then the love letters they wrote when my mom made her way to America and my dad was still over in Seoul. Read more>>

Miranda Grubb

My parents are my biggest role models and supporters. They have done so many incredible things “right” that it’s hard to choose just one. My parents are currently entrepreneurs but that wasn’t always the case. The best move my parents made in life was choosing themselves and their happiness which meant opening their own businesses. As a super young child my mother worked part time for a family business on my dad’s side of the family and was a stay at home mom. At that time in life my dad was a financial director for a large car dealership. My dad had worked for others most of his life and though he was very successful, he was not happy. My dad explained to me when I got older that no amount of money or feeling of security was worth losing out on personal time with his family. Read more>>

Christina Alexander-Jiles

My Daddy is the one who definitely planted the entrepreneurial seed. He passed when I was only 9 or 10 but the impression, he left on me gave me the courage to become who and what I am today. Let me give you a little background. If my Daddy were living today, he’d be a whopping 97 years old! During his youth, in Breaux Bridge, LA, he was unable to attain an education because as a Sharecropper, work and family came first. Until this day I have no idea how he did it but with only a 2nd grade education he became North Houston’s neighborhood Vet in his adulthood. People would come from all sides of Houston to have my Daddy care for their precious pets with no formal training. Read more>>

Natalia Wong

My parents immigrated to the US, when I was 10. They took a risk leaving everything they knew behind, but it was a calculated risk for future generations. My mom is from a small town, and she didn’t even have the opportunity to go to High School in Argentina. She completed her GED here in the US. My parents had a vision. This vision was the right thing for our family and for future generations. Also, seeing and experiencing our immigration story, prepared and shaped me for my current role. I remember my 5th grade teacher didn’t speak Spanish, and I didn’t speak English. She wouldn’t even look at me or give me class work. I was placed in a back seat, and I think that she hoped that I would disappear. Read more>>

Lorraine OConnor

My parents always encouraged me to appreciate nature, and to be mindful of my natural environment. Although my parents divorced when I was 2 years old, they both had a great respect of plants. Actually my mother has a “green body” not a green thumb, she can grow anything and even surprised us by growing a tamarind tree from a seed she got in a tamarind sweetie ball. My father would take us on walks in nature, to rivers and beaches. I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, two islands at the end of the Caribbean chain, close to Venezuela. It is a land lush and green, with beautiful beaches and coral reefs. Read more>>

Ike Rodriguez

My Mother and Father definitely have had a very profound impact on my life and career.They really did set me up to be ready both mentally, and somewhat physically, for working as a professional artist. My father trained us in boxing growing up. From age 5 to about 12, I trained everyday after school. I was taught at an early age to have a physical regiment, but along with the training, was the mindset that no amount of time and effort will guarantee success. You can only work as hard as you can, sacrifice everything unnecessary and hope you are rewarded for the effort. Read more>>

Krista Schumacher

My parents have been a major part of my success. First, let me clarify: they have not financially helped me since college, and for this, I am incredibly grateful. Their “cut off” was an essential first step toward me paving my own path and finding a way to make a living as a creative. The risks I have taken are real risks with financial consequences. Being financially independent allowed me to evolve my art business in a way that was real and genuine. As demand for my art increased, I took more risks slowly and confidently. Read more>>

Henry Abuto

One thing that I credit both my parents for is my work ethic. I spent the first half of my childhood on a farm in Kenya so I saw how hard they worked to keep everything running. When we moved to America, we didn’t have much. My parents held 3-4 jobs each sometimes while pursuing graduate degrees. By the time I was in 8th grade, I was going along to clean warehouses before school, often as early as 4;30am. This continued during my high school years. I would go work with my Dad and siblings in the morning, go to cross country practice, school, and then work at a sushi bar in the evenings. Read more>>

Sarah Pacaro

I laughed when I saw this question and my immediate thought was “NOTHING!” but that’s absolutely untrue. But I had to select it while laughing at it because that’s the very THOUGHT and BELIEF that many of the people I work with have and the reason why they believe they’re life is so messed up today. It’s the very process through my own transformational journey I went through when healing past wounds and traumas, not from the things they did, but the things they didn’t do when I needed them to do it most. My parents did so many things right and I speak about this a LOT in my content and what I share. Childhood Emotional Neglect and Narcissistic Abuse (Healing from the Emotional implications of it) is what I specialize in. Read more>>

Laurel Harrop

My parents were absolutely influential in my life and career. One of the most important things I took away from my upbringing was my parents work ethic. I watched as they ran their own trucking business and built a wonderful life for my sisters and I. The concept of entrepreneurship was steeped in me at an early age. I recall selling eggs from our chickens to friends and family, creating a small smoothie business, and later in high school a small fashion line since my interest at the time was sewing and fashion design. I was encouraged to pursue creative hobbies, work hard in school, travel, be responsible and have good manners–simple things really that now I look back on as a parent myself and truly understand the value in. Read more>>

Paula Cabano

When I was a little girl I couldn’t stay still for more than 10 seconds. Always running around the house, singing, acting, doing cartwheels, dancing. I always had this need to express through movement and instead of calming me down so I don’t bother people, my parents encouraged me to be myself and keep moving. That’s why when I was 4 my mom took me to my first dance class, and without realizing it, she changed my whole life. Read more>>

Angela Burchett

I am incredibly grateful for the wisdom and values my parents instilled in me from a young age. The older I get, the more I understand that the most valuable things are actually not things, they are the intangibles. Things like, truly seeing people and choosing love as your baseline modus operandi. I think that prioritizing care for others, wanting to see others live into their fullest potential and succeed in their personal, as well as professional lives, is a rarity. We see ourselves so autonomously in our society that we fail to really comprehend as a culture that the well being of each person impacts our society and in perhaps in a roundabout secondary fashion, us personally. Read more>>

Brooke Benlifer

My parents both had/have their own professions & businesses that gave them the freedom and creativity to work for themselves. When I chose to do the same & follow in their footsteps, I was excited to build a practice from the ground up because my love for what I do and the years of training gave me the skills to feel confident in my ability to help others. Read more>>

Tony Alessandra

Going the Extra…Inch! I was very fortunate early in life because my mother always instilled in me the desire and the passion to constantly improve myself, but not necessarily by leaps and bounds. Over the years, I’ve been a self-improvement junkie always trying to be better and better in whatever it is I do. My mother had this saying that was a little unusual. She always told me to go the extra… inch. Now I know it’s supposed to say the extra mile. I used to correct my mother and say… you know it’s the extra mile. Read more>>

Heather Harbaugh

My parents gave me ongoing opportunities to be exposed to other cultures and languages. We lived near a community college that attracted many international students. My dad was a pastor and often studied in the college library where he would inevitably meet someone and invite them over for dinner. We had meals with people from Poland, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Laos…just to name a few! This gave me an intrinsic understanding that there are many ways to view life and beautiful aspects in every culture. Oftentimes, our guests would bring food representative of their home country, and my parents taught us to be gracious and to always accept with gratitude whatever they offered us, and to try it…even if just one bite! Read more>>

Erica Wilfong

My parents are no longer here but their impact on me is eternal. I learned hard work and discipline from them. Also, mom my was very creative and I believe I inherited that from her! Read more>>

Brandi Kvetko Reinauer

The single most important thing I think my parents did right was to instill the spirit of entrepreneurialism within my brother and I from an early age. When I was 2 and my brother just a newborn, my father worked as a printer by night to financially support is. He worked long, hard hours at a job he hated with no complaints. Somehow he was able to find his purpose and follow his true path with the opening of his epic antiques store, Bo’s Funky Stuff which would go on to last 40 plus years! Read more>>

Amy Mcconnell

Perhaps the writing was on the wall my entire childhood that I’d end up a small business owner: I was raised by two academics whose focus area was small business management and communications. Growing up, it was a spoken rule we shopped small, supported the little guy, avoided big chains as much as possible. While it was embarassing at the time (Some of my biggest whining moments as a child: whyyyy can’t we go to Applebee’s instead of the neighborhood grill, or why we had to go to Sourdough Pizza instead of getting Papa John’s). For a suburban American kid in the ‘90’s, shopping small was ‘weird’ to me as a tween trying to fit in and be cool, whatever that meant. Read more>>

Cassie Watson

I grew up on a farm. Like “driving a tractor, and working on hundreds of acres of crops” kind of farm. Some people find that weird since I’m a singer, actress, and own a film/vocal school now. But working on a farm not only taught me the value of hard work and HOW to work hard, but it also taught me creativity and gave me confidence. I was the oldest of 4 children so I spent the first 5 years while my parents were having kids, playing and creating on my own. Then, when we were older, I was expected to drive a tractor at a young age as well as having to problem solve independently and watch out for my younger siblings. I enjoyed responsibility. Read more>>

Vel Lewis

My parents kept me busy with music instruction and academic studies, which in turn, kept me out of my neighborhood. My mother told me to play an instrument. My father made me study math and other school work, and always told me that I would need these “tools” to fall back on in case a career in music is not successful. Because of the controls they placed on my life while growing up, I was able to realize a successful career in both music and in business as a corporate officer. Read more>>

Marti Voorheis

I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma with very “normal” parents who never strayed from their extraordinary values of love, commitment, and honesty–just to name a few. I was about 4 years old when they taught me about honesty. My dad was having a suit altered at a mens store. I remember the outing and wandering around the store. When we were leaving, my mom looked back at me in the back seat of the old Oldsmobile and asked what I was playing with. It was a small piece of white chalk. I found it in the store and was still holding it in the my little chalky hands. Read more>>

Nicole Tschetter

One of my favorite sayings in life is, “People don’t grow where they are planted. They grow where they are loved.” In my case, I was extremely fortunate to grow up in a family where I had both a mom and dad who would (and still would) have moved the earth and stars for myself and my siblings. But, before I share how my parents have made tremendous impacts on my life and all the things they did right, there are two things I feel are important to share with those who are reading this article. One— as I’ve gotten older, I have learned having my mom and dad as my biggest cheerleaders is an extreme privilege that I am fortunate to have. Read more>>

Dana Rice

As a parent of 2 adult children, I know something that I did not know as a child – parents don’t have all the answers and aren’t always sure of what ‘s the right thing to do. All parents, however, do get some things right! Since I was raised by my mother in a single parent home, I’m going to share something she got right as a parent. This lady refused to let me quit piano! No matter how many times I complained or how many times I said I didn’t want to do it, she never let up. So off to piano lessons I went every week for years. When I say years, I mean a decade at least! I acted out so many times that no one would have blamed her if she let me quit. Read more>>

Barb Miltenberger

My parents taught me that the number one thing in life is your faith. Faith is my foundation. My dad taught me the importance of managing money wisely, living within your means and what leadership looks like. My mom showed me how to be gracious, the perfect hostess and the importance of friendship. She also greatly encouraged my creative side. They modeled community involvement and the need to be helpful and dependable people. Read more>>

Joice Truban Curry

I love this question. Thank you for asking it. It was fun to take a step back and remember how I got here celebrating my company’s 22nd year in 2022. Kids really must be sponges and soak up all the goodness and wisdom they can. That even carries over to when they are adults. They still must listen and learn to sage advice. Up until somewhat recently, I had both of my parents to talk to which was always great to bounce ideas off them. Though they can’t talk to me anymore, the lessons they taught me carry on to great practices I use in my business. Read more>>

Tai Carpenter

Growing up in a single parent household, I was well aware of the obstacles faced by my mother. Her resilience and determination were the things I first noticed (long working hours while going above and beyond to take care of my brother and I’s needs), but as you grow up in the world you begin to observe your parents on a deeper level, especially in how they interact with others. That’s when I began to finally understand her full character – how charismatic, motivated and supportive she was of the people in her life. I’ve always just wanted to strive for that level of being; to be selfless but assertive in what you want and to lead with intention and passion in everything you do. Read more>>

Trenton Johnson|

From a young age I had a very special opportunity to peer into the lives of my parents careers who have owned their own companies since I was a child. Ups and down…… Absolutely. But I feel like that is inevitable for start up businesses as a whole. What was unique with my parents is their perseverance and want to always strive to make what they had better. I learned that getting comfortable in a situation can be a very dangerous thing for businesses or business owners. Staying innovating, creating and striving for goals set is something crucial I consciously always try to implement into my business that I without a doubt learned from them. Read more>>

Hannah Kinderlehrer

My parents raised me an environment that nurtured connection, relaxation, and kindness. At the dinner table, we laughed until we fell off our chairs, infused Jewish rituals with spirituality and meaning, and ate off each other’s plates with our hands. I was raised to voice my appreciation out loud, without hesitation, and to love whole heartedly, and to make everyone feel welcome, especially those who needed it most. This has led me to extend a loving hand to all people who come my way, professionally and socially, and to share what I see in individuals- how specifically and uniquely magnificent we each are. Read more>>

Mai Nguyen

My parents taught me at a very young age the importance of responsibility and work ethic. They frequently shared stories of their journey of fleeing Vietnam to arrive in the United States with nothing in their possession and no knowledge of the American language or culture to how they are able to afford my family the comforts of today. In detailing their journey, my parents have taught me the value of not only reaching my goals but to surpass them. Throughout my life, I have made note of all their achievements and have strived to mirror my parents’ level of determination to achieve success as I have come to define it in all aspects of my life, including my career. Read more>>

Justin Matott

Being a natural storyteller and beginning my life adopted by two English professors set me up to have a stage for my storytelling talents. My mother was a real advocate of my storytelling abilities. She encouraged me to tell my stories to her friends a lot. She encouraged me to write my stories down, when in reality she was trying to get me to stop talking all the time. She would send me to my room to write down my stories and taught me the value in editing, rewriting and reworking my stories over and over to make them better. She was a great constructive critic. Read more>>

Heidi Thompson

Neither of my parents went to college. My mom married my dad as soon as she graduated high school. Soon after, they were told they would be unable to have children, so they adopted me when my mom was just 21. There is no question in my mind that God hand-picked them to be my parents. They are the perfect parents for me. For most of my life, my dad had his own business delivering milk door-to-door and to businesses. So you could say I really was the “milkman’s kid.” I spent many summer nights delivering milk with him, which was fun work, usually well rewarded with ice cream bars. Read more>>

Nakisha Petithomme

My parents NEVER gave up. No matter what the situation was, they always made a way for themselves and for the family. And that’s something that I’m learning now. I can’t give up. I have so much going for myself and I have to always remember the only person stopping my dreams and goals will be me and I’m not going let that happened. See the hard work of parents pay off just makes me want to go 10x harder. Maybe that’s why I’m always coming up with new ideas every 2 weeks lol. Read more>>

Deri Lorus

God gave me the best supportive parents. So, I can be sure my parents are always right when they choosing paths for me. It has been impacted in my life and in my career. My parents are supportive when it’s comes to Music and they will encourage me to work on my songs. Both Mom and Dad will always boost me up. Whenever I write and produce songs, they will be the one who listens at first. When I was around 13-14 years, I was interested in music so I wanted to learn music but due to some family situation I couldn’t join music classes. But my parents were hoping that myself and my brother will study music (piano). We prayed and by the Grace of God my cousin taught me some basics and after that I learnt some from watching and listening to others playing. Read more>>

Michael Brown

My parents, Louis and Renee Brown, have been instrumental in helping implement my sense of work ethic in the workplace. Growing up, they always hammed home the idea of being the best employee a company could hope for. Hard working, loyal, dependable, always willing to lend a helping hand, etc. I cannot thank them enough for their guidance and un-wavering support of my personal path of success. Read more>>

Katie Stumbo

I am one of six kids; my dad is an entrepreneur, and my mom was a stay-at-home homeschooling mom. Life was organized structed and productive. We worked hard until it was time to play and then we played hard. My parents worked very hard at giving us the opportunity to pursue any passion. When I told them at 15 years old, I wanted to be a pilot they never hesitated. They immediately researched options and got me enrolled in Civil Air Patrol. It was there that I was given my first hours at the flight controls. by 17 years old I was a pilot! Read more>>

Mara Geronemus

I credit my parents with teaching me the skills that have made me most successful in my professional life. It was law school where I learned to think like a lawyer, and on-the-job experience working in law firms is how I learned how to actually do the job. But it was my parents who modeled their values and taught me the skills that have made me most successful in my legal career. My mother has always pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Growing up, she encouraged me to try new experiences, new places, new people, new everything. “Just go, you never know what interesting person you will meet” is a phrase I heard often. Read more>>

Angela Dave

My parents have always been the most supportive and loving source in my life! They have always believed in me and my talent for creativity! They have always encouraged any step forward that I wanted to take! Having that support to fall back on is what has strengthened me to live my life with integrity and courage. And without fear of what others may think! Read more>>

Tori Lewis|

I could not do this without the impact of my mother. My mother has such a soft and gentle nature. She’s has always allowed my brother and I, the freedom to express ourselves. She was my first introduction to a safe place. My mother has taught me the kindness and compassion that it takes to understand people. Everything she has given couldn’t be bought, it had to be instilled. My mother has always rooted me on, and believed in me. She was my first ticket buyer. Her impact allows me to meet women from all over with open arms, and a ready ear, and heart. Read more>>

Jack Ragland

I owe a lot of credit to my parents for whatever success I have achieved. They instilled in me concepts of what “wealth”, “success”, and “happiness” are. Dickens quoted in David Copperfield about living within your means. Expenses of a few pennies less than you earn equals happiness, a few pennies over your income is misery. At three years of age, my dad lost his father from a bite infection from one of his livery stable horses. The stable was sold. From an early age, he had to work odd jobs to help support his mom and sister since there was nothing like welfare then. He was a bright student and a natural athlete, but worked all the time. Read more>>

Amber Handley

My parents taught me to work hard. They taught me not to give up even if things get hard. My father worked as a black top foreman for 30 years and he did it in a tough racists environment. He was the only black foreman and the highest paid. He worked everyday and never let the tough moments get to him. My mother was a hair dresser and she worked hard too, she started by working in salons and working crazy hours. Eventually she owned her own salon that my father built for her in our home. Their work ethic taught me to go after what I wanted and it taught me to be the best at what I do. Read more>>

Maria Jackson

My parents have always stressed the importance of hard work, independence, and perseverance. Growing up, we were taught that great things will not just fall in our lap, but rather, we had to be willing to put in the hours to achieve our goals. There were no handouts in life. For instance, I have always loved the sport of golf and have played since I was 2 years old. At my high school, there was no girl’s golf team at the time, so if I wanted to play it would have to be on the boy’s golf team and in the boy’s league. Normally, this may seem like a daunting thing to do, but because of how my parents raised me, I wasn’t nervous or scared to compete. In fact, I was excited as I had been competing in men’s leagues my entire life at that point and playing against my brother almost every day. Read more>>

Latara Johnson

My parents raised me to always respect myself as well as others and treat others as i want to be treated. So with having my business i always treat my customers with respect and give them the best outcome of whatever services they request. My mom always was a hard worker whom i look up to and value so much. She taught me to never give up even when times are hard. Always persevere and let God lead me. She always fed the neighborhood and took pride in her food as a cook of 30 plus years. Presentation was always important to her no matter where she was cooking. It catches the eye of the customer before anything else. She taught me that the presentation attracts the customer and the taste and customer service keeps them coming back. She was so right!!!! Read more>>

Kelly Alvarez Vitale

It can’t go on unsaid that I am a first generation American. Both of my parents and grandparents are Cuban and arrived in this country in the early 60s.  I share this because what was consciously and subconsciously seen was an incredible work ethic between all of them. They lost everything and came to this country to rebuild their life and literally started from scratch.  My grandparents, who were business owners, were now janitors in a sugar mill and my grandmothers, who were stay at home moms were now working in a packing house packing vegetables.  One set of grandparents started a jewelry business in our small town where my dad began working at age 14. Read more>>

Elizabeth Kinahan

When I look back at my life, I am very aware that the way my parents raised me gave me a sense of trust and safety that I probably would not have had otherwise. I was encouraged to be curious and to self-entertain, and told that I could pursue any path that interested me. My parents were supportive in every way, and it was always clear that they would pick me up if I fell; either off my bike or in the broader swath of life. That psychological safety net, the idea that if I ever ran out of money or suffered a major tragedy, the worst that would happen was that I had to move back home, was what allowed me to take bigger leaps in my life. Read more>>

Serena Louise

Growing up, my projected career path was always changing. I wanted to be countless things, a writer, a designer, a Broadway actress, marine biologist, the list goes on! My parents never projected their own expectations of what I should do. They supported my decisions and passions starting at the very beginning. I think they did their best to keep me grounded in my passionate pursuits. I could do any of those things, but I needed to discover all that they entailed. Like, when they told me I needed to have a deep understanding of science to be a marine biologist, I dropped that idea quickly. My mom and dad wanted to lift me up to achieve it all, but with no unrealistic pressure and judgement. I felt free and very loved. Read more>>

Silvia To

My mom is the strongest woman I know… All I am I owe to her. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and general education I received from her. She was a single mother of 7 & has given me so much all of my life. When I needed strength with life, she gave me a home & reassurance. When I needed support to push through with my dreams, she supported me & cheered me on. I love you her. I am strong because a STRONG woman raised me.. Read more>>

Pearl Preis

My father was a prisoner of war in WW2 in the Pacific. Shortly after the war, he left the Philippines and headed to Guam and started working hard without any formal training/education. He used his talent and determination to make a living in a new world. When he retired he became a very successful cultural artist on the island, but before that he worked in a sign shop for the US Air Force for many years. He was not only responsible for all the signs on the base but he also did many other artistic jobs that were required. Read more>>

Kayla Wheat

My dad is a hard-working entrepreneur–a trailblazer. My mom is a lifelong learner and an exceptional caregiver. Their love and friendship for and with one another is coveted and rare. The leadership they provided (and still provide) by their own example, was something that, in my humble opinion, they did “right.” My parents allowed me to be sensitive and creative, but expected me to be strong and independent. That balance led me to never settle for anything less than standing on my own two feet, upon whatever stable ground provided the most happiness. Read more>>

Damita King

I was raised by a wonderful woman named Justine Cotton. She was an example of perseverance. My mom gave birth to five beautiful daughters. My mother worked every day and sometimes she even had to work 2 jobs. My mother showed me how to keep going that no matter how hard life got or how tired she may have felt she keep going. She worked for Mercantile Bank, then it transitioned into Mbank, then it transitioned into Chase Bank. She showed me how to stick and stay. After 30 years with the company, she retired. One attribute I got from my mom is the way I dress for work. She worked in a cubicle. Read more>>

Alyse

When I look at my parents I view them in away that I think most 30 something year olds do, they loved me, they sacrificed alot for me to get to where I am, and they were people trying to raise a family while raising themselves. Both of my parents worked alot but they still imparted small nuggets that helped get me to this point and for that I am forever grateful. As a teen I would see my dad in a state of reflection after a long day of work. Sometimes on early Saturday mornings, he would unknowingly torture me. Loudly chatting a million miles a minute and feverishly cutting the grass, my dad was outwardly thinking of his master plan. I would often heard him trying to figure out how to solve this week’s most pertinent issues. Read more>>

Chloe Frangos

Growing up it was just me and my mom. My mom has been and always will be my biggest supporter, no matter what endeavors I wanted to embark on, she always gave me the thumbs up and encouraged me to do it. Iv wanted to be everything from a pro surfer, to an interior designer, yoga teacher, Enagic distributor, and now holistic health coach. Because I always had her rooting for me it gave me the courage and space to try it out and decide it if was actually something I wanted to pursue or if I just liked the “idea” of it more. She always made me feel that I was capable of anything I set my mind to. With this type of support, I was able to figure out what exactly makes my heart happy and fulfilled. Read more>>

Amber Alexander

My parents taught me the value of hard work from childhood. Being only 16 and 18 years older than me, I was able to observe my parents’ hustle to make a better life for us from my earliest memories. They worked for nearly 10 years, both full-time and part-time jobs to get us out of our first home, which was a trailer in a mobile home park in Gary, Indiana, into a single-story ranch home on one acre of land in Valparaiso, Indiana. My parents never gave up. They always spoke of their dreams and worked hard to save extra to get us there. Once we were in our house, my dad started talking about owning his own business. Soon enough, he did. I watched my parents, again, struggle and learn through trial and error, how to run a business, handle a work-life balance, bring on and provide for employees, and hold the responsibility of other families relying on them. Read more>>