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.

Jon Taylor Sweet

The only reason I was able to jump into business the way I did was based off my family. I was fortunate to have two incredible examples of what it is like to run a business growing up. I grew up with a mom that was a hustler and stood her ground to build something awesome. She started with selling purses in hospitals to a 50m business. I grew up seeing the ins and outs of what she built and all I can say is I am a proud son. One lesson from her that I took from her that I use often is… “no means opportunity for the future.” It has genuinely helped me look at the person and not the transaction. Building a business is so much more than getting transactions and scaling those transactions but its getting the chance to share and live life with people. People are the lifeblood to anything we do and we can’t lose sight of that and the money will follow. Read more>>

Rachel Corridean

My parents owned a restaurant while I was growing up, and I watched them pour their time and energy into building their business. They taught me the value of hard work and demonstrated what a strong work ethic truly looks like. At just 13 years old, they gave me the opportunity to work at the restaurant, instilling in me the importance of dedication and loyalty. Read more>>

Sarah Pachtman Shetty

My mother was a general Obstetrician Gynecologist in Arizona in the 1980-1990s. While other kids had their moms at every event, dance recital, soccer practice, or school holiday, my mom couldn’t attend as regularly because of her rigorous career schedule. Instead of feeling bad about it, she focused on the good with me and shared stories of the babies that she delivered and the women she was helping. And she made sure to spend plenty of time with me in other ways, like reading stories at night, talking about my friends and family with me, and taking me to special activities whenever she could. She passed away from complications of breast cancer when I was 17 years old. Now, I am continuing her life’s work as a Maternal Fetal Medicine physician and raising my 2.5 year old son with the same philosophy that she raised me. Read more>>

Precious Osuji

My father was a businessman, and spared close to none when it came to sharing his business acumen with his children. His unmatched drive for success is something I will never forget. In 2014, he had a stroke which left a major impact on our family. This forced my mom to be the primary income maker and hold up our household. Seeing her work ethic growing up is something that has inspired me as well as instilled in me the resilience and responsibility needed to be a self sufficient individual. She would work hard and long day after day to make sure her children were not only fed, but well dressed, well educated, and well mannered, ready to take on the world. Read more>>

Devereaux Clark

I give all praise to my Mother.
My mother is my number one source of inspiration in many aspects of my adulthood.
At the protest of her own father, my mother found love between herself and the man who would become mine. This man was black, and my mother, white.
I sometimes forget how recently the ideology of “Modern” American culture has shifted. Though I wasn’t born into an outwardly racist timeline, the echoes of one have remained. Read more>>

Tolga Onuk

First of all I must say I am pretty lucky that I have highly technical parents. My father is an engineer with over 40 years of experience in large scale construction engineering, he helped building countless high scale projects both in Turkiye and in Middle East over many decades. From large hospital campuses in Libya, to airports in Afghanistan, and embassy buildings (fortresses) in Iraq, he undertook both highly risky and hard to complete projects in his career. Read more>>

Madeline O’brien

Losing my dad suddenly on 9/11 was a defining moment in my life, and my mom’s actions during that time have had a lasting impact on me. One of the things she did right—something that continues to inspire me to this day—is her love of photography. Before 2001, my mom took hundreds of pictures, capturing everyday moments and special memories. Because of her, I can revisit those photos whenever I want, helping me hold onto the essence of my dad, even though I didn’t have much time with him. That’s probably the main reason I developed such a love for photography. I’m always taking pictures, no matter what the occasion, because I know how valuable those memories are. Read more>>

Yihong Exa Huang

I grew up in Xiamen, a small island city on the southeast coast of China, in an ordinary working-class family. Life there was peaceful and tranquil. My parents were the first generation of intellectuals in our family, and they deeply understood the importance of exploring the world and learning. They often encouraged me to go out, see more, and learn about people who were different from me. Read more>>

Clay Geisendorff

My parents instilled in me the idea of hard work equals results. If you work hard enough you can overcome your shortcomings and achieve your goals in a quicker fashion.

In my younger years my spring breaks were never my spring break. One spring break began with the sound of a dump truck backing into the driveway. These trucks were dumping 34 yards of dirt and that would be my alarm clock. The only thing I did during this spring break was move dirt and level dirt. Another spring break was full of fence building. Read more>>

Christian Salgado

My mother is a mother of 6, and shes is a praying mom. and her kids were always her first priority
life was not easy for my mother, born 1969/Nov 28 in Puerto Rico. my mom , mothers killed herself when my mom was a kid n she saw her mother with no life that did something to my mom. Read more>>

John Jiang

I came from a small city called Akesu located in the Xinjiang Providence, China. My family is really lucky and privileged, so that I can just purely pursuit art. However because it is a really tight ran family business, everyone is expected to help and become part of the family business eventually. I remember the day I told my father that I want to study acting and theater in college. He didn’t take that well at all. I remember crying to some mentor and friends about it. What happened the day after was unexpected yet, somehow I knew what my dad was going to do. Read more>>

Sa’renn Floyd

Growing up my parents never told me who I should be, they let me figure it out on my own. They gave me the freedom to become the woman I not only wanted to become but needed to become. I was never afraid to be myself or try new things. They let me enjoy being a child and taught me what it looks like to enjoy life. My mom and dad both went out of their ways to let me have birthday parties every year and I could always invite whoever I wanted. I had many amazing birthdays. With my dad being a chef there was an abundance of good food and fun. I appreciated my parents because they never made me feel like an outsider in my own home.  Read more>>

Eva Staronova

I am eternally grateful to my parents for giving me both, strong wings to soar into the heights of my dreams, and solid roots to always remember where I came from. This balance has been the foundation of everything I have achieved.

Together, my mom and dad gave me the courage to chase opportunities far and wide, but also the grounding to stay true to my values and heritage. Their influence has shaped not just my career, but the person I strive to be every day. Read more>>

Briana Lee

My parents are my inspiration because they both taught me in so much in different ways. I feel that their work ethic in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings were essential to my career.

My mother is a dedicated, hard worker who climbed up the corporate ladder through continuous learning. She worked at various prestigious places from Harvard Law School to Lesley University where she retired as an HR Coordinator. She is soft spoken yet very knowledgeable and articulate. She knew how to handle some of the most challenging situations while remaining poised and gracious. Not only is she an amazing liaison, but she truly is a phenomenal woman. Read more>>

Greg Martin

I grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas as the middle of three brothers. My dad was a great athlete when he was young, and he passed on that love for sports to all of us. Football, basketball, baseball, swimming, tennis, golf – we just went from one sport to another as the sporting seasons changed. And as a successful athlete “big fish in a small pond,” I naturally grow up with dreams of being a professional athlete. But while my dad was a good athlete, he was also a very good student, and even more important, a very wise man. I remember going with him to a Dallas Cowboys football game as a kid, and talking about how much I wanted to be a professional football player someday. Read more>>

Brittany Velez

My parents sacrificed a lot for my siblings and me. My parents wanted to go to college but never got the chance, so they had to enter the workforce right out of high school. One thing my parents always instilled in us was the power of learning and education. They ensured they did everything to save for all three of us to go to college. Even after my first four years of college, my parents always supported my drive to earn graduate degrees, try new things, and learn new skills! This continues to motivate me to continue my education with travel suppliers, learn new parts of the travel industry, and continue to grow my knowledge. Read more>>

Dr. Jayson Milner

My parents shaped my life in countless ways by teaching me to love myself, love others, and live with gratitude. They were my greatest supporters, encouraging me to work hard, pursue my dreams, and always show kindness. One of the most powerful lessons they instilled was to reflect on what I’m grateful for each day—a habit I’ve carried with me since childhood. Read more>>

Victor Melchor

I owe everything to my incredible parents. They risked everything, leaving their homeland to build a better future for our family. Their unwavering dedication to hard work and sacrifice has instilled in me a strong work ethic and a relentless pursuit of excellence. I’m eternally grateful for their love, guidance, and the countless opportunities they’ve provided. Their sacrifices have paved the way for my success, and I will forever cherish their love and support. Read more>>

Kat Mendez

My mom was a single parent, and while some of her approaches may have seemed tough at the time, they played a huge role in shaping who I am today, both personally and professionally. She was intentional about teaching me independence, which meant I had to take on responsibilities early that many others may not have. For example, she required me to pay for my car and car insurance, which may sound strict, but it instilled a sense of financial responsibility and work ethic in me that became invaluable. Read more>>

Jen Guidry

My parents taught me work ethic and I have learned one of the most important truths in life – work ethic eliminates fear.

When I was young, we really didn’t have a whole lot compared with kids now-a-days. My brother and I grew up
in a middle-class family in Buffalo, NY. My dad was a cop and my mom had her own photography business. We had a
comfortable home. Read more>>

Andeana Stewart

My parents did many things right, and their actions have had a profound impact on my life and career. One of the most significant things they did was ensuring I received the best education possible. They enrolled me in great private schools, which provided me with a strong academic foundation and exposed me to a wealth of opportunities. This education equipped me with the skills and confidence needed to become an accomplished author of 20 books by the age of 21 and to excel as a passionate business owner, dedicated mentor, and dance instructor. Read more>>