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.

Nika Linn

My parents instilled so many priceless values in me and my sisters when we were young. My mother and father had met while both working abroad and made it a priority to travel with us. We didn’t have fancy material things at home (we played in the mud, learned how to drive tractors and read maps) but we were spoiled with backroads international travel and experiences many children only dream about. Read more>>

Paty Soltero

My parents coming from Mexico with 3 young children in their 20’s made sure to remind us that we were no different than anyone else, that anything we wanted in life with hard work and dedication was attainable, and they were taught to us by them leading and showing us by example. In how they lived their lives and what all they were able to accomplish. They opened a Mexican Restaurant and the first Mexican store in the town we were raised in. Read more>>

Emily Austin

When I was growing up, my parents were incredibly supportive of my creative interests. They made sure I got a strong arts education from a wide variety of teachers both in and out of school. I know this required a certain amount of financial sacrifice as well as an investment of time and energy getting me to classes. Many of the most impactful classes I took were small scale public drawing or painting lessons offered in our community; Read more>>

Elizabeth Aguirre

As a Latina, old whose parents immigrated from Mexico to the US, I can confidently say that their examples of hard work and family support have been instrumental in shaping who I am today. From a young age, my parents instilled in me the value of hard work. They would often recount their own experiences of coming to the United States with nothing but the clothes on their backs and working tirelessly to build a better life for themselves and their future family. Read more>>

Oryah Brown

One thing I can say is neither of my parents ever discouraged me from pursuing a career in the music industry. This extends to my entire family in general, as no one has ever tried to steer me in other directions. I feel like they all know & have seen that I am talented in my craft/passions. Even my father tries giving me help & advice unsolicited, despite having an on & off relationship. I’ve also been blessed to have grown up listening to so much great music throughout my life from my family. Read more>>

Joseph Trefry

I am incredibly grateful for my parents, Michael and Amanda Trefry, who have always been a constant source of love, support, and guidance in my life. They prioritized our family’s well-being, creating a home filled with warmth, love, and a sense of belonging. No matter what challenges we faced, they were there to provide unwavering support and ensure that we felt safe and cared for. Read more>>

Melissa Blair

My parents were supportive of my dreams and never really tried to discourage me from becoming a historian. They allowed my brother & me to follow our interests, even when those interests were in writing, academia, and the humanities. What’s remarkable about that is that it’s so different from their own choices: my mom is a nurse, and my dad never went to college. He drove trains for CSX for 35 years. So he doesn’t really understand what I do, but he has never tried to talk me out of it and they are both fiercely proud of me. Read more>>

Kayla Tugman

My parents always supported my interests and dreams. They would see I had an interest in something and would always help to nurture that. Even as a young child, I remember loving anything make-up, hair, & nails. I often talk about how my mom threw me a ‘Spa’ themed birthday party at 8 years old or how my grandma let me ‘blow-out’ her hair at 10 although I had no idea what I was doing. Both of my parents always allowed me the freedom to express myself while helping to light the path for me to reach my dreams. Read more>>

Jennifer Littlefield

My parents left Vietnam during the war on a boat, not knowing where they would end up or if they would even survive. Their dream of a better life was what kept them resilient. Growing up I never had my own bedroom, and our apartment didn’t have a washer or dryer. So believe me when I say: I know all the strain and excitement there is for home ownership.  I’ve lived it. Read more>>

Jason Brazeal

My parents have always done the best that they could. They instilled integrity into my character and a hard working, deeply committed work ethic into anythingi set out to do. They taught me that my relationships with others far outweighs anything of material value. Things can always be acquired but meaningful relationships cannot. So as a result I value interpersonal relationships above anything else because I am fully aware of their value and I can thank my parents for that. Read more>>

Jesse Biondi

One of the most impactful things that my father did that impacted my life and career was to teach me how to think critically. He taught me at a young age to question everything. As a child, I used to think that that mindset was overkill. Question EVERYTHING??? Won’t that just make me a cynic that can’t enjoy anything?? As I grew up, even though I pushed against those ideas when I was younger, I began to see the value of questioning things and thinking more deeply about life and experiences. It was this way of thinking that enabled me to discover truths in life about what we actually deserve and what kind of life I wanted to live. Read more>>

Xplicit Life

I was fortunate to grow up in a happy family. My parents have four children and are still happily married today after many years. I am the person I am today because of the values that my parents instilled in me. They raised me to be a good person, to be respectful and to have manners. They provided me with the ability to be a strong individual in this world. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their love, guidance and support. Read more>>

yasmine hunter

My mom never really allowed me to be picky. She always told me try things once and if you don’t like it again you don’t have to try it again. Of course do things within reason and making sure it doesn’t cause unnecessary harm unto yourself. So I would always try my best to go into things with an open mind. I mostly applied this frame of thinking towards food given that my mom was a chef most of my life. Read more>>

Krisha Crosley

Kept my attention on school and sports growing up. My parents kept me busy with sports to keep me out of trouble. I have learned life long lessons from my parents growing up this way. Practice, practice, practice and then practice some more. There is always room for more knowledge. Take care of your body. To this day I still practice, practice, practice, continue to learn all I can, take care of myself with proper sleep, food, and hydration. My parents have given me a strong foundation to be discipline and accountable in my actions. Read more>>

Carter Sullivan

My parents have had the biggest impact on my career without realizing it. They are the hardest working people I know and instilled such great values in me from a young age that I’ve been able to carry through my education, career, and personal life. They are both extremely hard workers and showed me that with hard work, determination, and a dream you can achieve anything you put your mind to. I’m a firm believer in balance- you can work hard but also need to spend time recharging and resting. Read more>>

Gabriel Johnson

In the year 2019, I found myself in a tough spot after quitting college and working a dead-end job. To make matters worse, my close friend and mentor passed away, compounding the difficulties I was facing. Adding to my woes, my stepmother and I had a strained relationship, and she decided to kick me out of the house during this challenging period. This caused a significant setback to my mental health, and I was in a state of disarray. Read more>>

Grayson Green

Since I was young, my parents have always been incredibly supportive of my creative endeavors. I often struggled to stay engaged with the school curriculum, as my mind was constantly preoccupied with new and exciting video or branding ideas. Despite my lack of academic enthusiasm, my parents always encouraged me to pursue my passions and never let my dreams remain just that. Read more>>

Tracy Yang

Growing up, my parents constantly stressed the importance of education and hard work. Of course, being a child, I didn’t understand what the big deal was. I also had no idea why I was being pushed so much because I felt like I was putting in my best effort already. As a child, I thought my parents were just being mean. Then in my late-20s, during dinner with my Mom, she told me about how life was for my parents growing up. Read more>>

Reezan Jiwa

“When there’s a will, there’s a way.” I don’t know what it is about moms, but they love that quote. I heard it almost daily growing up, and I rolled my eyes every time I heard it. Soon enough, my whole outlook and attitude built upon those words. What my parents did right was they let me be myself and explore all the creative avenues I wanted without pressuring me into going into a particular field. They always said that I should do whatever interests me and that I could excel in whatever I wanted because “when there’s a will, there’s a way.” Read more>>

Esther Brister

When I was 9, my mom became a widow. She was an immigrant from Korea, lost both her parents at a young age, journeyed to America to marry my dad, learned English when she could, helped my grandparents’ grocery store business, lost her husband, raised 3 kids on her own, and is now living life to the fullest, surrounded by a beautiful community. What did my mom do right? Read more>>

Joellyn Nusbaum

My parents were always giving back either in the community or through their church. When I was very young I would tag along with my mom to drive seniors to get groceries who were living in senior care centers. My mom not only provided a service to these senior ladies that couldn’t drive but also was an ear to listen to their stories and experiences. My parents now in their late 70’s and early 80’s are still helping an orphanage in Mexico by collecting used sewing machines to teach the kids a skill, Read more>>

Stephanie De La Cruz

Being the youngest of my 4 older sisters, my parents ingrained in us that we could be whatever we wanted. Anything could be ours as long as we put in the work. As many of us have witnessed in life, being a Latina, that isn’t always true. However, it has always been my motivation to find ways to make that situation work for me. Learning what is worth my energy and what is not. I was taught to be proud of who I am and uplift likeminded folks. I’m thankful for learning these lessons and fitting that info my lifestyle. Read more>>

Nirupam Dhakal

Growing up in Nepal, you just aren’t exposed to many things. As a kid, you’re so stuck in your bubble and your own world that you don’t realize there’s a whole vista out there. I love my parents because they always made me aware of things around me. I love movies and that’s what I do, I’m a filmmaker and it just wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for my parents, especially my mother. Every Saturday, four of us: my parents, my sister, and I would get together and watch films. Read more>>

 Jody & Jennifer Lyddane

Both of our parents instilled in us the drive to keep pushing. Accomplish your dreams and pursue what makes you happy. We compliment one another and challenge one another in our craft. We are our biggest critiques and if something doesn’t make sense or align correctly we point it out. Read more>>

Ceara Corry

I love this question! My mom was the first entrepreneur I knew and that really impacted me. She became a licensed childcare provider and opened an in home daycare shortly after my younger brother was born because she wanted to be home more for us. I’m a first-generation college graduate; my mom didn’t go to business school or anything like that but she studied and still studies early childhood education diligently. Read more>>

Meredith Zahorsky

My parents taught me to work hard. I saw my parents both work hard to give us a good life where all our needs were met. They encouraged us to be good, kind people and they instilled in us that making the time to build a community at church was important. Read more>>

Blair Linsley

Growing up, I was taught two invaluable lessons by my parents: the importance of a strong work ethic and the willingness to take chances on yourself. My mother and father were both successful entrepreneurs, with my father owning multiple restaurants and my mother running her own engraving store. Witnessing my father’s tireless dedication to his craft firsthand was an experience that left an indelible mark on me. Read more>>

Chloe Kibutzany

I was raised by a single mom of 8 kids. To this day, I still have absolutely no idea how my mom raised us so well and how she kept her sanity throughout it. Not only did she provide basic necessities that kept us alive, she also supported us in pushed us to achieve in all aspects that we wanted to. When I was 12, I wanted to try out artistic swimming and my mom let me go to a try-it night. After the try-it night, I came home and told me mom (with all the confidence in the world) that I was going to go to the Olympics. Read more>>

Michael Hines

Well this is a very interesting topic among your list of discussion items, in part because I never thought that I would be in a position to be talking about my parents and neither one of them would be here. I owe so much of who I am today to them both. My mother was the one who raised me to have deep respect for the Bible and the importance of having faith. Also, her mild manner and calm disposition were traits that I admired and work hard to display in my life. Read more>>

Asia Ingram

One thing that most people don’t know about me is that I’m dyslexic; such a confusing word for people with reading and writing issues, right?! I can vividly recall being in the first grade and wanting to learn the basic alphabet but having issues with p’s, q’s, b’s, d’s, and 9’s. Not only did my parents invest in buying me an easel that was chalk on one side and dry-eraser on the other but they also stayed up with me night after night sometimes until 2 in the morning going over my letters until one day it just clicked. They always invested in exposing me to new ways of doing things, supported my areas of interest, and transparently shared their stories of success and failures. Read more>>

Jessica Baskin

My parents have been my biggest cheerleaders. They never questioned my decision to pursue an art career. (At least not to my face!) From a young age they encouraged me that with hard work I could become whatever I dreamed of being. I know it might seem overly wishful to some, but this idea brought me confidence and more freedom: I think life would be depressing and restrictive if we didn’t believe that our dreams were ever attainable or worth working towards. Read more>>

Kate McHugh

I’m glad my parents encouraged me to read lots of books growing up. I think this really helped my creativity and pushed my imagination, and being able to take in all kinds of stories with different illustrations and pictures is something that will stay with me throughout my creative journey. Read more>>

Heather Rippert

I want to talk about my parents and what they did right. Let me begin by sharing that I lost my Dad in 2020. He was my biggest cheerleader. The first thing my parents did right, after getting married and having me, was making sure they remained friends and put my needs first when they got divorced. Read more>>

LaKeisha Wilson

My parents, who have been married 47 years, have been the ultimate role models. My mother taught me how to be a wife, a mom, and how to serve others. My father taught me how to work hard and be dedicated. They both instilled in me, the pride, love and appreciation for the family unit. Growing up I had the opportunity to watch them struggle, overcome, thrive, and live life filled with love, peace and abundance. I would absolutely not be the person I am today had it not been for their influence in my life. Read more>>