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.

YY Chan

My parents were very supportive of my interests and always encouraged me to be creative and try new things. They sent me to art classes, piano lessons, sports classes, making sure I got to try out different things and find what my talents were. I remember when I started sharing my story ideas and they listened attentively and shared their thoughts and encouraged me to keep writing. Those conversations gave me confidence to continue and not give up. Read more>>

Brandon Dalo

I was raised by a single father, and music played a pivotal role in my life from the very beginning. One of the things he excelled at was meeting me where I was at when I first started learning. While my father has always been deeply passionate about music theory, I initially found it to be a bit like math, constraining and unappealing. Together, we discovered an approach that worked wonders for me – focusing on learning songs I loved on the guitar. Read more>>

Elani Kay

Growing up, my parents were always labeled as “the best.” My Dad would wear a shirt with the song lyrics “can I get a wha wha…” on it. He was funny, fun, an extremely hard worker, and cool. He always had a full time job as an engineer for some tech company in Silicon Valley, but he also refereed either basketball or volleyball. He would sometimes do additional other work too as well. My Mom was an educator at an elementary school her entire career right after college, so she was kind and warm. Read more>>

Stacy Flood

Of course my parents did many things correctly — keeping my brother and I alive being paramount ― but they also dedicated attention to our academic success, our cultural education, and the expansion of our horizons beyond our immediate environment. From exposing us to the joys of travel early, in addition to encouraging us to appreciate learning as well as enjoying different cultures along with our own, there was nothing that they didn’t want us to explore, nor any room they wanted us to feel uncomfortable in; by that they made us students of the world, and reminded us that we shouldn’t hesitate to savor every corner of it. Read more>>

Molly Engen

My parents have been very supportive of my career as an artist ever since I was drawing stick figures as a young girl! I have always been certain that I wanted a life in art, and my parents have been incredible in contributing to this dream through supplying me with all that I need for the journey. From guidance through gifted art teachers, to gifting me with supplies such as sketch pads, paints, drawing utensils, canvases, cameras, and so much more, to supporting me through my college years in earning my BFA, my parents haven’t missed a beat in helping me become the artist I am today. Read more>>

Jeffrey Sklan

My parents had amazing and thoroughly consistent work ethics. They always showed up, their word was good, and they never made excuses. My mother and father treated people working for or with them with respect and encouraged everyone to soar. While they had different skill sets, each approached their work with creativity and enthusiasm. Seeing this set the tone and foundation for my own approach to things: never half-assed, always all-in. Read more>>

Hailey Hodapp

Currently, my parents are happily married and living in Littleton Colorado. However, it hasn’t always been that way. My parents split up when I was in third grade and my mom raised my sister and I as a single mom for many years. As most of us know having multiple kids on a single income is very challenging. And my mom did a wonderful job Making it seem like we were thriving even if we weren’t. Making dinners that were very cost-effective seem like the most extravagant meal. Doing free activities like going to the park or being outside as much as possible so we were never bored. when it came to work ethic my mom has always been one of the most driven people that I know. Read more>>

Jahlil Hall

My parents did not come from money nor did they ever find a way to make much of it apart from trading their time for income. As an adult I realize how much they struggled and sacrificed for my siblings and I but in my youth I was taught that real currency lies in how you carry yourself and treat others. Anyone that met my family outside of your humble home would assume we were a successful family and because I was training to be polite and articulate those things have stuck with me. Read more>>

Marian Wuelleh

One thing we always hear as people young or old is this saying “ hard work pays off”, indeed that statement is definitely true. My parents are people who didn’t tell me how much hard work pays off but more so showed me. They came from Liberia (West Africa) with nothing. Came to Columbus Ohio and worked hard for everything they have. My mother went to college getting her nursing degree and my father later started his own transportation business. I am grateful I have parents to show me what hard work look like. Thank you mom and Dad for being a prime example. Read more>>

Karen Martin

My mom and dad always encouraged me and my sisters to go after what we desired. They showed us by example that a good work ethic can help you go far in life. Until I was an adult, I didn’t realize that we were a “blue-collar” family that never over indulged in material things. I learned from them that effort, not luck, leads to success, and that true reward lies in personal growth and contributing to something larger than ourselves. My parents made us “rich” by giving us time with them. By prioritizing experiences over acquisitions, they demonstrated the joy of learning, the value of connection and the importance of a life enriched by meaning, not just money. Read more>>

Vered Brett

Growing up in a Jewish religious home, my parents and environment didn’t allow much freedom in all aspects of life. Despite not being able to express myself freely, or being encouraged to pursue my creative soul, or even think for myself at times, I think the best thing my parents did was to make sure I get educated. I am the oldest of 4 siblings, and as the only daughter, I was always overly protected. My parents led a simple and hard-working life, making sure we always have food, clothes and all that we needed to grow healthily. Read more>>

Akshat Jha

My parents have done everything right. Their support and belief has instilled in me a confidence that cannot be shaken. Not only have they always encouraged me to follow my dreams, but have also dreamt with me. My mother has researched, and found the right classes for me and taken me to every single one of them. She has pushed me to work for my dreams by working for them herself. She has spent a lot of her time waiting outside, while I attended acting / dance classes that went on for long hours. She was my mentor throughout my prep for acting school admissions. Read more>>

Brittany Applegate

As I reflect on my upbringing, I’m deeply grateful for the intentional investments my parents made in my brother’s and my future. My mom’s commitment to our education was evident as she sacrificed a significant portion of her small income to enroll us in private schools, not only ensuring our safety but also providing an environment that constantly challenged us academically while strengthening our faith in God. Read more>>

Natthaphon Suthinirunkul

I could proudly say my passion for graphic design and packaging design stems from my parent’s teaching. Between my father who forms jewelry and adornments to my mother’s love for creating fabric goods, growing up in a creative environment inspired me to follow a similar trajectory. My passion began with a little 7 years old me learning to fold a crane origami. That little fun exercise quickly turned into a start of my creative outlet where I could explore its various graphic forms and shapes as well as physical forms, creating an endless number of possibilities of folded paper. Read more>>

Deanna Scaldaferri

My parents were human and made many mistakes of course. However overall, they did many things right in raising myself, and my older sister and younger brother. They instilled the importance of the values such as family, good work ethic, kindness and generosity. Both my mom and dad were good people at heart, hard workers and loving, caring people. My dad owned several successful businesses and modeled the true entrepreneurial spirit. They both were always willing to lend a hand to a friend, family member or stranger in need. Read more>>

One GreatBastard

My mom is my biggest fan and has been for a long time. She started out driving me to the metro for a lot of my gigs so I could get to them. She didn’t always understand why I wanted to be a poet when I was first started out but she constantly supported me. I wouldn’t have the jobs, platform, or relevance without her supporting something she had no connection to. Read more>>

Ann Rigby

My parents always encouraged me from a very young age to pursue my art, drawing and painting, especially as painting and drawing had always been part of the family tradition. My father, when he was alive, always supplied me with pastels, pencils, cartridge paper, boards and art materials. He wanted me to go to art college, make cards from my work or exhibit my drawings. My mother continues to support my artwork, by buying me pastels and pencils and always positively responding to my work. Read more>>

Mindy Quigley

My childhood spanned the 80s and 90s, when benign neglect was the dominant parenting style. My mom and dad didn’t micromanage my schoolwork or bog me down with organized extra-curriculars. For a good portion of my childhood, they probably didn’t even know where I was.* To this day, my dad had no idea what I majored in at college. Read more>>

Aileen Smith

I come from a big family. I’m one of five kids, which couldn’t have been easy for my parents. But they always made sure we were happy, healthy and taken care of. It wasn’t until I became an adult myself that I really began to appreciate and understand more about all the sacrifices they made to make that happen. They led with love and hard work. They taught us that through believing in ourselves, working hard and having faith, we could do or be anything in this life. Without their guidance and encouragement, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Read more>>

Nancy Potter

I had wonderful parents; perfect parents, no, but wonderful parents. I was the last of five daughters so by the time I came along they were pretty much finished worrying about the little things that haunt new parents. I started sewing my own clothes when I was about seven and always loved that I was wearing something that no one else had. I was allowed to wear whatever I showed up in, as long as it wasn’t suggestive. That was the first way in which I showed my creativity. We moved to Europe when I was nine which was a wonderful place live back then. They kept a loose rein on me, even letting me take the trolley alone at about 11 years old to downtown The Hague in Holland to buy a dress. Read more>>

Ankita Sikari Sunuwar

I was fortunate enough to be raised by my grandparents in a charming suburb town surrounded by the hills of kathmandu valley, Nepal. Growing up in their care, I experienced a truly enchanting childhood. My grandparents played a significant role in shaping my upbringing, imparting essential cultural and religious values, as well as sharing cherished rituals. their guidance has instilled in me a deep appreciation for spiritual well-being, and I can confidently say that they raised me with love and wisdom. Read more>>

Elena Chalchicoatl Faith Chavez

My parents, especially my father, raised me to be aware and support all living things. He reclaimed his indigenous lineage working with the American Indian movement. He showed me a world that is not in the normal frame of this societies box. Because of that, I was taught to see people and have an inclination to support an advocate for their health and wellness. Because of his bravery, he showed me I could be brave and fight too. Read more>>

Corey Reese

Although my parents are non creatives, they always stressed the importance of having a career as opposed to a “job”. My parents always encouraged my elder sister and I to pursue our dreams. My parents are incredibly empathetic as well, they were the earliest examples of the modal family dynamic being broken down, where the mom is the sole “nurture” and father was the sole “provider” both aspects of those were fulfilled by my parents. My father never discouraged from “feeling” (my dad is a feeler like myself) and neither my mom. Read more>>

Mark Ainley

My parents really prioritized travel and making an effort to have meaningful experiences. Even when things were financially tight, they found ways for us to take trips and explore new places. Because they were both teachers, we had summer holidays together. Every year we went camping in multiple places in Canada and the US for weeks at a time, and there were a few occasions when we had trips to visit relatives in Europe – all of these were life-changing experiences with important lessons. Read more>>

Raksha Nagaraj

Despite coming from a traditional Indian background, my parents ensured I developed a strong sense of independence and confidence as a female. They instilled in me a solid foundation of values that shaped my life. Early on, I learned the importance of education and the need to work diligently to gain knowledge in my chosen areas. When facing personal or academic challenges, my parents encouraged self-reliance, emphasizing that life is rife with obstacles that require navigation. Read more>>

Elio Chalhoub

My parents were master architects of my character. They taught me the value of kindness, love, and power of standing up for myself and others.They let me navigate life’s challenges solo. My dad’s mantra was, “Learn to stand strong on your own; for one day I will not be around and I want to know you will be alright.” Read more>>

Nicky Wangsgard

My parents supported my goals and aspirations even if they had to borrow money to make it happen. Read more>>

Masumi Kambayashi

One day when I was kid I was watching a music TV show and there were backup dancer behind the artist. And I point out them said “I wanna do this” to my parents. They immediately started looking up the dance studio around the hometown even though my hometown is small and hard to find one. and they took me there. That’s how I started dancing and now I am still in love with dancing for 18 years. They always hear me and take action for me. Read more>>

Anatola Araba

My mom has always told me that from the youngest age, I was psychic. For my first few years of life, my mom was a single mother teaching African-American literature at Harvard University. However, she ultimately left academia and wound up following her calling of helping people using psychic phenomena, metaphysics, and transformational teaching. Read more>>