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.

Nelly Ferguson

One thing I know for sure my parents did right was made sure I knew from a young age who God was. They; especially my mother and grandmother encouraged me to have a relationship with the Lord and took me to church faithfully every Sunday and even on Fridays. I never understood it as a child but as an adult in the world on my own journey, it has made quite the difference. My faith anchors me in all my storms and leads my decision making. Prayer is so powerful and works 1000%. In the midst of it all good bad indifferent, I will always make time to pray and thank God for the lessons and the blessings. For the people that were only for a season or just a reason & for the community I have now. One thing I will always thank my parents for teaching me and my siblings about God& for fostering a community that held faith cause that is also so important. God will see you through everything and bless you in the most beautiful ways. Be grateful for every moment and never stop praying. Read more>>

Rhys Olivia Cote

My parents are the ones who have been supporting me in my acting career since I was just a little girl. The endless hours of driving to auditions, callbacks, and jobs was exhausting for us all, but well worth it. I’ve learned that in order to succeed you need to put the effort in. Nothing in life comes easy, but hard work pays off. Read more>>

Naya Patterson

When I think about what my parents did right, I immediately recall their unwavering support and the emphasis they placed on service to others, hard work, and integrity. I often smile in reflection, realizing that how frequently I recall things my parents said, or did, that have stayed with me and have guided me as an adult. They gave me love, and lots of it. They showed me how to just be a kind person, and how to live by the golden rule. Living with the light of that inside me has really made a difference in my life. My mom always made everything come to life. She modeled for me what it looks like to be kind, to walk with your head tall, and to advocate for myself and others. My dad always guided me through life’s hard conversations and lessons. It’s because of my parents that service is super important to me, and comes naturally to me. I love to serve others, and I lead my careers and endeavors in service to others. Read more>>

Maryam Taba

My parents have truly been my biggest supporters, and their approach to parenting taught me invaluable lessons. They never sugar-coated the challenges I’d face on this path, and while they made me aware of the obstacles, they never  stopped motivating me to pursue my goals. Their support went beyond just encouragement; they showed me ‘how to  fish’ rather than just handing me the fish. That’s been the most empowering gift. Learning to navigate, problem-solve,  and be resourceful on my own has been crucial to building my business and developing the resilience needed in both art curation and design. But perhaps the most reassuring part is knowing that no matter where this journey takes me, they’ll always be there to take my hand and lift me if I fall. That kind of foundation is something I’m endlessly grateful for. Read more>>

Amanda Hitchcock

Growing up in the countryside of the PNW, my parents created a sanctuary. A safe and sacred home, nestled within the mossy trees and held by mountain river sounds, where my older brother and I would run, play and adventure. Having an engineer father and an art teacher mom, I was blessed to grow in an environment where science and art were prioritized, practiced and supported. I grew to love seeing patterns of the universe through mathematics like the Fibonacci sequence and enjoyed the emotional expression through art projects. My parents held space for creativity, imagination and learning the rhythms of the moon. This beautiful dance of structure and flow infused within me a passion for creating life rhythms that not only aligned with natural cycles but the brilliance of science and magic of art. Today I give immense gratitude for their guidance and care. I love being a teacher of human movements and healthy lifestyles because it is the prefect blend of nerdy body science and creative lifeways! Read more>>

Ronald Ruben

The most impactful thing my parents have done for me is the importance of hard work. Before they left this earth they would always remind me that Nothing will be given to you and I better not let someone out work me. This principle is something I will carry with me until I leave this earth. It is easy to pray and rest on your laurels. But they always taught me that after you pray, you need to work and actively prepare for what you’re praying for. Read more>>

Stephanie Murray

One of the things my parents got right is they never lied to me or my brothers. Not even a white lie. For example, we were never told fictional characters like the Easter bunny were real. One may feel like a parent would take their child’s imagination, or the wonder of their childhood because they never told them such characters existed; however, nothing could be further from the truth in my experience. My brothers, cousins and I would make forts and tents. We pretended to be every profession and character we read about in the books we read. Our imagination was exceptional and overall, we enjoyed our childhood. Read more>>

Andy Stewart

My dad is an army veteran that worked his way through college and medical school to become an extremely successful doctor. My mom went to Bible college and then worked to support my dad while he went through college and medical school. She began raising three boys while my dad was still a resident. My parents always showed me grace. They didn’t expect me to be like them, or like my brothers, or anybody else. When I messed up, they encouraged me to do better when I messed up really bad…They would ask me what I learned from that? I was punished briefly, but in the end, they used it as an opportunity to learn and grow. I’ve used these lessons in my career to show people grace when they have faults. To use big mistakes as learning lessons. And always recognize that everyone is different and brings different strength to the team. Read more>>

Amy Lamb

Even if they didn’t realize it at the time, my parents’ meticulous approach to our family home profoundly shaped my career as an interiors photographer. With unwavering love, they made a humble home into a cherished sanctuary for me and my siblings. No request from my mother went unheeded, as my father happily devoted his carpentry skills and his spare time to serving her and constructing the furniture she desired. A breakfast nook table, a pie safe—every square inch of the home served a purpose in the space and reflected the love between my parents. Read more>>

Gisselle Poveda

In reflecting on what my parents did right in raising me, I’d say the most significant influence was the emphasis they placed on building my self-esteem. From a young age, they nurtured my dreams and talents, always making sure I knew that my aspirations were worth pursuing. For example, when they noticed my love for music, they consistently supported it by gifting me instruments on special occasions, allowing me to explore and develop that passion. Read more>>

Veronica Pope-ricketts

My parents believed in me, they believed that I can do anything I wanted to do. Them believing in me made me believe in myself. Believing in myself gave me an abundance of confidence to complete anything I wanted to accomplish. Their belief in me, always gave me the sense that the sky is the limit, and no boundaries could stop me from reaching any of my goals. Growing up I was an athlete and having my mother at my games cheering me on, reassured me of her support and her belief that anything I do I would be great at it as long as I put my all into it. This was right because the confidence has gotten me to a point in my life that I am today knocking down may barriers, and being able to execute goal after goal. This said confidence at times did have me overlook the hard work and commitment it would take to reach certain a heights. Read more>>

Liz Collins

My parents Bill and Nancy Collins adopted me when I was 3 months old in March of 1963. They were/are Christians so I was adopted into a Christian family, along with my other two brothers Billy and Jamie, all adopted from different biological parents. The only thing they knew from my biological mother was for me to be influenced musically. They noticed from a very young age how fasciated I was with pianos and guitars and how I would play a note and listen, not just bang on things. I even started singing at age 3. When I was 6, they had my grandmother’s guitar re-strung and again saw how fascinated I was with it. When I was 9 they signed me up for classical guitar lessons with an older woman named Mrs. Godla. She told them she didn’t know whether I was “age ready”, but after the first lesson, told them she was blown away by how ready I was. I took lessons from her til I was close to 13, then quit and just started writing my own songs and playing the songs that I loved growing up in the Carolinas. Some 15 years ago, I found out some non-identity information about my biological parents. She was 15 when she gave birth to me and was considered an exceptional pianist at her age. Pretty awesome God stuff. Thank you Lord. Read more>>

Jose Zamora

My parents have always worked tirelessly to provide my two younger brothers and me with the opportunities we enjoy today. Both trained engineers in Mexico, they could have led a comfortable life there. Instead, they made the brave decision to leave their families and comfort zones behind, moving to San Diego, California, to ensure a brighter future for their sons. When I was 12, my dad took a leap of faith and started his own engineering business. His motivation wasn’t just to build a career but to create a flexible schedule that allowed him to be present for me and my brothers, driving us to sports practices and extracurricular activities. Watching him navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship inspired me to take the same bold step as an adult and open my own business. Read more>>

Kueen Dom

One Thing i can say my parents did right was molding me to be able to understand the concept of Financial Literary . Coming into the workforce at a young age and realizing i am the true investment when showing up to work for others . Ive been able to reciprocate the work I’ve put in , into myself . I’ve been able to establish behaviors of discipline and consistently when paid physically and having the mind set of living less and setting myself up through sacrifice . The passed down advisory from my parents has elevated my perspective of finance and how it is to be used as a tool . Read more>>

Tony Molina

My parents are from Cuba and always wanted me to have a better life then them once I grew older. My Dad always wanted to be a musician but feared it wouldn’t keep the lights on so he became an account. He taught me to follow your dreams and passions because one day they can become true. As time passed I felt I needed to live up to his dreams and desires and I honestly never looked back. We now have 3 children of our own and are teaching our kids to follow dreams and passions. Thanks Dad! Read more>>