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.

Jesika Floyd

My parents taught me to know God. It might seem simple but it has had the most positive impact on my life. It has taught me to be a kind, caring person. To spread the word of God, help those in need, volunteer when opportunites arise and always look for the good in this world. There is so many things I see and hear in my line of work that are often quite ugly; therefore, walking close to God helps keep me grounded and focused on the good and not the bad that I so often see and hear. Read more>>

Jenna Davis

My parents always believed in me, and let me know nothing I craved was out of reach. From a young age I can recall my parents, namely my Father, telling me to follow my dreams. No hair brained idea was too crazy and no vision too big. I was always encouraged to try, even if that meant failing, and try again. Having their support from the inception has given me the courage to dream bigger, reach higher and always strive for more. Read more>>

Megan Gaillour

I have always felt my parents support behind me choosing a career in an art field. Whether it was when I was younger and curious about animation and cartoon;through buying me art books to learn how to draw when I was in elementary & middle school. Too the possibility of pursuing graphic design in high school; and purchasing me Photoshop to accompany my learning in various graphic design classes. When I began selling my paintings and drawings, they bought various pieces from me. As well as, being there for the first time I was in a gallery, and even after moving, have been the first people I let know when I’ve sold pieces. Read more>>

Christine

My parents not only taught me, they led by example. They showed me what it meant to work hard, live with integrity, give back, and be present for the people who matter most.

I learned the value of a dollar at a young age, starting with a newspaper route. That job, and the others that followed, were never just about earning money. They were about discipline, responsibility, and independence. My parents made sure I understood that hard work was expected, but they also demonstrated that it meant more than personal gain. With it came the responsibility to help others who had less. Read more>>

Tiara Felder

What my parents did right was modeling hard work, excellence, and belief in me, even as a first-generation college student. Neither of my parents had the opportunity to go to college, but they excelled in their own careers and showed me that success comes from discipline, integrity, and consistency. I watched them work tirelessly and take pride in everything they did, which gave me the blueprint for my own path. Read more>>

Marrha Roussopoulos

What they did right was they led by example and worked their tails off to make an incredible life for our family.

My Dad Paul is an inventor and gives amazing logical advice. He has worked since he was a kid and probably will never stop working, he is an entrepreneur and can learn how to do anything. He is a lifelong learner and if he sees a problem with a product, he will find a way to make it better. As a kid I watched him create all sorts of cool products and fix everything around our home. He doesn’t back down from a challenge and his determination is incredible to me. He taught me that I can learn how to do anything, with a little time and determination. Read more>>

Samuel Bellamy

My parents didn’t have much, but they helped neighbors with groceries, lent tools, and cooked meals for others without expecting anything back.

That modeled for me that generosity isn’t about wealth, it’s about posture. It also shaped the way I see community: there is good work happening all around us if we’re willing to notice it and invest in it. In my career, that perspective has drawn me to roles in nonprofits and philanthropy, spaces where the job isn’t to “fix” communities, but to recognize and resource the good that’s already there. Read more>>

Emilia Cataldo

My parents were completely anti-establishment which led me to be curious about the establishment which led me to realize why my parents raised me the way they did, and ultimately try to find a middle ground between “the establishment” and my parents’ radicalness.

They were both musicians so they immersed us in music without even thinking about it. Read more>>

Jonathan Rosengarten

My parents did (and still do) so much right. My parents instilled in me the importance of embracing discomfort. Life rarely unfolds on our preferred terms, and success often requires showing up and executing consistently—regardless of how we feel in the moment. It’s easy to justify taking a day off when motivation is low, but my parents taught me that achieving long-term goals means pushing through those moments of resistance. Read more>>

Siri Lambu

My parents (who are both creatives but worked in the IT industry) put me in as many extra-curricular classes as possible as a kid and let me drop the ones I didn’t like. This is how I narrowed myself down to someone that is passionate about creativity. I realised I was best at the drawing class I attended when I got home and my book fell open in the living room. My mom was astonished at my drawing of a duck with her ducklings. This unexpected validation encouraged me to continue exploring art and design fields. Read more>>