If you’re reading this, and you have the opportunity to speak to or see your Mom today – you should give her a call.

Over the many, many years, I’ve learned plenty from my Mom, and the women in my life. Here are three things I’ve learned that I use in my everyday life, but also translates into the business world.

#1 – Never give up until you feel you’ve done your best

Since I was out of the womb this is how my Mom lived her life, and still does. If she’s going to do something – it’s going to be full on, and she’s going to give it her best effort. Even if she fails, she knows she gave it everything. We win some, we lose some, but the one thing we can control is our effort.

Many entrepreneurs I’ve run into either give up too soon or keep pressing when everyone around them, including themselves, know it’s a failed venture. If you’ve done your best, and you know you’ve given it everything – it’s okay to throw in the towel. Hard work, and effort do not guarantee success. You can’t be successful without those traits, but just because you’re giving your all, and your best effort you need to know when to quit.

#2 – Ask for help when you need it

My Mom raised me on her own until I was close to 5 years-old. Although that’s not 100% true. In order to work a couple jobs she had to pawn me off to family members every now, and then in order to save on babysitting costs. She wasn’t afraid to ask for help. Granted she didn’t have many options – she still had no issues with the fact that in order to save money, and provide for me in other ways – she had to let my aunts, uncles, and grandparents watch over me.

Pride, and ego is something every entrepreneur HAS to have. You are, in a way, your business. It’s a reflection of you, and in order to make things happen you need to have pride in what you do, and a bit of an ego. At the same time – you need to be able to check that pride, and ego when something comes up that you don’t know. You struggle with finances, and balancing the books – ask another entrepreneur or business owner how they handle things. They’d be happy to help. My wife, and I’s biggest challenge has been with accounting, so we readily asked for help, and continue to ask for help from trusted sources. This allows us to focus on the items we’re strong at. We don’t know everything, and neither do you. No one will look down on you when you ask for help. It’s in our human nature to help others whether it’s a Mom in need of help watching her child or an entrepreneur who’s math skills suck.

#3 – Don’t give a shit about what other people say – you know what’s best

Being a single mom is no easy task – I’m sure I don’t have to tell all the single mother’s that. Plus, you will be bombarded with advice, some good, some not so good, and you’ll often get weird looks from other parents when you’re trying to change your kids diaper on the park bench because you don’t have the time or energy to take the kid to the washroom. My Mom has an extremely thick skin, and she doesn’t tolerate any BS. She didn’t have the time when I was growing up to give a shit about what other people thought or said. She went on her motherly instincts, and I like to think I turned out okay.

No one knows you like you know you. You have a gut feeling about certain things. Don’t be tainted by other’s around you. Sometimes your gut feeling is right, sometimes it’s wrong, but go with what you feel. That doesn’t give you permission to be an asshole, but trust YOURself especially when it comes to YOUR business.

Love you Mom,

Jordan ‘The Guy with the Bow Tie’ Rycroft

Me sans bow tie and Mom c.2005