Wouldn’t it be nice if life came with a manual? You wouldn’t have to worry about whether you’re doing something right or wrong, because your handy manual would navigate you seamlessly through the ins and outs of your life and career. Unfortunately, life doesn’t come with a manual, but it does, typically, come with a mother — and that’s pretty much the same thing. Here are five reasons why mother knows best when it comes to your career.
1. “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
You probably cringed when your mother repeatedly reminded you that money didn’t grow on trees every time you asked for something special, and you probably have a newfound respect for the phrase (and your mother) now that it’s your own hard-earned money in question. A big part of becoming an adult is earning your own money and paying your own bills, so it’s wise to take heed of the whole money not growing on trees bit and learn to be responsible with your money — because, at the end of the day, you’re going to need a roof over your head and food in your belly. Work hard, play save hard.
2. “If all of your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too?”
Just because all of your friends are still stuck in their college party days, doesn’t mean that you should be, too. It’s understandable that you don’t want to miss out on all the fun to be had by going out and partying till the wee hours of the morning, but you’ll thank yourself later when you’re established in your career and financially stable, and not living on your parents’ couch and trying to make ends meet like your party-hard friends. Be a leader, not a follower.
3. “As long as you’re under my roof, you’ll live by my rules.”
If you hated when your mother told you this back when you were a kid, then you’re going to absolutely loathe it as a working professional — but, as mom also said, it’s for your own good. You may have gotten away with sneaking in late at your mom’s house, but don’t think you’re going to get away with that type of behavior at your place of employment — because you won’t just get your phone taken away and grounded, you’ll get fired and risk ruining your career before it even started. Don’t find out the hard way that there was a method behind your mother’s madness when she preached this to you time and time again.
4. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
The business world is such a small place, so it’s wise to remember not to bad-mouth another person or speak poorly of a current or past employer. The theory of six degrees of separation suggests that “everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world” (Wikipedia). However, recent research conducted by Facebook argues that the degree of separation is much less — an average of 3.46 degrees in the U.S. — now that we live in society that is so highly driven by social media and connectivity. Mind your Ps and Qs when speaking of others.
5. “One day, you’ll thank me for this.”
Although you may hate to admit it, you know deep down that your mother was right all along, and you finally understand why she pestered you all those years … because she loved you and believed in you. The same goes for your career: although you may hate the hours, the late nights, and the monotony of work, deep down you know it’s making you a more mature, humble, and responsible human being in the end. You also wouldn’t be who you are without your mother’s teachings and your career, so be grateful for the lessons learned. That which does not kill you only makes you stronger.
I’m not saying you should be tied to your mother’s apron, but there is something to be said for the lessons your mother preached to you growing up, as annoying as they were at the time. In light of Mother’s Day, why don’t you call your mom up and tell her thank you for all she’s done to shape you into the person you are today. I guarantee it’ll make her day … scratch that, it’ll make her life. Happy Mother’s Day!
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This post was updated from an earlier version previously published on PayScale.
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