In our professional careers, especially in marketing, we talk about Influencers, Unboxers, and Bloggers as an essential resource for marketing products. The importance of media and social media to projecting the right image to a mass market will help establishing the Brand, but who helped shape and market our individuality? Who was there to guide, mold, advise, encourage and support? Who was our biggest fan at concerts, soccer games, and was there to see us win every small award we ever got? And who had the biggest sense of pride and accomplishment as we crossed a stage to get our diploma? The answer is probably our moms!

“Comb your hair and brush your teeth.”

“Tuck in your shirt.”

It sounds so basic and simple. Good grooming and personal hygiene are important. As a child depending on your personality you would answer your mom with a simple “Okay mom!” and run towards the bathroom or with an “AWWW, MOM!” and begrudgingly do it. As an adult we have a better understanding of the importance of self care for grooming, paying our bills on time, and taking vitamins. All of them have relevance to how healthy we are and how we portray ourselves to others. We understand the importance of projecting a positive, clean, well-kept image as competent professionals that are capable of a good and lasting impression. This helps us in everyday life as much as our professional careers.

“Be true to yourself.”

“Looking in the mirror, always be able to say you tried your best.”

Growing up, I was always encouraged to believe in and be truthful to myself, always trying to do my best in whatever endeavour I set out to do. I was taught to never be afraid to try new things, and to always set the bar high—regardless of the goal. As a working professional, I’m able to apply this advice in my daily life. I am able to set high goals for myself and project an image of self assurance to my employer and co-workers. This enables me to attain goals at work to the best of my ability. At the end of the day I feel good that I’m giving my job my all and contributing to the team and overall success of the company.

“You can do anything you set out to do.”

 As a child, our mom would help set up school classrooms in the play area, transform our beds into examination tables, turn boxes into rocket ships and shape shift the tablecloths on our heads for veils as we played wedding day. We have all played make believe, pretending to be a teacher, doctor, a store clerk. In high school, whether or not you were on the debate team or had taken a law class or had an encounter with your parents when you broke your curfew, you became a lawyer.

When it came time to choose higher education or a career, mom told us we could do anything and be anything, because the possibilities were endless. We were molded and shaped further by professors and guidance counselors, learning and challenging ourselves. In some cases, we end up challenging them, to prove a point that we believed in strongly. Upon graduation, we felt we could get out there and show the world what we are made of with knowledge and professional prowess.



“ Momma said there’d be days like this…”

There have been times as we go through this roller coaster ride called life that we have fallen down, when things have not gone as planned, and times where we have felt failure. But like the song “Momma Said” by The Shirelles goes, “Momma always said there’d be days like this,” and my mom always said “the best thing you can do is get up, dust yourself off, and try again.” In our careers we have all had our pitfalls, feeling lost in our careers, dealing with the thought that we aren’t living up to our potential in a fulfilling career, but that’s okay. We know that tomorrow is a new day. Here are new opportunities on the horizon for us if you have a positive attitude and keep moving forward the only place you can go is up!



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“Mom, I love you.”

It’s very hard for me to write this part of the blog dedicated to Mother’s Day. I really wish I could tell her today how happy I am in my life and what I’m doing. So she could see how the years of grooming me paid off and turned into an educated, respected and intelligent individual. Like many adults, I owe my om a great deal as she was my biggest fan from infancy, who nurtured and cultivated me into who I am today. My success as a mother and grandmother I owe to her because I learned from her example. I give my time to the community as she taught me the importance of giving back to those less fortunate and the rewarding feeling it brings you. This has helped my professional career in showing potential employers what I bring to the table. My ideals, a team player, and career motivation are that of a well rounded individual. It is because of her I coordinate my inner and outer wardrobe by colour, accessorize to pull off a polished professional look, and keep myself groomed and looking my best. I have a mantra because of her: “Think positive. Do your best. Try new things. Excel to your fullest potential.” And as I lift my face toward the sky, I have just two things left to say: “Thanks Mom. I love you.”