Today is the day we celebrate Mother’s Day in the United States. So, in honor of Mother’s Day, I decided to crowdsource as much motherly advice as possible to provide useful inspiration for marketers. The inspiration hit me late on Friday afternoon and I'm so pleased to have a big response!

My work colleagues and others I’ve had the good fortune of working with sent me the following pearls of wisdom from their mothers or grandmothers.

The bottom line is that we all have a debt of gratitude to our mothers for getting us off on the right foot and giving us the courage to get where we are today. I hope you find this as inspiring and entertaining as I do.

.

If you don’t have a hunting dog, hunt with your cat.

I’ll start it off with one of my favorites from my mom, Margarida Balla. This is a classic Brazilian saying that she would often say in Portuguese when I found myself facing a situation and not feeling like I had everything I needed. That advice tells me that marketers should make the best use of resources we have, and don’t focus on what we don’t have. Play to your strengths and always be resourceful.

If you start something, finish it
If you’re going to do it, do it the right way or don’t do it at all.

These two were offered by Kristine Vick as variations on the same theme, and it certainly applies to marketers. As a marketer, this means to apply yourself, to see it through to the end and always to do your best. Nothing in marketing is a flash in the pan because it’s always connected to some other element in your campaign. In terms of the customer experience, remember that each interaction with your organization is one of a long chain. And you don’t want your effort to be the weak link in that chain.

If you want to receive a letter from someone, you need to write them a letter first.

Marketing Strategist and author David Meerman Scott offered this advice from his grandmother, Dorothy Jones, given to him when he was 12. For marketers, this is all about the importance of initiative. If you want something to happen, take the first step.

Remember who you are.

Cheryl Aber and Scott Batchelor’s moms both gave them this advice. Scott’s mom used to tell it to him before he left home for a date.  Cheryl’s mom, Ellen Kennedy, used to tell her that every time she left the house, meaning whatever we do away from home will get back to your parents and reflect on them, so behave. Scott’s take for marketers is that they should not veer too far from their brand and persona. It’s OK to think outside the box, but customers selected you for a reason. Stay true to that and you’ll win.

Whatever goes around comes around.
Don’t squint or you’ll get wrinkles.

Diana DiMaiuta shared these two favorites from her mom, Marion DeAngelis. The meaning, of course, is not to do anything wrong because if you do, it will come back to haunt you. Both of these nuggets from Mrs. DeAngelis certainly apply to marketers. If you don’t want to grow your opt-outs, then don’t “spam” your customers. If you want to attract customers looking for answers, offer them valuable content and engage with them over time so you understand more clearly the kinds of questions they are asking.

Be nice to each other.

The DMA’s Stephanie Miller offered this advice from her mom, clarifying, “she meant all five of us [siblings] getting along. Her take is that could translate to marketers in many ways – getting along with Legal and Sales teams, or even for the creative and the data wonks; but also in terms of respecting your customers.

Never settle.

Courtney Peters shared this advice from her mom, Sharon Walters.  Simple and clear as a bell, this advice rings true for all marketers because all great marketing is the result of teamwork – it’s all about collaboration and interactions, which also means choices and negotiations. Understand what you need and keep up the effort until you get it – which applies to both your work output and what you need from others.

One day at a time.

Bess Creech’s mom would tell her this, and it shows the wisdom of a mom who has experienced all that life throws at her. Marketers’ work rarely comes in discrete packages with a clear beginning and an ending all in the same day. Focus on what you can get done and take it one day at a time. By the end of the week, you’ll find you have accomplished much.

The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

This one is one of my wife’s favorites, from her mom, Nancy Brockman. This is related to Bess’ mom’s advice and it rings so true. Marketers all face big elephants on our plates (usually more than one). If it has to be eaten, do it one bite at a time. If you need to, give some to the dog under the table and invite your friends to join in the feast.

One foot in front of the other.

Marketing strategist and Un-marketer Scott Stratten offered this as his favorite of his mom’s advice. When things get tough, take it one step at a time and keep moving forward. “Have used it many, many times,” says Scott. For marketers, this means to stay focused on your goal or your plan, even when it’s all going in a hand basket, so to speak.

A hard head makes a soft behind.

Ericka Wilcher's mom was partial to this advice, which is to say that there is usually a price to pay for excessive stubbornness. Ericka added that it’s perhaps a cautionary tale for marketers who insist on doing things the way they have always been done. Be flexible, and ask, what does the data indicate?

Don’t claim that.

Bree Baich offered this wisdom from her Grandma Lilly – it was her way of reminding us that it’s about how you think about life as to what life sends you – so stop “audibly claiming” the negative stuff. With all that marketers deal with, this is a great reminder to focus on positive planning for positive outcomes.

Always look good and have something to say. 

Deb Orton shared this gem from her mom. This advice would apply particularly in those situations where you’re in a visible position, or if your company is an industry leader and you’re not likely to be overlooked. How you present yourself and how you engage with your audience matters, so always look good and have something (nice) to say.

Every situation is what you make it.
Don’t yuck other people’s food

Alison Bolen shared those two pieces of advice from her mom, Nancy Shaw. For marketers, that advice has as much to do about owning the quality of your work, as it does about the attitude you choose every day you show up. With all the variables we deal with day and day out, the one 100% controllable variable is your attitude. Own it. Every day.

You can always get smarter

Liz Miller of the CMO Council describes her mom as the “classic Korean tiger mom,” and even if Liz always received this advice with an eye-roll, she describes it as part of her own marketing view. For marketers, it’s all about striving to be your best. Even if you’ve hit a home run, take the time to think about what you might do better the next time. Each improvement takes you to a new triumph.

Be respectful of others and in return they’ll be respectful of you.
Treat others as you would want to be treated!!
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

Amy Seagroves, Barb Anthony and Natalie Hoyle, respectively, offered these variations of the classic Golden Rule. For Amy and her mom, it's a matter of R-E-S-P-E-C-T, the marketing translation is to be respectful of your audience use their time wisely with information they need and in return they may respect you when it comes time to purchase your wares. Natalie further added that as marketers, it's all about treating our customers with respect.  No one likes to receive Spam or dishonest communications.   The right message, at the right time, to the right audience goes a long way and builds trust and respect.

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.
It's just as easy to marry a rich man as it is a poor one.

Cherry Street Consulting’s Elizabeth Vanneste offered those two nuggets from her mom, Mary Ellen Sheridan. She added that marketers should never diss the competition because it just makes you look bad (and then there's karma…). For the second piece of advice, she jokingly added “Clearly I wasn’t paying attention!” For marketers, however, she offered that it’s just as easy to sell a profitable customer as it is an unprofitable one. How true!

You need to sleep sometimes!

Jim Hiepler-Hartwig’s mom would tell that to him when he did something wrong as a youngster. He was too quick to catch to be punished, so his mom would not try to chase him. When he heard those words, he’d stop running and face the music. Jim’s take for marketers is to fess up when we make a mistake and take the consequences. We need not to try to run away from what we did or cast blame on others.

Hold the moment

Hillary Ashton shared this advice from her mom, Jo-Del Gaeth. This advice speaks to the need for marketers to make the most of every opportunity and preserve them. For marketers, I think that means capturing content at events that sessions you're presenting or sponsoring yourself and then offering it up as a podcast or video, and then creating a written rendering.

Finally, I offer a capstone from my wife’s grandmother, Kitty Edwards, who I had the privilege of knowing for many years before she passed away last year at the age of 102. This is a favorite of both my wife and mine:

There’s plenty of bad in the best of us, and
Plenty of good in the worst of us,
So it really behooves all of us
To be kind to the rest of us.

Thank you to everyone who shared their favorite motherly advice here. Note that I've tagged this with the only appropriate tag I could think of - best practices. Remember to wipe your feet before you come back in and wash your hands when you're finished.

Oh, and have a very happy Mother’s Day!