Good Luck Topping My Mom's Story

I’m fortunate to work for an authentic leader.  She brings all of herself to bear, all of the time. 

She’s been at Target for 30+ years, she has climbed the ladder, and she’s finding herself in a season of reflection as her twin daughters graduate from college and move on to write their own stories. 

During a recent team meeting, while discussing the decisions she has made as a parent and as a leader, she said something that stuck with me:   “We have to make decisions and we can’t spend our time figuring out if they are all right or wrong.  They just are.”

As she spoke, thru tears, I couldn't help but draw parallels between her and my mom.    

They are both continual learners that ended up being pioneers in their areas of expertise.  They are both women that deliberately, and materially, changed gender perceptions within male-dominated environments.  They are both individuals that have created numerous opportunities for others.  And they’re both wondering how they've done as moms.    

Recent recognition for my mamasita.

My mom’s full story is a long one and a single blog post can’t possibly do the journey the justice it deserves.  So, instead of trying to re-tell it, I’m going to focus on the lessons I've learned from watching her live it:

•          If you want something, be tenacious.
•          If someone tells you that you can’t do something, don’t accept it at face value.
•          Fear is a bitch.  She’s mean, and she’s a liar.
•          Courage is taking action even when you doubt yourself.
•          Don’t ever stop learning.
•          If you have initiative, you are ahead of at least 80% of the population.
•          Enabling your kids to experience more is a cause worth fighting for.
•          Feeling deeply often hurts.  Do it anyway. 
•          Living with the mindset of a fighter makes Grace difficult to internalize.
•          Be comfortable in your own skin.
•          Redeem your hurts or they will haunt you.
•          Root for, and directly support, the underdog.

Good stories are marked by characters that know what they want and have to go thru conflict to get it.  They include grit, love, risk, and sacrifice.  They’re about something more than the main character.

She’s still working on it, but I’d stack my mom’s story up against just about any other story that has been written.   My hope and prayer is that she’s able to read it the same way, and finish writing it with no regrets.  That’s what she deserves.

I love you, mom.  Always yours, Peter.  (Mom’s the only one that gets to call me Peter.  So don't even think about it.)