Staying True to Your Core Values Will Make You a Better Business Owner

This morning, I woke up extra early with my head spinning from a letter that was forming in my head. Recently, my son passed the MA Real Estate exam and is about to embark on an exciting new career path. As a mother and business owner for 25 years, I felt there was so much I wanted to share with him.

But as I thought over the words I wanted to share, I realized why I felt so strongly about this advice—it is what makes up my core values, upon which I built my business. These are the things that I have made my standard and that have defined the way I have conducted myself over the last 25 years. They define my reputation—and so, to me, they are more than just words of advice from a mother to her son. They are words that anyone going into the business world can live by.

So, to my son and to any young person about to embark on a new career, I offer this advice:

• Be authentic and embrace who you are.

• Respect everyone.

• Be transparent. 

• Always conduct yourself ethically.

• Always do the right thing, even if it is hard sometimes.

• Always treat people the way you would like to be treated.

• Go above and beyond every time for your clients.

• Expect more of yourself than others might.

• Mistakes will happen—we are human—but always be willing to admit them and move on.

• Listen to your clients and provide exceptional customer service.

• Leave your problems at home; clients don’t want to hear them.

• Enjoy what you do and let it show.

• Follow through.

• Don’t rest on your laurels.

• Always continue to learn.

• Embrace change.

• Surround yourself with smart, trustworthy people in your industry.

• And above all, strive to be the best at what you do.

I hope that this advice touches someone who is taking those first steps into the business world. These goals and mantras have helped me get to where I am today, and I feel they are extremely important to building a lifelong career. Good luck!