Professional Relationships

My mother raised me as a business professional. It seemed weird, at the time. When you’re eight, you really don’t want to know about the best way to talk with your manager. But my mother—in her words, an “accidental” creator of a labor strike—couldn’t help but provide me with that kind of information. It is ingrained in her. I used to roll my eyes, but getting in the workforce, her words were invaluable. She was filled with bon mots that almost entirely related to business: — “Ask for the order.” — “Get it in writing.” — “Document. Document. Document.” And that’s the thing about the workplace: it speaks a language all its own. In some ways, my mother raised me with a second language. I’m fluent in regular English and business English. Both are valuable. (One is less valuable to an eight year old, in my own defense.) I’ve had professional mentors. I’ve had business associates. (I once started an LLC.) But, at the end of the day, the most valuable professional connection I’ve ever had is my mother. Her history in business informed my present. She taught me the second language I need to speak to fit in when everyone is wearing a suit.