CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT MY MOM.
Happy Mother’s Day.
My mom, Hannah Chen, was the ultimate team builder and leader. She raised 5 kids mostly on her own of which I was the last and I can tell you that it took a team to get through every day with work, school, lessons, activities, friends and life.
I lost my mom on February 6, 2018. This is my second Mother’s Day without her.
I’d like to shout out to George Griffin III, a diversity activist and lobbyist that was a key to winning one of my first business awards, the Top 40 Entrepreneur Under The Age of 40. He invited me to a gathering of friends who couldn’t be with their mom’s today.
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her and the impact she had on me. This year we are discovering even more the impact of relationships on teams and that your ultimate team quite often is your family.
I know you need to spend time with your mom today but if you have 10 minutes, click the link and celebrate with my mom on this Mother’s Day. You’ll learn where she came from, oh the places she’s been, and how we celebrated her life.
Some of my favorite Mom memories are:
- Crawling into her bed on Sunday morning and reading the Sunday comics.
- At Thanksgiving dinner she never sat down, she was always getting up to finish part of the meal.
- She drove us to every lesson, every event in a gigantic Bonneville wood paneled station wagon.
- She taught me how to cook, including Chinese comfort food fried rice and the decidedly not Asian cannelloni.
- Gift of Gab – She taught me how to talk to anyone.
- Leadership – At her memorial, her pastor said she had leadership skills as my sister Ruth helped her put all of her affairs into order. This allowed us to follow HER wishes and made the difficult process that much easier.
- The Proof of her Leadership is Her Kids – The doctors, pastor, nurses and family members all said they could not believe the family meeting where we had to make critical decisions about our mom. They said we all listened to each other even if we had differing opinions, we discussed but we did not fight, and we all came to a decision that everyone could live with. While that sounds simple, they say the normal is families fight, get emotional and bring up baggage from years ago while their mother is dying. It was the greatest honor that we could represent our mother at the highest level.
If I can inspire you on this Mother’s Day, here are my suggestions:
INTERVIEW YOUR MOM – turn on the video or voice memos and ask your mom to tell you stories.
SAVE YOUR BEST PHOTOS AND VIDEOS – scan paper photos, sort through your photos and videos and save the best into one location.
PUT YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER – Even though the topic is uncomfortable, if you help your mom get her affairs in order, she’ll be in the top 25% of all moms!
SPEND TIME WITH YOUR MOM – Studies show that spending time with your mom will extend her life and yours too!
Happy Mother’s Day and celebrate the ultimate team and leadership skills mom’s have. I miss you Mom…
Hey John, it’s Simon. I just watched the video. What a great celebration of a life lived to the fullest. I cried so much throughout the entire thing, that I’m going to watch it again and take the time to pause for the pictures. Thanks so much for sharing this. Cheers.
Dr. Simon Priest, PhD
Hi John,
Anne let me know that your Mom passed.
I am sorry for you and your family. She was a remarkable person. I am glad I had the opportunity to get acquainted with her.
Thanks for sending your Mother’s Day thoughts. You offered wise insights.
I am very close with my Mom and I am grateful for her every day.
Terry Donahe
John,
What a lovely message! It‘s a blessing to have you as my friend.
Assunta Ng, Editor, NW Asian Weekly
Thank you John! I can only imagine the joy and pride she felt being your mom.
Jean Thompson, CEO Seattle Chocolate
Hi John,
So sorry to hear that. I know how hard that is. I lost my mom in 2014 as well. I will check out your video. Prepping today to fly to DC for the National Association of Enrolled Agents Flyin on Capitol Hill (red eye flight) this week. Spending the day with my mother in law. We bought her a tree and planted it yesterday. Plumot.
Melissa Guy, CEO Unchainedfs.com
Awesome write up and great suggestions. Of all the hero’s we give recognition to, moms should be at the top of our list as they are the closest. Thank you and we can appreciate our moms as evidence of their life lives on with us. Make them proud.
James Buckley