Shared by the Entrepreneurs of ROW DTLA
5.4.2021
It’s no secret that moms know best. In honor of Mother’s Day we asked some of our ROW business owners to share the lessons they’ve learned from their moms, and how they apply to their business years later.
Enjoy these words of wisdom from the women who’ve raised the creative minds behind some of our favorite brands. Because no matter who you are or where you are in life, you’re never too old or far along for advice from Mom.
“My mother taught me, through her actions, that the only way to do something is to do it. Meaning, there are no shortcuts and if something needs to be done then you do it. As a very small business owner, I wear many hats on a day-to-day basis, so having that mindset and approach to tackling the to-do list has served me well.”
"My gregarious mother and namesake, Rosita Apodaca, expressed her creativity as an artist and gallery owner selling her work and that of others, and as an avid entertainer. I learned that both keeping shop and keeping company require a sense of imagination, curiosity and, above else, the warmest of hospitality."
“1. Put on makeup and look nice for your husband. 2 Pray. I find that they both apply to running a business. I think it’s important to look presentable—even if it’s just for myself and if I’m in sweats (which I often am these days). A little bit of makeup and a cool pair of sneakers do it for me. Also prayer is always powerful and I’ve done a lot of it this past year.”
Diana Ra, Designer and Founder of DRA
“My mother taught me that I was the same as everyone else. Growing up with four brothers, this was important. I was treated like I was no different from them, and I truly didn't learn that girls were treated differently until I was in high school. I didn't realise this lesson until I was an adult, because it was never explicitly laid out, and I think that informed so much of my life. In business it has made me bolder, I've never let being a girl stop me or limit me, even when others try to, I never take shit, and I try to always lift others up the way my mum would.”
“My mother puts her family before all else. She still cooks each meal for my dad while handling 100% of the finances. She's a shrewd business woman with the memory of an elephant. She has taught me that power doesn't have to look a certain way - it's in the softness just as much as it is in the razor sharp edges. She works hard and loves hard and that's how I run my business.”
Miriam Yoo, Founder of Flask & Field
“My mother taught me to shine the brightest in every situation and nobody will be able to ignore you. I use this as a daily mantra for myself, my store and my business."
Without the lessons from these moms, ROW wouldn’t be what it is today—a collective of inspiring, creative, eclectic business owners. And to that we wish a very happy Mother’s Day to all the moms reading, and all the moms in your life!