Today is a very special day.  It’s the day that my sister and I walk in the memory of our amazing mother, Theodora C. Nicholas.

The Nicholas clan on my wedding day in June 1992. My three brothers Keith, Erwin and George and my sisters Marilyn, Gloria, and Verona. Our beloved mother is in the center. She passed away less than a year after this picture was taken.

My mother was a quiet woman, a simple woman, hardworking and a spiritual warrior. She never drew attention to herself nor tried to be in the spotlight. Instead she chose to raise her nine children (everyone is pictured except my sisters Decima and Marva) with as much dignity and grace as she could, teaching us to be great contributors to the world around us. She was much beloved and treasured by all during her short 64 years of life on this earth. It has been 20 years this month since we lost Mother (pronounced Mudda with aTrinidadian accent) to breast cancer. Today we are participating in the Sisters Network Stop the Silence 5K Run/Walk at Discovery Green in her honor.

I talk about my mother often because she has been the greatest role model of my life. She is the woman who I most admire and aspire to be like. I recently reflected on many of the lessons that I learned from my mother. Here are 5 lessons she taught me that guarantee success in both life and business, if I choose to apply them.

1. “If at first you don’t succeed try and try again.” In other words never give up on your dreams keep trying until you reach your goals. Be tenacious.

2.  “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today.” Don’t procrastinate. When you have a task get right to it. She always told me this and to this day I say this to my boys.

3. “A penny saved is a penny earned.  ” Manage your money wisely and be a saver. She was an extraordinary saver and good steward with her money. As a result my mother always had great credit and could obtain anything she wanted even though she never earned the types of salaries we do today. She was patient and was willing to save for what she wanted. Instant gratification was never something she strove for.

4.  “In all things, moderation.”  My mother really believed in balance. She did not believe in being extreme in anything.  She thought that extreme behavior was not good and created too much chaos. She was happiest when things were calm and peaceful. Today I find that this is also where I am happiest. I am still striving for balance in all areas of my life.

5.  And my all time favorite…“Put God first in all things and everything will be added unto you.”   When you have God at the center of your life everything you desire or even think about He will provide.

Today is also my 45th birthday and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend it than to reflect on the lessons this amazing woman, who gave me life, taught me.  Can you?

Did this post inspire you, touch your heart or cause you to re-examine the way you view some things? Share it with us in the community.

Much love,

Franka