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As parents, we imagine ourselves to be all-important in shaping the lives of our children.
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They created the environments that shaped us, even if it wasnt always obvious.
So what did my parents do?
They got me a drum teacher and drum lessons so that I could be way better than the boys.
Heres the wisdom we can all learn from.
Ai-Jen Poo
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My parents both pursued their passions.
Each in their own way, they were so clear about what they wanted to contribute to the world.
And it was always about making it better.
They always encouraged me to pursue my passions, even as a child.
My father taught me how to visualize and to think about things differently.
And laugh a lot!
Its so spiritual and beautiful."
Wed cheer the loudest for the littlest kid up at bat in the t-ball game.
So often, people with caregiving responsibilities are hesitant to negotiate for the flexibility they need at work.
Dad has always reinforced the action of going with your gut.
They are the backbone of my success and teach me every day to never give up.
So, we were a paycheck-to-paycheck family.
But no matter what, I never went without.
My father was always working and I feel that contributed to my work ethic.
The latter became a lot more challenging when we relocated to Los Angeles.
message, but actually seeing it in real-time is different.
If you take a job and end up hating it?
Resign and find another.
Move to a different city and realize its not quite you?
Think you want to try some new hobby and realize its not something you actually enjoy?
I know Ill make missteps along the way, but nothing that I cant course correct.
Always bet on yourself; if you bet on yourself, you succeed even when you fail.
Show up every single day and never give up.
When you fall down (literally or figuratively), get back up and walk it off.
If you fail, learn from it and take it with you as you keep moving forward.
When youre backed against the wall, come out swinging.
These lessons formed my approach to life, career, and ultimately the foundation for Luminary.
I watched them often ask, How can I help?
for tasks that were never too big or too smallno questions asked nor thanks needed.
Part of this was to treat others how you want to be treated.
For example, they always made me and my siblings (Im one of six) support one another.
My parents always told me to go for what brings me joy and to dream big.
They inspire me to be better every day and keep having fun along the way.
I carry his last name.
I look like him.
Im disciplined and determined like him.
I have all of his good traits and a couple of his bad habits too.
I received a lot of questions during this time too.
Where was my mother?
Why wasnt she raising me?
What was wrong with her?
My mom saw poverty, drug addiction, and prostitution.
Hopelessness surrounded her but she never let it touch me.
That was her gift to me and it is the gift that keeps giving.
I get to receive my moms gifts while learning my dads lessons.
And I am grateful to each of them for making me who I am.
My dad was an entrepreneur in manufacturing and my mom was a full-time homemaker and a lifelong educator.
My mom sure understood hers.
That’s a lesson every woman would do well to learn.
You see, education was a method to circumvent the immense restrictions under which they lived.
This decision changed the course of my life.
I would not be where I am today without that belief and guidance.
They instilled in me the idea that I could do and be anything.
I was a different kind of kid, and they just went with me.
Nothing was off limitsit didn’t matter that I was a girl.
Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s I played drums and I was the only girl in Little League.
The league tried to get me to play softball, and I refused.
My parents supported me so I got to play baseball.
So what did my parents do?
They got me a drum teacher and drum lessons so that I could be way better than the boys.
My parents emigrated from Argentina for my fathers post-doctorate in physics.
I dont fear new tools like evolving formulas and pumps: I embrace them.
I ask the questions about if they are truly meeting the need they aim to.
Caitlin Greer Meister, a strengths-based learning expert and founding director of The Greer Meister Group
