Yes! I love a great brunch, flowers, or massage as much as the next mother. But on this Mother’s Day, all I really want is to give a gift to my daughters instead of receiving one. I want them to know how much they inspire me as I work to leave them a lasting legacy.
My girls are 23, 21 and 13. After my divorce, the premise for initially starting my business, Hire Strategies, was to provide for them. For the past 6 years, we’ve experienced so much more than just provisions. My daughters have experienced the ups and downs of my running a business. They’ve had a front row seat to the evolution of Hire Strategies from a three-person operation to an office with a staff of nine and a roster of more than 30 clients. They’ve seen business prospects doubt my abilities as a black, female business owner. And they’ve seen me earn the respect of those same clients who didn’t think I was up to the job.
Through it all, my girls have been my biggest motivation to keep pushing. I hope they’ve learned about integrity and doing work they feel passionate about. I’m optimistic that the entrepreneurial spirit runs in the family as my two oldest daughters are already talking about starting their own businesses.
When all is said and done, I want three things to stick with my daughters:
- They are resilient and should never give up
- They can have it all, but not necessarily at the same time
- They should have their own thoughts and values independent of a partner
I have learned that it’s so important to focus on your own self-development before partnering with someone else. The idea of “you complete me” may work in Hollywood but in real-life, an already complete woman will make a much better partner. She’ll be the kind of woman who will bend, not break, as she navigates the peaks and valleys in business and in relationships.
Being a mother and a business owner at the same time is challenging, fulfilling and fun! One of my daughters works in the office with me while she takes a break from college. I have achieved my original goal, which was to provide for my girls, and they are part of charting the future direction of Hire Strategies. On this Mother’s Day, I am full of pride, hope and determination about the future for myself, my daughters and my company.
To all the mother’s out there, working in and out of the home, I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.
Sonya Hopson, President of Hire Strategies
