Why You Should Take Advice from Your Mum on Running a Business

Ah, Mums. The all-knowing, ever-wise dispenser of unsolicited but (annoyingly) accurate advice. As kids, we rolled our eyes at her constant pearls of wisdom, “tidy your room,” “don’t spend all your money at once,” or the dreaded “because I said so.”

But here’s the thing: if you listen closely, you’ll realise that mums have been running a tight ship long before you ever thought about running a business. In fact, some of their classic “mum-isms” contain more business wisdom than an MBA. Let’s break it down.

1. “Tidy your room!” – Organise Your Workspace & Systems

Mum wasn’t just trying to ruin your day when she insisted on a spotless bedroom. She understood something crucial, clutter leads to chaos. The same applies to business.

A disorganised workspace kills productivity. If you’re constantly searching for files, emails, or that one Post-it note with the game-changing idea, you’re wasting time and energy. And it’s not just about physical clutter, it is about messy systems, scattered processes, and unclear workflows and they all have the same effect.

Take a leaf from Mum’s book: get your business in order. Streamline your operations, implement efficient systems, and make sure your team knows where everything goes. A tidy business is a thriving business.

2. “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” – Manage Cash Flow Like a Pro

Ah yes, the iconic mum warning. Back in the day, it meant you couldn’t just splurge your entire pocket money on sweets. Today, it’s the fundamental rule of financial management.

Running a business means keeping an eye on your cash flow. It’s not just about making money, it’s about managing it wisely. Overspending on unnecessary expenses? Ignoring unpaid invoices? Not planning for slower months? Mum would not be pleased.

Treat every pound as if you had to do chores for it. Budget wisely, invest strategically, and always have a rainy-day fund. Because trust me, the business equivalent of an emergency washing machine breakdown will happen.

3. “Because I said so.” – Leadership & Decision-Making

As frustrating as it was to hear this as a child, Mum was unknowingly teaching you about leadership. Sometimes, as a business owner, you just have to make the call.

You can’t please everyone. You’ll get conflicting advice, employee pushback, and customers who want things you can’t realistically provide. At some point, you need to trust your instincts and say, “This is the decision, and we’re going with it.”

It’s not about being dictatorial, it’s about having confidence in your vision and the courage to stand by your choices. Just like Mum did when she refused to let you wear shorts in December.

4. “If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?” – Think for Yourself in Business

Trends come and go. Hype fades. Just because everyone is hopping on the latest business bandwagon doesn’t mean it’s right for your company.

Mum was teaching you critical thinking. It’s easy to follow the crowd, launch a product just because everyone else is, slash prices because your competitors are, or jump into a new market without research. But real business success comes from knowing when to follow and when to forge your own path.

Stay true to your brand, understand your unique value, and don’t just copy what others are doing. Unless, of course, Mum gives the green light.

5. “Eat your vegetables!” – Long-Term Thinking & Business Health

As kids, we all tried to get away with skipping the greens. But Mum knew what she was doing, short-term indulgence leads to long-term regret.

The same applies to business. If you’re only focused on quick wins and short-term gains, you’re setting yourself up for trouble. Sustainable success requires discipline, patience, and investment in the boring but necessary things, like customer relationships, staff training, and brand consistency.

Eat your business vegetables. They may not be flashy, but they’ll keep your company strong.

Mum Knows Best, In Life and in Business

So, the next time you hear a classic mum-ism echoing in your head, don’t dismiss it. Mums have been running tight operations for years, managing budgets, handling logistics, enforcing rules, and somehow keeping everything running smoothly.

If you’re serious about running a business, take a page from Mum’s playbook. Organise your space. Manage your money. Stand by your decisions. Think for yourself. Play the long game.

Because let’s face it, she was right about everything else.