If you're reading this, you're probably neck-deep in some high-octane, innovation-obsessed company where "move fast and break things" isn't just a motto, it's a lifestyle. Sound familiar? Good. You're in the right place.

You probably landed here because you snagged one of my freebies - maybe it was that lightning lesson on personal branding, or those productivity templates that promised to unf**k your workday (It works, doesn’t it?). Whatever it was, welcome to the party.

Let's talk about something real for a second. All that baggage you're carrying from your upbringing? The work ethic your parents drilled into you, the communication style you picked up, the way you approach problems? Yeah, that stuff's shaping your career whether you like it or not.

Sometimes, that childhood programming is your secret weapon. Other times? It's the very thing holding you back from dominating in your field.

If you're still reading, congrats. You're not afraid of a little tough love.

5 things your mom got right

Look, I get it. The last thing you want is another lecture about how “mother knows best” (there are times when they don’t). But hear me out - there's gold in those clichés you've been rolling your eyes at for years.

1. You have a personal brand, whether or not you’re building it on purpose.

News flash: Your personal brand isn't just some LinkedIn buzzword. It's the “professional” version of you that's been forming since day one of your career. It exists whether you care or not.

Remember the "first impressions matter" spiel? Well, it wasn't wrong. But it goes way beyond that first handshake. Every email you fire off, every meeting you snooze through, every half-assed project you deliver - it's all part of your brand.

Sure, you can coast through your career without actively managing your brand. But don't be surprised when you're passed over for that promotion or pigeonholed in a role you've outgrown.

Pro tip: Stop obsessing solely over skills and networking. Add personal branding to your career to-do list.

2. "Clean your room" = Get your sh*t together, professionally

The tidiness fetish wasn't just about making the house look nice for guests. It was about creating systems that set you up for success. In your career, that translates to:

• Keeping your digital + physical workspaces less of a dumpster fire

• Actually documenting your work (future you will thank present you)

• Regularly decluttering your commitments (say "no" more often, thank me later)

3. "Eat your vegetables" = Invest in the hard sh*t that matters

Having a balanced diet wasn't just about avoiding scurvy. It's about building a skill set that doesn't topple over at the first sign of trouble:

• Tackle the tough stuff, especially when it feels like pulling teeth

• Stop procrastinating on hard skills. Your soft skills are great, but they need a backbone

• Master complex tools everyone else is avoiding

The pros who stand out aren’t the ones who eat dessert all day.

4. "Because I said so" = Sometimes, your gut isn't full of crap

There's a nugget of wisdom here about trusting your instincts:

• As you rack up experience, learn to trust your Spidey sense

• Not every decision comes with a pretty bow of hard data. Deal with it

• Be confident in your choices, even when you can't write a dissertation on why

Developing this intuition is what separates the leaders from the "let me check with my boss" crowd.

5. "What if everyone jumped off a bridge?" = Don't be a lemming

Don’t be a mindless follower:

• Don't swallow every industry trend or "best practice" hook, line, and sinker

• Question everything, especially in fields where everyone's drinking the same Kool-Aid…

• Make decisions based on data, values, and needs - not just because it's trendy

The bottom line

Look, your mom probably couldn't tell blockchain from a chain restaurant. But those annoying life lessons? They're surprisingly on point for navigating the clusterfuck that is…life.

P.S. If this gave you a wake-up call, send it to a friend who needs a swift kick.