I love this quote from Dr. Maya Angelou, “When you know better, you do better,” and I use it often in my talks and personal life. It doesn’t matter if I’m speaking to a large audience, or to one of my kids when they’re asking for a snack I know isn’t healthy for them – the quote always seems to fit nicely.
I learned a long time ago that education is the key to change. Not deprivation.
I’m often asked if I allow my kids to eat junk food and my answer is always “yes.” I don’t deprive them of it because I know too well what that will do. When my kids were younger, I was that mom who tried to give my kids vegetables at friends’ birthday parties but that didn’t go over too well because they wanted what the other kids were eating – not my red peppers.
Over the years I made it my mission to find healthier options for the foods my kids begged me to eat. I looked for brands that avoided using additives that came with unhealthy side effects, and I found them!
While my kids don’t always choose the healthiest options these days (they are older now), I’m confident that I’ve laid the foundation for making better choices. Better choices is the operative word when it comes to our health, or our business. There are times when we do things that we know aren’t in our best interest (eating that extra cookie or bringing on a partner we know isn’t good for the business), but we do it anyways. Perhaps we’re overwhelmed, or it’s the easy way out. If you’re looking for a sounding board, someone to brainstorm with, or someone to share their 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, I can help.
