Elevate is designed to raise up and help women in the community. 

Anne and I shared our thoughts on work-life balance, lessons we tried to teach our children, and what Anne learned from me, her mother. Read more at BusinessRecord.com.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff, it’s all small stuff. When my first husband died, the cleaning lady would be upset when the kids didn’t pick up their rooms so she could clean. I let it go. They were good kids growing up, and as long as I didn’t see any visible tattoos, I didn’t care about the state of their room. Just shut the door.  

• Let go of the guilt. Anne played softball in seventh grade. Most parents went to every game, and most tournaments started Friday night and went through Sunday evening. Newly widowed, it was tough for me, and I felt terrible but I needed my weekends to buy groceries, do laundry, restore my sanity, be with my other two children and get caught up. But what I did do was read to my children every night. And Anne turned out OK!  

• Don’t be a solution in search of a problem. I learned the hard way that my children just want me to listen to them when they have an issue — not to solve it for them. If they want my advice, they ask for it. Helicopter parents aren’t doing their kids any favors. It’s OK to let your kids fail now and then.  Adulthood is tough; they need to learn to deal with adversity.

• And If you have a career and give birth — spend as much time as you can on maternity leave. You never get that time back. Trust me, no one is going to do your job as a mother while you are gone.  

• We had a rule in the house. If you started something you had to finish it. My kids like to try a lot of things. They had to finish what they started. I didn’t care if they didn’t want to do it another year, but if they started it they could not quit. Once I thought about getting my MBA. My husband said, “If you start it, you have to finish it.” I decided not to because I wasn’t sure I could and I didn’t want to set a bad example for my children.  

• It’s not that hard to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. Do what you say you are going to do, show up when you say you are going to show up, help others get what they want. You will usually get what you want. Be more interested in people.

• Their father used to say, “Throw bread out on the water, it comes back ham and eggs every time.” Give your time, talent or treasure. It comes back in spades. 

• Hard work beats brains every time. My guidance counselor in high school was not encouraging me to apply at Harvard or Yale. Quite the contrary! It’s what you do with your talents that makes you happy and successful. Figure those talents out.  

• Frankly, I was probably a better mom working than if I had stayed at home. There are times when I wonder what it would have been like to stay at home with my kids, and I applaud women who want and can do that. You just have to figure out what works for you and not look back.  

• Chin up, work hard — it doesn’t matter what your circumstance, we only control the situations we are currently handed, so make the most of them. Excuses don’t cut it.

• Show up — you honor people with your presence and you set yourself apart too! So many people don’t bother to even show up anymore. Getting there, on time, is something to behold … so do it, it’s easy.

• Don’t take what you have for granted, and be grateful for what you’re given. Recognize that you have been gifted with some serious potential. Don’t waste it. Be thankful for what you have been afforded and multiply it by helping others.

• Like it or not, you’re replaceable — and that’s OK. As loyal as I am, it was hard for me to leave a job because I thought they couldn’t manage without me. Turns out, they are doing just fine! And I am better off for taking the risk and looking ahead. Be confident in your worth to an organization but also humble enough to recognize you are one part of the overall structure.

• Stay hungry and helpful. Never be satisfied and never underestimate the value of a smile Extend yourself outside your comfort zone and do the grunt work. Everyone starts somewhere, and knowing where the lowest rung starts helps keep you mindful as you climb.

Katie Roth is president of Aureon Staffing. Anne Roth is finance director of The Grassley Committee.