Kevin O’Leary Shares the One Rule From His Mother He’s Followed His Entire Life: 'People May Not Like Me for It'

Businessman and television personality Kevin O’Leary said a simple lesson from his mother — always tell the truth — has guided how he communicates throughout his career, even when people may not like what he has to say.

O’Leary Shares His Mother’s Truth Rule

On Monday, in a post on X, O’Leary said his mother’s words had stayed with him throughout his life.

"Always tell the truth, and you’ll never have to remember what you said," he wrote, while explaining that truth remains consistent regardless of how much time passes.

"It will be the same truth tomorrow, in a year, or a decade from now," he said. O’Leary added that the principle had "really stuck" with him and claimed he has followed it ever since.

"I’ve told the truth ever since. People may not like me for it, but it’s still the truth."

Always tell the truth and you'll never have to remember what you said. It will be the same truth tomorrow, in a year, or a decade from now. This was something my mother told me and it really stuck. I've told the truth ever since. People may not like me for it, but it's still the… pic.twitter.com/96Ys4IOFbh

— Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) September 7, 2026

Startup And Business Lessons

Earlier this month, Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham said startup growth could help founders solve business problems and determine which products and features to build.

He said growth could "solve" problems "like you solve a math problem," with startups starting small and adding features that drove growth.

Previously, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban said he wished he had learned to be nicer earlier in his career.

He highlighted curiosity, willingness and excitement to learn, the ability to sell, and kindness as key qualities for people starting in business, while advising his younger self, "Don’t screw it up."

Last year, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said aspiring entrepreneurs should first gain experience at successful companies before launching their own businesses.

He said working at a "best-practices company" could "increase your odds" of success by teaching fundamental skills such as hiring and interviewing.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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