When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years. — Mark Twain
Now, whether Twain actually penned or spoke these words about his dad is another story altogether. But it’s hard to argue that whether we want to admit it, we picked up a few tips and tricks along the way from our dads. In the spirit of Father’s Day, it just made sense for us to look back on a few of the lessons learned about life and business from ours.
If you want something, expect to work for it.
This was my dad’s version of, “money doesn’t grow on trees,” or something like that. I remember this being the catalyst behind my drive to get a job with the newspaper when I was a kid. I wanted a new bike and my folks weren’t going to spring for it, so I pestered the route manager until he gave me a job.
Your education is an investment in yourself.
I probably didn’t understand this one at the time, especially in undergrad. Stop learning, stop growing. If you want to get better, do more, lead versus follow, you’ve got to keep learning. I know dad equated this one to degrees, but I’ve tweaked this one a bit to reflect the speed at which information and knowledge is available. I try to read, watch, or listen to something daily that can make me a better person in life or in business.
There’s nothing more frustrating than to see wasted potential.
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” That’s my favorite Steve Prefontaine quote. As a dad, coach, mentor and business owner, I really do believe we all have something special to offer each other, our friends, our clients, or the greater good, as it were. Whatever those talents and abilities are, it’s a shame to see them not being put to their best use.
It’s not what you know, but whom you know.
No, my dad didn’t coin this one, but he always reminded us of the importance of making a good impression, establishing relationships, granting someone a favor, and doing right by the folks we interacted with. You never know when those connections will be ones you might need to lean on in the future. Like any small business owner, I appreciate that simple wisdom every day.
If it weren’t a good deal for them, they wouldn’t be offering it.
I remember this little chestnut from a conversation with my dad when I was offered a job with a big raise and an even bigger list of responsibilities. I was still green enough to be swayed by the bigger paycheck alone, and was far from any mastery of negotiations. Dad’s yellow flag on the deal was enough to slow my roll in order to do enough research, get my points together, and strike a better deal.
Sunday should be a day of rest.
No joke, my dad is still religious about this one. It might not always be Sunday, but taking time to recharge and regroup is more than just good advice. I can remember as a kid, wondering why we didn’t “do something” on Sundays after church. The further I get down the road, in work and in life, I sense the importance of slowing down just a bit even if just for a couple of hours.
Never pass up the opportunity to say thank you.
Approaching every person, situation, or outcome with gratitude is something that’s a hell of a lot easier said than done. Perhaps they all do have some silver lining, I just pray for the patience to recognize it when I’m in the heat of whatever moment. And when things couldn’t seemingly get any better, keep me humble enough to remember there’s no “I” in “team.”
Thanks, Dad, and Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads who’ve set examples for us around the table, on the field, and on the job.