12 Most Important Lessons We Learned from Dad
Every year, the third Sunday of the month of June is a day dedicated to our fathers. While nothing can ever be better than a mother’s love, as the dads of the world, we like to think that our love too is second to none.
The memories that we all have are different, whether tossing the ball in the yard, wrestling in the family room, or a father’s unconditional excitement when attending his daughter’s ballerina recital. Beyond those active memories, Dads aspire to teach life’s most important lessons to their children.
Here, are the lessons, the founders of 12 Most learned from our fathers:
Daniel Newman
My father taught me that you appreciate the things you have much more when you earn them (A lesson in hard work and commitment)
Sean McGinnis
My dad taught me the value of humor and the effect it can have on others. He is one of nicest, most likeable men I’ve ever met. His sense of humor and positive spirit are contagious. He taught me that in the end, people like to do business with people they LIKE. Thanks dad!
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In honor of Dad and his desire to make us the best people we can be, we asked a group of 12 Most contributors to provide us with the MOST important life lesson that they learned from “Dear Old Dad”. We’ve shared these below.
1. Gabriella O’Rourke
My Dad taught me that there’s no such word as Can’t. I really never understood this message as a child (I mean, isn’t ‘Can’t’ in the dictionary?) but now I know its about the choices you make to either do, or not do. I definitely live by these words now! Happy Father’s Day!
2. Mark Babbitt
Always be the hardest working member of your team – physically and mentally. Be the first one at work, and the last to leave. More important, be the first to compliment and the last to judge.
3. Jeannie Walters
Dad taught me life is full of gray areas. Don’t be too quick to judge and don’t make assumptions! Thanks, Dad!
4. Parissa Behnia
My dad grew up without his dad and in very poor circumstances. His ability to succeed despite the very ugly odds and retire as a department chair of a major hospital shows me that nothing is ever impossible.
5. Tim McDonald
My dad taught me your profession or title didn’t matter. How you held yourself and treated others would be how you would be judged by others. I was fortunate enough to have him tell me how proud he was of how all 3 of his kids turned out as adults before he passed. I think that is a testament to the person he was.
6. Sam Fiorella
Have dinner. Have dinner in a mansion, in a garage or on the streets, but always have dinner with your family and you’ll be the richest man in the world.
7. Tobey Deys
My Dad was a funny, quiet Dutchman who was loved by everyone who had the honour to meet him. I miss him but he’s still with me every day. One of the most significant things I learned from him was when he was teaching me how to drive: “Be assertive but always be kind.” He taught me that a smile, a compassionate word, and a helping hand held out would take me places. He was spot on.
8. Chris Westfall
As a former field-goal kicker for a Big 10 football team, my dad taught me some great lessons He told me that all the practice in the world doesn’t amount to much, if you can’t believe in yourself when the pressure is on.
9. Michelle Kay
My father taught me that the only kind of love is unconditional
10. Ted Rubin
My father taught me the value of friendship, at all levels, and how important it is for you to be a friend first without expectation. He was always doing things for our neighbors… cleaning up, fixing things, helping out in any way he could, without expecting anything back in return other than friendship. He was the guy who would pull over, anywhere, and clean up a turned over garbage can and place it back where it belonged… and now I am too.
11. Peggy Fitzpatrick
If you want to dance, you have to pay the fiddler meaning always remember you are responsible for your choices.
12. Michele Price
My Daddy taught me to take the time to do things right. Being an accountant, I remember when I had to file my first tax return and he made me rewrite the entire return carefully, neatly writing my numbers. His lesson was if you want to be taken seriously and not get audited you made sure your return was easy to read and review so it was filed quickly and scrutiny went to the messy returns.
In closing, by Josepf Haslam:
Some families have quirky elements. Ours was funny, bantering, game playing, but little outright affection, and I do not ever remember my Dad telling me he loved me. I know his dad never told him. Then, 11 days after his 48th birthday, my Dad died of lung cancer, from cigarette smoking. I was 25. And failed, that last painful week, to say what I needed to say. I learned a lot from from that and since then. For all of you out there; you do not have to like your Dad, or approve of your Dad to tell your Dad that you love them. Your Dad needs to hear it. We all need to hear it. And on father’s day I’m reminded again of the absolute truth of this. Put aside whatever pain or fear or lack of practice you may have. Just tell your Dad you love them. And if it is too late? Tell your wife, your children, your other family and best friends. You never know when it will be too late, start today.
Happy Father’s Day!
What did you learn from your dad?
Featured image courtesy ofushtey licensed via creative commons.
Daniel Newman is the CEO of United Visual Inc. Parent company to United Visual Systems, United Visual Productions, and United GlobalComm. The family of companies is focused in Visual Communications and Audio Visual Technologies. Newman is also an Adjunct Professor of Management at North Central College. A Chicago native all of his life, Newman is an avid golfer, a fitness fan, and a classically trained pianist.
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