A Father’s Day Tribute: Lessons Learned from My Father

I am proud to be my father’s son. Part of who I am in life today is due to him. As I reflect this Father’s Day, I know that dads share wisdom in different ways. My dad taught me life lessons through example. He was the epitome of a self-made man.

My father took an untraditional path. My father was born and raised in Rome, Italy. He attended school through the eighth grade and then decided that was enough for him. He went on to trade school because he knew he needed skills for a career. He moved to Paris and then to England where he met my mother.  In 1964, parents made a bold and courageous move to the United States, where they created a new future.

Here are some important things I learned from my father. These are lessons I still use and share as a franchise coach:

Lesson 1: Independence

My father had a dream. He had a plan and made it happen.

 He built a life for our family. He depended on himself. His plan did not involve corporate America. He would be his own boss and be reliant on no one. To support the family, he would have to start his own business with the skills he learned. It took about four years, and my father was officially an American small business owner.

 While I’m sure over the years, my father had sage words of wisdom, what had a lasting effect on me was learning by example. He showed me what it means to ‘own your future’.

 Around the dinner table, my father would talk about staffing issues. Monday evenings, Dad was in his office doing payroll. On Saturdays, I enjoyed working at the business. I folded towels, re-stocked the soda machine, made coffee, and cleaned floors. This was my reality. This was my childhood. These were valuable lessons. My father was the boss, the decision-maker. It was his name above the door and that meant a lot.  That stuck with me.

Lesson 2: Confidence

Dad always knew he could do it.

 That is something he passed down to me. As I think about it, this is probably the most important gift that he gave me - personal confidence. Through his example, I had a firsthand example of how important it is to have confidence in yourself.

 With enough personal confidence, you will want to invest in yourself because there is nobody you trust more. Believe enough in yourself and you will be unstoppable.

 Lesson 3: Work Ethic

Dad’s business provided well for the family over the years. He had his business throughout his life here in the United States and worked exceptionally hard. As a result of his efforts, my sister and I to had what we needed while growing up. It also allowed me to attend a top university. 

 Over the years I have seen a lot of ‘smart’ people fail and a lot of ‘uneducated’ people succeed.  Why is that? Mostly it has to do with work ethic. Work ethic trumps book smarts every time.

 You don’t have to be the smartest person out there. My dad wasn’t book smart. But he did believe in himself. He worked hard and he was willing to bet on himself.

 Lesson 4: Honesty

I was constantly involved in the business, even during college when I came home for the summer. Over the years, I guess you could say I studied my dad. I saw how he interacted with his customers.  He was friendly and listened, but he was always straight with customers and staff. He was never a pushover. I took mental notes. His interactions have taught me how important it is always be honest and direct. 

 Being honest and direct, even when the person does not like what you have to say, is so important.  It is the foundation of integrity.

 Lesson 5: Success

I was proud to have a father who ran a successful business but was also very well-known by others. I learned that success comes in all shapes and sizes. Success isn’t necessarily about how much money is in that cash register at the end of the day. It’s about believing in yourself, being good to people, and loving your family. The measure of a man’s success is the imprint he makes and the legacy he leaves behind.

I have consciously taken these lessons and adapted them to my life, hoping that I can have such a positive influence on my children — giving them the skills they need to succeed.

 I hope my dad is proud. I’ve owned a number of businesses over the years, and now I counsel others about what they need to do to own a franchise business.

 I lost my dad two years ago, but I believe the best tribute to him is to hand down these five important lessons to my own children. After all, isn’t that a father’s job?