What my Dad taught me about Leadership

Today would be my dads birthday, but he’s been gone for 12 years. I miss him every day, but he taught me so much.

My Dad was an accountant full time but his work with the fire department was his passion.??He was a captain of an Engine Company in Long Island, NY.??He loved to share his passion with others.??He spent his spare time as a fire instructor and a mentor and coach to new recruits.??

In 2009 my dad passed away.??Unfortunately, we knew it was coming. He was an alcoholic who lived a good life but treated his body toxically.

Despite his demons, my Dad always showed his love openly and he always owned his mistakes. He was open about his alcoholism and he admitted it was sometimes stronger than him.??

Even though it was uncomfortable, we talked about it.??He wanted me to know about addiction, he wanted to protect me from having to fight the internal battles he did.??I was his little girl. What he didn’t know was he was teaching me how to be real, authentic and genuine.??

#authenticleadership?

In September, 2002, I was attending a seminar in New York City.??My dad came in from Long Island and we met and walked around the city. We made our way to the 911 site.??It wasn’t a formal memorial yet.??It was filled with handwritten notes, pictures, flowers and cards.?

As we walked around it, I held my Dads hand tight.??I struggled trying to hold my tears back. As I glanced over to my dad, I realized he was crying too.??

I stopped him, I needed a hug. Before we moved on, my Dad told me he recognized pictures on the wall.??Some were his friends, some were his students, and all had given their lives trying to save others.??

#leadersandheros

I’m not one to be speechless, but at this moment, I was. We silently finished our walk and as we reached my hotel, I told my dad I was proud of his service to the fire department.??I was proud of the lives he had saved.??I was proud of the students he taught to bravely do the same.??I told him he was my hero.??

#personalheroDAD

When my dad passed he had a full uniformed service. If you’ve never seen this it is breathtaking.??There were two guards standing at attention for the entire service.??One on the left of him as he laid in rest, and the other on the right. Such a show of honor and respect.?

As the service hours passed, firefighters marched past him, saluting him and paying their respects.??They kept coming, and coming, there were so many.???There were lines outside the door.??It was at that moment I realized my dad wasn’t just my hero, he was a hero to many.?

#leadership

On my recent vacation, I was reminded of all of these leadership moments my dad gave me.?

My husband and I met a sweet older couple from Middleton, New York, Joe and Jerry Walsh.??As we got to know each other, Joe mentioned he was a fire caption.??I felt the need to share the above memories about my dad with Joe.??

Joe reached for his tie and took his tie clip off and handed it to me.??It’s a fireman’s tie clip, with his name on it and his company number.?

It has the captains emblem in the middle.??It’s a special pin. It was one Joe was given when he was a captain. He said he would be honored if I were too have it.??

I told joe I couldn’t take it, but he insisted.??This man knew very little about me, but my memory of my dad triggered him to share something so honorable and precious with me.?

#specialmoments

There are leadership moments in everything we do.??Some go back into our history and some might’ve been last week.

When we take the time to reflect on these learning moments, we should share them, celebrate them, and #neverforget.