My Father was an insurance salesman. For 40 years he proudly offered and sold products that people often didn’t know they needed, but did. He made sure they were covered, and when anything happened, he was there. He loved what he did, and he did it well. To him working was not just about the commission cheque (that he duly earned), it was about people. He truly cared about his clients. I watched my father carefully through all those years, and in doing so I became my father’s daughter. Before my father passed away at the age of 75, I had the opportunity to write and present to him, the following:
75 Things I’ve Learned from My Father
- Smile, always smile
- You’ll usually win (anything) if you smile
- You can get away with more if you smile
- Be kind
- If someone isn’t kind, move on
- Make others happy
- Come up with good ideas
- Work for others
- If the world dislikes someone and you don’t, then hang in, the world might come around. If not, maybe you will.
- Hope for the best
- Love more than someone loves you
- Be ethical
- Be diligent
- Above all else be loyal
- Love animals
- Buy a great car
- Ask questions
- Be sensitive
- If someone loses their way, never stop helping them find it again.
- Laugh. Hugely!
- Be righteous, but not overly
- Be a leader by example
- Read
- Love nature
- Make others comfortable
- Look for the best in others
- You’ll make mistakes
- Be successful, take risks
- Apologize
- Don’t fight
- If you do fight, apologize
- Be appreciative
- Take vacations regularly
- Make money, spend money., then make more money
- There will be a new world, never EVER doubt that
- Find solutions
- Be sentimental
- If you find yourself in bad straits, come up with a plan, you’ll work through it
- Let others do things for you that they’re better at.
- 40.If given bad news, take it, but never let it destroy you.
- Take your job seriously and never for granted
- The best thing in life sometimes is just a beer and a steak sandwich
- Move forward, appreciate the past, live in the present
- 44.Be conversational
- Love your family
- 46.Get things done that need doing!
- It’s okay to cry
- It’s okay to get mad, but get over it
- 49.Stand up for everything you believe in
- It’s okay to be mischievous once in awhile
- Be proud of your family
- Compliment others
- Be generous
- On a sales call, know when to shut up
- Be your own boss
- Don’t give up
- Act in such a way that will make others proud of you
- Don’t forget where you came from
- Be interested in people
- 60.Don’t stop being busy
- Know when it’s time to take a nap
- Respect others opinions
- Be a team player
- 64.Always have a nice pen
- Know when to follow, when to lead
- 66.Bad things happen
- Good things happen more
- Put sand bags in the back of the car in winter
- 69.Teach someone something
- Write from the heart
- Putter
- Don’t let loss destroy you
- Don’t complain
- Stick to what you know is right
- Never give up
