🏁 Axios Finish Line: Dad wisdom

Plus: Dad one-liners | Sunday, June 19, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By West Monroe   Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Jun 19, 2022 Jun 19, 2022 🌹 Welcome to a Father's Day extra edition of Finish Line. Father's Day is joyful for lots, but hard for many. So please be considerate with your greetings. And use today as an excuse to thank someone who made a difference in your life — related to you or not. Smart Brevity™ count: 677 words ... 2½ mins.     1 big thing: Lessons from your fathers Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios   We've had the pleasure of reading through nearly 1,000 emails from Finish Line readers who answered our call for wisdom from their fathers. Below is a selection of lessons. Thank you for sharing this priceless wisdom. Why it matters: These dads represent a stunning range of experiences and perspectives — and we can all learn from them. 1. Work hard. "The best advice my smart and hardworking dad gave us, whether we landed a summer job at an ice cream shop or in corporate finance after getting an MBA, was to 'work like you own the place.'" —Julia P., Kalamazoo, Mich. "My dad, Herb, was a Down-East-Maine-raised boy who left the island and went to Boston to become an electrical engineer around 1920. Both Herb and my grandfather George taught me to 'always clean and sharpen your tools, and put them back where they belong for the next project,' which also applied to mental tools!" —George N., Boston "There is no such thing as a dirty job. There is always soap and water at the end of the day." —Michael L., San Francisco 2. Be confident. "Gazing in the mirror at my 6-year-old, buck-toothed, gangly self in a new Brownie uniform, I heard my father say: 'You look like a million dollars' — changing my self-image forever." —Marilyn R., Boulder, Colo. "Women can be engineers, too. (This was in the 1970s)." —Jennifer S., Baton Rouge, La. "A child will be who you tell them they are." —Alan M., Bentonville, Ark. 3. Be patient. "In high school, my dad, Larry Simmons, told me something I've never forgotten — even if I haven't always followed it strictly. 'If you're mad and it feels good — don't do it. You might choose to do the same thing later. Just don't do it while you're upset.' It's a lesson that works in every sphere — professionally, personally and especially as a parent." —Jamal S., D.C. "When my dad, Matt O'Brien, was teaching me to drive, he gave me a great lesson on how to avoid road rage: When you get angered by someone who has cut you off or is driving dangerously, imagine that they are dealing with the biggest crisis of their life — a sick child or another emergency — and your anger will dissipate immediately." —Cathy G., Alexandria, Va. 4. Live life to the fullest. "No matter where you live, make a garden, and then live in it, even if all you can have at that time is a windowsill with a few houseplants." —Marilyn S., Derry Township, Pa. "My father showed us that it's OK to still be a kid. Even though you're an adult with responsibilities, you can still have unbridled fun." —Greg M., Charlottesville, Va. "My father taught me that men can, and should, have a range of emotions — most notably, that it is indeed OK to show remorse, sadness and to cry." —Andrew H., NYC 5. Be kind. "My dad showed how the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." —Ted K., Garden Valley, Idaho "If you see someone without a smile, give them yours." —Diana C., Albuquerque, N.M. "Befriend the person with no friends; they need you the most." —Becky A., Butte, Mont. Share this story ... Advice from OUR dads.     A message from West Monroe Does your board of directors have a digital mindset?     As companies adapt more quickly to disruption, the C-suite finds their board of directors are the least agile part of their businesses. Standard board governance may not be right for the future. The boardroom needs a new blueprint for agility.     😎 Life is short — have some fun And here are some one-liners from your dads that made us smile: "I never met a nap I didn't like." —Kassie M., Greenwich, Conn. "Always leave the party when you are having the most fun." —Corley Kenna, Santa Barbara, Calif. "Life by the yard is hard. By the inch, it's a cinch." —Malbert S., Chapel Hill, N.C.   Thanks for reading. Invite friends to sign up here. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: