Christy’s Blog

Dad-ism #2

My dad passed away a few years ago and I only have memories to look back on. I am very fortunate that he shared his wisdom often when he was alive. I am so excited to share his “dad-isms” with you (I call them Dad-isms because they are unique and belong to my dad).

My dad always said, “Don’t wait until Shopper’s Fair opens.”

You see, in the 60’s, a friend of his owned a used car lot across the street from a future shopping center. His friend’s business was not doing very well and instead of putting in extra effort, doing more advertising, etc., he sat there and said, “If I can just hold on until Shopper’s Fair opens.”

He thought that the traffic to the new shopping center would bring him loads of business without the effort. The problem was the shopping center was delayed and the friend’s business failed. My dad learned a lesson and always recognized when it was time to “Just do it!” He often told me, “Don’t wait until Shopper’s Fair opens.” I knew exactly what he meant. Don’t wait around for something to happen, make something happen.

This can be easier said than done.

If you listen to your instincts you will see the Universe is guiding you. I am sure my dad’s friend was told by friends that he should do more for his business than wait for the shopping center to open, he probably knew it in his own heart, but he chose the easy fix.

John Chow at John Chow dot com has a great post on this topic, too. Basically, stop making excuses and just do it! There will never be a perfect time and whatever you need is out there waiting for you. Good Luck! You could be the next Bill Gates, Sam Walton, or Ray Croc. All you have to do is BELIEVE it!!

“If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing right.” I can’t tell you how many times I heard this a kid growing up. My dad would go into a lecture about how his grandfather said this to him as a kid and it was his mantra on why I need to do a good job.

My dad was a self taught jack-of-all-trades. He did not get a high school diploma because, in the early 60’s, teachers were not as concerned about giving all the students an opportunity to attend college, only the ones that excelled or had money. Dad did not excell at classroom work and his family was not wealth. He liked to keep busy with his hands. He loved to build things.

He went to a small school in Ohio and when the janitor needed someone to fix something he would pull my dad out of class to make the repair. Of course, with his motto above ingrained, when the school asked he delivered. He was trained that way. His parents got angry with the school because they were using him for free labor so they pulled him out of school.

At the age of 17 my dad went into business with his brother running a gas station. He never worked for anyone his entire life (unless you count the school, but he didn’t get paid). His gas station turned into a used car lot and autobody shop. Then they bought a dozier and some heavy equipment and he started working in the oil field. He observed and asked lots of questions and he built an oil rig. Dad ended his career in the oil field after drilling hundreds of oil wells.

Dad was a busy man. I didn’t see much of him as child. He didn’t attend school functions or sporting events, that was normal. When he did attend a function it was a little weird. He didn’t usually hand out discipline or oversee daily chores. When he did it was memorable. Dad would come in the room to inspect the job done. He would give it the “white glove” test, if you will. We usually never passed. After looking over the job the lecture would begin. “You know when I was kid my grandpa always said … ‘If a job is worth doing it is worth doing right’. Now get in here and clean these corners, wipe the mirror …”

Dad was right, Great-Grandpa was right, a job worth doing is a job worth doing right! Over the years I have ingrained this motto in my work ethic.

Here are a few tips to help you do a new job right the first time.

• Take your time and learn as much as you can before you even start a new job. This means research, read textbooks, how to books, Google it!
• Do not be afraid to ask questions. You will have to do the job over if you don’t make sure you understand what the job entails.
• When you complete the job do a self inspection. Be critical of your job and try to view it through someone else’s eyes.
• Embrace a new job as an opportunity to grow as a person!

I hope you enjoyed my Dad-ism. As I stated in my post Isn’t Everyday Everyday Memorial Day? I have Dad-ism’s for many occassions. I am looking forward to sharing them with you, Dad would want me to.