Thanks, Dad…

I was 12 years old. I came home from school on Friday and noticed that the grass was getting long. Dad had been putting in long hours working on upgrades at the Ford Motor Company engine plant. I thought it would be nice to help Dad out, so I fired up the lawnmower and cut the grass. That night, as Dad drove in the driveway, even though it was dark, he could see that the grass had been cut, and he was happy.

  The next morning, Dad asked me to come outside for a minute. As we walked through the garage, he told me how happy and appreciative he was that I had cut the grass. It really helped him. As we rounded the corner to the side of the house, he pointed to a couple of spots on the grass where I had “missed” cutting. I was going fast to get the job done and left a few “rows” about an inch or two of uncut grass. It was on the side of the house, it was in a shaded area and I doubt anyone would notice. I didn’t.

Dad said, “What happened here?” pointing to the uncut rows in the shade. I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I guess I missed a few spots.” “How do you feel about that?” he asked. Getting a little uncomfortable, I explained that I hadn’t even noticed, and because it was at the side of the house and in the shade, I doubted anyone else would see, so it was no big deal. “If you’re going to a job, do the very best job you can do, no matter who’s looking or who can see the finished product.” It was at that moment that Dad taught me to take pride in my work. I immediately got the lawnmower and finished the job.

If Dad were still with us, today would be his 90th birthday. Dad loved to celebrate life. He never missed an opportunity to give a “talk.” Dad didn’t do “speeches;” he always gave “talks.” (I am still not sure I understand the difference.) Throughout his years, he had a wealth of wisdom to share.

Dad’s wisdom can be summed up in three areas:

Love God, your family and friends. Don’t just say it, show it.

Take pride in your work. Do your best no matter who is watching.

Don’t take yourself too seriously; have fun. Work hard but play hard.

Father’s Day is coming. I thought, what a great time to discuss the best advice you’ve ever received from your father, a father figure in your life, a mentor or a manager.

It’s impossible for us to make it on our own. We all need guidance and help. Chances are there are new sellers on your team right now or people in your life who could benefit from the advice of your father, your manager and advice you would share from your own experience. We all have something to share.

I was fortunate in both my personal and professional life to have people in my life who showed me the way. They pointed the pathways to success and helped me avoid some really stupid mistakes along the way. Well, at least avoid some, not all.

In your next sales meeting, go around the room and talk about the best advice you ever received from your father, father figure, mentor or manager. There is some life-altering, life-enhancing and, in some cases, career-saving advice just waiting to be shared. All you have to do is listen and take good notes.

Since I can’t be in your sales meeting, would you mind sharing some of the wisdom you uncover? Just email me at Jeff>Shmidt@rab.com.

Happy Friday! (And Happy Birthday, Dad!)

Think Big, Make Big Things Happen!

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development. You can reach him at Jeff.Schmidt@rab.com. You can all so connect with him on X and LinkedIn.