6 Life Lessons My Successful Dad Has Taught Me

My Dad is an odd character. A lot of people don’t understand his way of life or thinking:
– My parents live 6 months in the UK and 6 months in Australia.
– We don’t celebrate Christmas or Birthdays (I’ll come on to that later).
– He’s been with my mum since the age of 15 but tells me getting married is pointless.
– A failure at school, like bottom of the class, failure (can’t spell ‘Broccoli’), yet has run a successful business for 30+ years allowing him the freedom to live how he wants.
– Built his own house.
– And all whilst bringing up 3 children.

We don’t always see eye to eye on things and personality wise we are very different people. But I can recognise what he has made of his life and how inspiring that is. My Dad has taught me a lot and I’m sharing his best advice with you.

1. "Don't Listen To People That Don't Know"

It’s a favourite quote for my Dad to use. Everyone thinks they know best or has their own opinion. But can you really trust what they are telling you? Are they qualified in this area? Here’s what I mean: If you asked me ‘What should I do with my life savings?’, I could tell you what I think I know, but you absolutely should NOT listen to me, because my knowledge on money is very limited.

Don’t just take what people tell you for face value, do your due diligence. Does this person actually know what they are talking about? Just because someone has given you information, doesn’t mean you have to or should listen to it.

2. "Everyone Is Trying To Take Your Money"

The same as how you want other people’s money, everyone is trying to take yours. If you think the person in the shop was just being nice to you, they were actually trying to get you to spend your hard-earned cash. When I was younger I once spent £100 on a pair of designer jeans, and my dad has NEVER let me forget it.

By no means does he advise being ‘tight’ with money, and he actually thinks that won’t work in your favour in the long run, it’s about being smart with your money and remembering that everyone wants it. He doesn’t value owning a Porsche or spending £10k on a lavish cruise. He values his freedom and you need to have money to have freedom.

3. "Christmas Isn't Real (And Neither Is Your Birthday)"

This is always a controversial conversation amongst friends:
“What do you mean you don’t celebrate Christmas?!… Is it a religious thing?”
“Er no, my Dad says it’s not a real day. Did I mention we don’t celebrate Birthdays either?”
“So you didn’t celebrate your 18th? What about your 21st? Or the big 3-0?”
“No, no and no. According to my parents, I only have 1 birthday and that was the day I was born.”
*Shocked faces that feel sorry for me when they realise I’ve never had a Christmas or Birthday present.

But don’t feel bad, my parents have always given me so much more. Their unconditional support, guidance and advice, living with them rent free so I can save money, my dad even helped me flip a house and I kept the profits. Who needs a Tiffany’s bracelet for their birthday? Present giving doesn’t have to be the only way to show someone you love them.

But what I’m trying to show you here is that you also don’t have to conform to societies expectations. Just because everyone else celebrates Christmas doesn’t mean you have to. Or just because society tells us to work 9-5 doesn’t mean that you should. Something I talk about in my post, How To Fail your Thirties And Still Be Happy. You do what works for you and makes you happy.

4. "Run A Business Where You Don't Have To Deal With People"

Many times I have witnessed my Dad frustrated with his business due to other people. He’s been screwed over a number of times by employees he has trusted, dealing with HR issues which is not his forte and trying to hire good people. Not to mention difficult customers that ask for the Earth and if you don’t give them what they want, expect bad reviews.

“If you can run a business where you don’t have to deal with employees or customers, that is the ideal“. Though I have since discovered that’s a pretty hard find, so if you can think of any business ideas that fit the criteria, drop them in the comments below!

5. "Just Give Me The Facts"

I am not sure my Dad has ever asked me how I am, but again, don’t feel sorry for me. He knows I will come to him if something is wrong and I think he leaves that up to my Mum mostly. Instead, the first thing he always asks me is “What do you know?“. He is not one for small talk, he only wants to know if you have something of interest to tell him, and if you do, keep it to the facts. He’s a busy man after all and time is money.

You can’t always treat everyone like this, my Dad does, but I wouldn’t recommend it. What it has taught me is to ask for the relevant information from people, or to only give the necessary facts. Especially within a working environment. We don’t always have to start emails with ‘Hope you had a fabulous weekend!’. Let’s get to the point people.

6. "Follow The Path Of Least Resistance"

This sounds very ‘hippie’ or spiritual, which my Dad is not at all, but it totally makes sense. Your life is a journey, and sometimes you find yourself going in a new direction, or at a ‘crossroads’. His advice has always been to choose the path of least resistance.

I have the perfect example of this, when I decided to go travelling, I thought I would have to quit my office based job, but actually they were very accepting of my new plans and let me work remotely. Everything leading up to me leaving was so easily falling into place, and that reconfirmed in my heart that I was on the right path.

If you find yourself headed in one direction but obstacles keep arising and nothing feels like it’s working out or going smoothly, it might be time to reconsider the path you have chosen.

So there you have it, some unusual life lessons from my successful Dad. Here are some books he also recommends reading that have helped develop him into the person he is today:

– Way Of The Peaceful Warrior
– 4 Hour Work Week
– How To Win Friends And Influence People

Now, I’m not suggesting you should quit Christmas or stop asking people how they are, but there’s definitely some good lessons within my Dad’s unique way of life that are worth putting into practice.

Amber x