An Invitation to Your Preferred Future

Dadisms: The Path to the Trail

My Dad was an interesting man, an entrepreneur, a professional and a hard worker. He worked hard, real hard. I guess he worked at least 12 to 14 hours a day seven days a week 52 weeks of the year. Even with that time working he found time to teach me to fish and develop my thinking that impacts my life today.

Years ago my Dad started me fishing with a bamboo fishing rod. Eventually, I graduated to a spinning real and then to the ultimate skill of handling a fly rod and the importance of being aware and understanding the water, the trees and the land around me. Basically, the environment!

Some of the best times I had with my Dad were fly-fishing at the 4 Mile Straight in the South East of Placentia, Newfoundland. During those days my Dad spouted his life philosophies, his work ethic and his keen eye for business. Today, as a middle-aged man, I keep these things in mind while I am on my life’s journey. In reflection, I have realized that these simple life rules are keen to living a good life and being a leader at whatever it is you do. I share these Dadisms with you in the hopes that you too have some insights into your life and the things you wish to pass on to the people around you.

Dadisms: the path to the trail:

Pup for the path, old Dog for the trail (listen to those who went before you)
Choose your friends wisely as they can make you or break you
Watch your back and the backs of those that care about you
No matter what is going on in your life the tide will always come in
People appreciate being appreciated, make sure you appreciate them
Take a complement well, be thankful and grateful, it is a blessing
There is nothing you can’t do in this world if you put your mind to it!
Make a decision, make a plan and make it happen!
A strong belief in yourself will take you far, be focused on the outcome
Do something useful, don’t just sit around, make things happen
Don’t spend all your money. Save your pennies! You will need them.
Make sure you work! Work is important. Work!
Some people will envy what you have, be jealous and put you down. Don’t listen to them it’s a waste of time.
Always look for someone to replace you, teach them, as you should always move on
Keep your wits about you at all times, you need them
Drunk man’s words, sober man’s thoughts, stay sober!
Change happens! Change with it! Change all the time
Being successfully self employed is the best thing you can do in life
With people it is as simple as like you, know you, trust you and buy from you
Always tell them that business is great and you are looking for more

In my Dad’s spare time he liked to fish. Fishing was a time to get out into the country, hike and spend time with the water, the trees, the land and reflect on life. He would walk, stop and turn around and look at me and say one of these statements and then continue on his path, a path that with time and age he blazed into his trail.

As a boy, I followed his path and watched as a trail was blazed. As a man I have followed my own path and blazed my own trail. In reflection, as if looking at the water, and through the trees, and into the land I see that these moments had purpose and meaning that build young boys into young men who grow into a man. The wisdom of men before us can turn followers into leaders. The life lessons that we allow into our lives forge the path, the trail, the journey of our lives.

As a man, I am grateful for those days at the 4 Mile Straight, the lessons that I learned and the time that I spent with my Dad fly fishing. I realize that these words are about a journey that unfolded over a life time. They are statements of leadership in the way we live our lives and the path that was walked and a trail that was blazed.

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What a gift it would be if we took the time to write down our own parent’s ‘isms.’

My dad’s favourite was ‘Don’t work harder, work smarter.’ Amen to that! Feel free to share the one’s you remember!

I wonder what our kids would write out about us? Let’s make sure that they are good ones.

Steph

Stephanie Staples, CSP* is the author of When Enlightening Strikes – Creating a Mindset for Uncommon Success and an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker. She empowers audiences & clients across North America to bring their ‘A’ game to work and to life. Stephanie has a special interest in working with and empowering nurses and healthcare providers. She happily calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home. You can get loads of complimentary resources to help with issues such as work/life balance, wellness, stress management and happiness in general, as well as find out more information about her coaching and speaking services at http://www.YourLifeUnlimited.ca. * Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), conferred by the National Speakers Association is the speaking profession’s international measure of professional platform proficiency. Less than 10 percent of speakers have earned this credential and are recognized as some of the best in their fields. Stephanie was one of only five professional speakers in Canada (and the only woman) to attain this designation in 2013.

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Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited

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An Invitation to Your Preferred Future

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