One of the questions asked as entrepreneurs sign up to innovatrs is who are your role models. Now for many these are people like Branson, Jobs, but sometimes it’s a bit closer to home.
Not sure about other countries but in the UK this Sunday it is Father’s Day. While there are a lot of creative influences in my life and I have learned a lot from many people I have met and worked with I have learned a lot from my Dad, not just in terms of being a parent but also in terms of work ethic and how he handled people. For me personally there is a lot I want to thank my Dad for. In this blog I want to talk about what he has done for me and what I owe him.
I have one younger brother, an older brother and a sister. We are all self employed in various different fields (including a science fiction author, marketing executive and two freelance writers). While we are all different people and have worked hard to achieve our goals we have been lucky in a couple of crucial aspects.
The first is that our parents worked from home. For over thirty years my Mum and Dad ran Priory Framing Supplies from a trade counter opposite our home. Their office was in the house so therefore we got to see firsthand how a business was run from an early age. We also met interesting people like gallery owners and artists, so it is probably not surprising that I enjoy working with artists and are drawn to interesting artistic people!
Another advantage is that my Dad seemed to understand that you did not necessarily need a “proper job”. Indeed he was the one that encouraged me to find freelance work rather than continue to try and find work in retail and so forth. While I am grateful to the people that employed me during that time it has to be said I was not best suited to that work (although the advantage of that was I also learned to be more patient with retail staff as I realised how tough their job is).
While the work I do is different to the work my Dad did I like to think I learned a few things from him. Self discipline and a working routine is definitely one thing I have picked up. You also learn that while working from home sounds easier it really isn’t and you need to put the work in. I admit I am not as precise on details as him and I am not the best with admin!
I would also say I inherited his quirky sense of humour. When I was young he would play tapes of The Goon Show and things like Dragonet, a fairy tale spoof of Dragnet. Inevitably I would say that oddness has seeped into my conciousness!
My Dad has been retired for a few years now. However he is still willing to offer advice and continues to be very supportive of my work and that of my siblings. While I want to be independent and prove myself there are times when his experience and knowledge can make a huge difference. I owe him a lot and for that reason I truly wish him a Happy Father’s Day.
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Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Rob
15/06/12
