A Life-Changing Lesson From Dad

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It was my Dad’s birthday over the weekend, which had me thinking about the lessons I’ve learned from him over the years.

He’s taught me many things, from sports to family to business to marriage, but there’s one lesson I kept coming back to.

And I’d like to share that one with you.

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My Dad retired at the beginning of this year.

For nearly three decades, he ran his own business alongside his brother, a commercial real estate appraisal firm.

Every year around the holidays, Dad would write a letter to his employees.

He would express his gratitude for them. He’d thank them for their dedication and commitment. He’d remind them of the values the business was built on.

And, without fail, he would say two things:

1. We are humble servants of God

2. We walk by faith, not by sight

It would take me years to appreciate what that really meant.

Being a humble servant

We all deal with challenges in our jobs.

Client issues, employee issues, people stuff. There’s the stress of making payroll, the stress of growing the business, the stress of providing for your family. There are difficult decisions, challenging conversations, moments where character and integrity are tested.

This is normal stuff, but it can wear you down without proper perspective.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Colossians 3:23: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

Everything we do, the Apostle Paul writes, should be done as if we are doing it for the Lord.

Our work, our coaching, our parenting, our community service, our ministry, our teaching, our mentoring. The calls, meetings, emails, presentations, investor pitches.

All of these are opportunities, not to gain the approval of people, but to serve God.

That changes things, doesn’t it?

Walk by faith, not by sight

My Dad was pretty good about not bringing the stress of work home.

But I know he dealt with it, like anyone building a life and career, especially with young kids at home.

There was plenty of market turmoil in the first 15 years of being in business for himself. He navigated the dot com bubble in 2000. The attacks of September 11, 2001. The financial crisis of 2008. Then there was the world shutting down in 2020.

In later years, I remember him joking that no matter how great the previous year had been for the business, after he sent that holiday letter and the calendar flipped to January, his entrepreneur paranoia would set in. 

“Where will the work come from this year?” he’d wonder.

At some point, he learned that he didn’t know where it would come from, only that it would come.

With faith, he’d show up and take on another day.

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There is so much that is so uncertain. 

Maybe you can relate to that in your life.

But, as Dad would say, we do not need to worry. Humbly serve and walk by faith, and God will sort out the rest.

Happy birthday, Dad. Thank you for all the lessons, and especially this one.

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P.S. If this lesson impacted you, let me know.

I’ll share your responses with my Dad.

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Teddy is the author of The Process. Reach out on LinkedIn or X, or reply to this email.