“Work smarter not harder.”

This may be some of the dumbest advice ever given. It sounds really great. Maybe because it insinuates that you can just use your brain and be successful. It paints the picture of some schmuck sitting in an office chair in front of a computer making really smart decisions and achieving success.

For many years I thought this was the road to success. It was a major difference between myself and my dad for all the years we worked together. He was so unbelievably gracious through it all. It’s a testament to his ability to just get along with everyone. Even a want-to-be-know-it-all son like me. While I wanted to sit in my chair and be smart, he was out working really hard straight to success. It wasn’t until the closure of the business he sacrificed so much to let me have, that I really understood what it took to have success.

Over the last 8 years I have had one singular focus; to work harder than everyone else around me. I didn’t come to this realization on my own. No, I came to this realization by watching my father; easily the hardest working man I have ever known.

The fruits of my labor have been success. I spent 30 years trying to do it my way with minimal success. When I tried it my dad’s way for just the last 4 years, I achieve success I never imagined possible.

I owe it all to you, dad. The man who showed me every day what can be achieved through outworking everyone else around. While I was trying to figure out how to work smarter, my dad was showing me that working harder is working smarter. It was never about how much you know. It has always been about how hard you are willing to work to be successful at what you love.

I have finally found work that I love. I am successful at this work, but only because my father showed me what it takes to be successful at what you love.

Thanks dad. I am where I am because of you.