Insights From My Dad: The Hardest Working Man I Know

To most young children, Dad can be seen as somewhat of a super hero. For my Dad I can say that was especially the case. Not only did Dad have a very distinguished role within the community, but still to this day he is the hardest working man I know.

I very frequently joke with my Dad that if manual labor was an Olympic sport, he would be an all-time gold medalist. Instead of running cross-country marathons, if the goal was to pressure wash an entire house top to bottom, Dad would be setting hall of fame records.

In most cases anytime I bring up my Father’s name, the first thing people say is “Man, that guy is a hard worker”. It really is true. Sometimes I joke to myself that my Dad was like the LeBron James of the grocery business. As a store supervisor for many years, he wasn’t the kind of guy that was camped out in his office all day. Pops was out giving you a triple double every night. Whether that was heading out to grab a few shopping carts, giving the dairy crew a hand with unloading the truck, or slicing a piece of meat for a customer, Pops would do it all.

Even in retirement, he still continues to work hard, if not harder than he did while in the workforce. In this article I want to take a look at a few key insights at what makes my Dad not only a great Dad, but a great leader.

Dad Always Eats Last

In all the years of family gatherings, holidays, camping trips, and barbeques, I have never, ever seen my Dad eat first. Dad will not only cook the meal for the entire family, but then he will make sure that every one else has gotten a plate before he steps up to grab his.

I remember a few years ago reading a quote from Simon Sinek stating the differences between a leader and a boss. One of the key points he made was that leaders always eat last. The first person I thought of was my Dad.

I remember on one occasion observing that Pops had waited until every one else had gotten their plate before he grabbed his, and the truth was that there wasn’t even a ton of food left over. “Dad you’re like a saint” I said. “It’s just what you do” he replied.

As a kid growing up, I always loved going over to Dad’s for that reason. There was nothing that brought us together more than good food. Dad would cook a great meal almost every time I was over, and would make sure that I had more than a healthy helpings worth before I left the table. Even if that was 3 or 4 plates worth of food as it frequently was.

And on the flip side of things, Dad would always make sure that I stepped up to be the first one in line. When the meal was ready, and every one would start slowly making their way over to the counter, Dad would almost always volunteer me to step in and go first. Maybe because I had the largest appetite as the “growing boy” of the family. Nonetheless, I will always appreciate that.

Dad Never Complains or Talks Bad About Others

I can say honestly and genuinely that I have never heard my Dad complain. If Dad says “I worked hard today” you better believe that he worked his ass off. But that is about the most you will hear him say. I’ve never, ever heard him complain about being overworked, being under-compensated, or being under-valued. He does what he does and he does it with a good heart.

The same can be said for people. I have never heard my Dad talk bad behind people’s back, gossip, or spread around other people’s business. If Dad says that a person is “hard to work with” then they must be a real pain in the ass, because that is about the most you will ever hear him say. The one exception is me. As my Dad’s only son, he is always going to hold me to a high standard and make sure that I am living up to my full potential. That has, at times, included saying things that can be described as bad. I will give him a pass on that. As far as everyone else goes, Dad really isn’t going to have much to say as far as negativity goes.

Dad Loves to Serve

Dad will always tell me “the reason humans are put here on this Earth is to serve others”. Serving others can be one of life’s greatest joys, and that is something that Dad always points out. Even in retirement, he continues to work tirelessly to help others. As a self-directed Handyman he is always out and ready to tend to whatever the job is at hand. And he doesn’t do it for the money. Dad makes sure that he gets enough to live, but he’s not out to get one over on anyone or make a quick buck. He shows up to the job ready to work, he does the best job that he can, and he doesn’t overcharge. His motto is “under-promise and over-deliver”. He does what he does for the joy of serving and loves to see his clients happy with the service that he’s provided.

The Hardest Working Man I Know

Honestly, I can probably keep going and provide more things I have learned from my Dad, and more traits that I admire in him. Whether it be the fact that he has always advocated toward frugality, being able to fix things yourself, and being polite to others, or even the fact that he loves his country and is extremely patriotic. My Dad has a lot of good qualities. He really is the hardest working man I know.

I hope that you have enjoyed this article, and I hope that it has helped you to feel a sense of appreciation for your own father, grandfather, or significant other. Have a great rest of the day and thank you for reading.