Why My Dad’s Work Ethic is the Greatest Gift I’ve Ever Received

As Father’s Day approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about how my dad has inspired and encouraged my work ethic.

My work ethic is STRONG. There are times that I worry it borders on overzealous! I have a super-driven personality. And if I decide to dedicate my time, my energy, myself to something, I’m going to ensure that it’s done to my very best abilities.

It’s how I was raised. I had an amazing role model in my father. (And in my mom, too!) He demonstrated every single day the value of hard work and the reward of accomplishment.

My dad learned that work ethic by watching his own father. Many years ago, my grandfather started a house-painting business, George Sabelhaus & Sons. His five sons worked for the business beginning in their early teen years.

As the sons became young adults, one left for law school, another to become a chiropractor, and the other three (including my dad) stayed to work for the family business. My dad was the youngest of the five, but at 21, he was handed the reins of the business.

This was a HUGE responsibility for someone so young, but he stepped up and handled it by continuing to work his hardest.

Throughout my childhood, I watched my dad work tirelessly for our family. He left the house at 6:30 in the morning, barely took a break for lunch, and then returned home at 6:00 in the evening to enjoy a family dinner.

After dinner, he’d often take my two brothers and me outside to hit baseballs in the front yard. But after that brief break for family time, he’d head right back down to his paint shop in the evening to mix paint and get the next day’s supplies ready for his crew.

On weekends and many evenings, there was still work to be done, so you’d often find my dad in the basement office at our home billing clients and performing regular bookkeeping tasks.

A typical work day for him was 10 hours of pressure-washing, spraying, and painting homes, often in 90 degree weather. So often, he’d come home looking absolutely wiped out. Yet he kept this schedule six days a week for 50+ years.

My dad is 74 years old now. He’s cut his work week down a bit from 60 hours. But he still works in 90 degree weather and puts in long days doing tough, physical labor that men much younger than he would shy away from!

And he’s still the hardest working guy I know.

My dad is one of the reasons I know how to work hard … to do what it takes for my family, for me, for the women I serve through my business.

He works hard, and he does it with a smile. And that is a truly wonderful gift he’s given to his kids.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

SHOUT OUT THAT SPECIAL GUY: Hop into the comments below and pay tribute to your own father (or father figure)! Tell us what he’s taught you, how he’s inspired you, and why you’re proud to be his child.