From Birdhouses to Boardrooms: Leadership Lessons Learned from Dad

Terrible puns and questionable DIY projects — that’s the legacy my dad left me with, right?

Today, I want to share a brief story about my first leadership lesson.

Who was my excellent teacher?

You guessed it — my dad!

My dad wasn’t your typical dad.

He had a unique way of showing his love and passing on wisdom. Sometimes, it involved a quiet voice, and sometimes…

One sunny afternoon, we were working on a project.

Imagine this: I, a tiny human with way too much hammer enthusiasm, building a slightly crooked birdhouse with Dad.

WHAM!

Missed the nail entirely and went straight for a major thumb-thumping. Tears welling up, I stormed off muttering about how impossible this project was.

Here’s where Dad swoops in quietly.

No yelling, no frustration, just a classic dad smile, and he revealed a perfectly carved miniature boat from his pocket (because apparently, dads are always prepared with random outstanding stuff). “Hey,” he says with a twinkle in his eye, “ever wonder how these tiny boats stay afloat?”