By Barb Kachelski, CAE
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| Kachelski's family during a recent family wedding. |
My father was born and raised on a farm. One of his classmates taught him how to flush a toilet when he went to school for the first time. His family farmed with horses. One Christmas during the Depression he and his nine siblings received oranges, nuts and one basketball to share. He had a high school education.
I’ve read a lot of books about leadership, strategy and happiness. I’ve been taught by people who have awe-inspiring resumes. But I think my dad’s farm wisdom is second to none. Here are just a handful of the lessons he taught me.
- “You can paint any old barn.” He would say this when we were watching aging Hollywood stars, whose families were in turmoil, performing on television. What did it mean? Be sure that you are something to be proud of … not your clothing … not your makeup… not your hair … you.
- “Your chickens will come home to roost.” What did it mean? How you treat others will come back to you.
- “A knock is as good as a boost if it comes from the right person.” What did it mean? He observed that people who are happy and good are sometimes vilified by unhappy, unkind individuals. He wanted us to understand that when we were criticized by unkind people, other good people would understand the motivation behind the criticism and respect us more.
- “I’m richer than a nine-millionaire.” What did it mean? I love you. He told each of his nine children that he would not sell any of us for one million dollars.
Dad died in 1999. Have his lessons made a difference?
Some photos of his descendants were taken during my niece’s wedding this summer. I can look at them and say Dad would be proud of who we have become, how we treat others, and how we stand up for what is right. Thanks to his wisdom, we each have a strong sense of self-worth (not self-importance, self-worth) because of the value he placed on us and the values he placed in us.
Barb Kachelski, CAE, is SVP/chief operating officer at CUES.
