Things My Dad Taught Me

My Dad was a formidable person. He was a man who knew what he wanted and when he spoke, everyone listened. He had a Type A personality — clearly an extrovert, a hard worker, and a successful business person.

When I was growing up, my Dad was always working. He got up early in the morning to go to the flower auction, bought groceries for the business, and ran around and did things. He was never bored. We owned a grocery store and it was an all-hands-on-deck business. Everybody had to chip in and run the store. It was also open 7 days a week and closed at 11 pm.

I personally never wanted to work there all the time, especially in my youth and twenties. I was embarrassed when school kids and my teacher would come to the store and buy things. I worked on every Statutory holiday, too.

My Dad taught me it was important to work hard and look for an opportunity. A few years ago, I told him he did a great job. The opportunity arose when no other store offered floral arrangements, cut flower and bedding plants. My Dad’s flower and grocery store flourished.

I am not sure what kind of business my Dad would have done in this Internet age. When he retired, he knew the grocery business model would not bring great money.

Since my Dad did teach himself how to use the computer, I think he would have gone into some business related to the Internet. He had some success with stocks, which he taught himself. I think he would have encouraged people to break into a field where there was little competition.

His kids, including me, all got regular jobs and that was fine with him. Being an entrepreneur these days takes lots of money, planning, and hard work. Clearly, if there is time left for me, I would go to business school.

My Dad didn’t go to school. His school was built on the school of hard knocks. He learned by doing and with that, he was successful. He taught himself how to speak English and he was fluent in Cantonese. I could speak very little Cantonese because my Mom spoke mostly English to me and public schools then focused on teaching Engish and French.

My Dad passed away yesterday at the age of 89. As we go through the grieving process, I will never forget his life and legacy. His life was all about working hard and doing the best you can with the knowledge that you have.

He taught me a lot, too, about marketing, and about making sure customers are happy. He gave a personal touch to every customer and he was willing to go over and above for them. We delivered groceries for free to older ladies if required. He would always be interested in everyone, from the Mayor of the town we lived in, to the older man, who appeared homeless, and wearing torn-up clothing and buying fifty-cent fruit.

My father didn’t stop at one store. One time he opened 2 more stores, stocking both and reaching for more customers and revenues. He stopped the the 2 shops one day. He realized that renting the 2 shops was just as good, offering passive and regular income.

My Dad loved life and travelling. When he couldn’t do a lot of things he did before, he hated his life. I believe he only lived as long as he did for us. He believed that visiting international places like China was the best vacation a person could have. He felt visiting locally was no vacation at all and a waste of money. Yes, he was often frugal but that was because making money was so difficult.

He loved us and when we said our good byes, he finally left us after a few days in a coma.

My Dad never did something he never liked. He never liked to work for anybody. I often worked at jobs I never liked to get the money. He was lucky to find something he truly loved. He didn’t like gambling and he often said you can “lose your shirt” over gambling. I think about that often when I buy lottery tickets in moderation.

My Dad was a handsome man. He used to dye his hair to go dancing after he retired. He hated being old, and helpless. He hated the carehome he lived in, but we tried to visit him everyday. Over the years, his memory was fading and his lack of knowledge of the pandemic was evident. I am sure if he had his faculty intact, he would have been angry and cursing at Covid-19 and Omicon and also irritated that is still around after 3 years.

His favorite words were “Is everything ok?.” Yes, we told him, even though the world is far from ok. I know that there will be an end soon to the pandemic — it will take many great minds and hope and faith to win this battle.

His success was doing what he loved. I am doing this now -which is writing — it is something that I love. I hope that makes him smile from above.

Til next time. Thanks for the read.