What I learned from My Dad

Businessweek had a Father’s day special spread showcasing successful entrepreneurs talking about what they had learned from their Dad. Founders from Auntie Anne’s, Samuel Adams, Travelocity and Trump are those that can be found in that article.

Summing up the article, what these successful folks have learned from their parents are the values of : Doing something that they love, the value of a good product vs just plain old marketing but most especially the need to protect ones integrity.

I guess the important thing to point out also, if you become a successful entrepreneur, is the value of succession planning for the next generation. There is a Chinese saying that the first generation makes the wealth, the second preserves it (in some cases extends it), while the third generation wastes it.

Very true indeed, I’ve only seen a few wealthy families hurdle this (curse?). And those are the ones who’ve instilled in their children the value of family and getting along with one another but most especially of working hard.

Making money is easy, its doing it in a clean way and preserving it thats difficult