With Father’s Day approaching, we thought it would be a perfect time to learn from fatherly wisdom, whether from your dad, or just a father-like figure. Most of us have heard these “daddisms” at some point, but have you ever wondered if there was a deeper meaning behind the words? Read these common sayings to learn how they can help you find success in the workplace. 

“Money doesn’t grow on trees.” 

When your father was giving you this advice, you were probably standing in line at the grocery store begging for a new set of Legos or whatever the latest toy was at the time. Now that you’re grown, you may recognize the wisdom in his words—money isn’t easy to come by. People work hard to earn their dollars. Here at Penmac, we know the value of hard work, and we recognize and reward associates who are good at their jobs. 

“Because I said so, that’s why!” or “As long as you’re under my roof, you live by my rules.” 

Rules don’t always make sense at first, but obedience can go a long way both in families and the workplace. As kids, we might not know why our parents don’t want us to eat all of our Halloween candy right away, but we might understand the next morning when we wake up with a stomachache. Sometimes following the rules, even when you don’t completely understand them at first, is a good thing. When you’re on the job, be sure to listen to your supervisors, especially if you’re new in the position. 

“You better wipe that look off your face.” 

It’s okay; your face won’t freeze like that, but even so, we can learn something from this fatherly phrase. Whether you’re in a job interview or in the workplace, it’s important to keep appearances in mind. Not only should you make sure your clothes are clean and appropriate for your particular workplace, you should also make sure your appearance reflects a positive attitude. Facial and body expressions communicate a lot to those around us. Supervisors and coworkers will be able to tell whether you’re listening, if you’re interested, and if you have a good attitude.  

“Don’t make me turn this car around.” 

Maybe you were arguing with a sibling, when dad turned around to the backseat and said this. While “Don’t make me turn this car around” isn’t exactly advice, we can still learn a lesson from it if we look at it on another level. Perhaps what your father actually meant was, “keep going forward on your journey.” Don’t look back. In life and in work, success comes when you’re on your best behavior and you keep moving toward your future goals. (Okay, so dad probably just meant, “quit arguing with your sister or we’re going back home,” but it’s nice to think it could have had a deeper meaning.) 

“One day you’ll thank me.” 

Perhaps today is that day. Call up your dad and let him know how grateful you are for all of his words of encouragement; he probably didn’t even realize all the wisdom he was sharing. Penmac wishes a Happy Father’s Day to dads everywhere!