1. Do what you love.  My dad knew he wanted to be a doctor when he was 12 years old.  He worked at it, and he excelled.  He graduated first in his medical school class and emigrated to the US for a prestigious medical residency.  He worked 70 hours a week, back when that wasn’t the norm.  And I don’t think he could have worked that hard if he didn’t love it.  Thanks to his dedication, he helped countless people live longer.
2. Bring your whole self to your work.  I hear people say you should separate work and personal life.  I just don’t believe this.  When I was small, my dad would bring me to the hospital to visit with his patients on the weekend.  I will always remember seeing their faces light up at the sight of a small, chubby and energetic child bounce into the room.  What’s more, knowing that my father cared about them enough to share his family told them that they were very well cared for.  I believe it helped their healing.
3. You can absolutely re-invent yourself.  Raised in the 1930’s in the French countryside, my mother had not been encouraged to go to college.  She did want to see the world though, so she became a stewardess.  When she married she was forced to quit, and became a stay-at-home mom.  Then when I was about eight years old, she started taking fine arts classes.  She took them one at a time, over many years.  The momentum eventually built, and she completed her undergraduate degree, then her masters, and ended up in a very senior position in the museum world.  As a professional in my 30’s, I thought that my mom couldn’t be a mentor to me because she hadn’t grown up with the same career expectations.  But when I realized that I was in the wrong line of work and wanted to change, her example became an inspiration for me.
4. Know what you are getting into.  My father had one job that didn’t work out well.  He was hired as part of a strategic initiative to change a hospital.  But, the organization never really invested the financial or human resources that would have been required for the plan to succeed.  As a result, my father spent too many years pushing water uphill.  In the end, he left frustrated and unhappy.  It might have been avoided if he’d been aware of the bigger picture.
5. Be kind to your colleagues.  One of the things that has always made me proud of my father is that he was liked by people in all levels of his organization.  I can still go to the hospitals he worked at and get special attention, most of all by the orderlies and nurses, because they remember his kindness.  That kind of kindness is not about getting ahead, but it does create a more fulfilling work experience.
6. Be generous with your knowledge.  On a regular basis, a neighbor or friend of a friend would call to ask my dad’s advice.  They were often afraid, after a cancer diagnosis, and needed guidance.  My dad was always so patient on these calls.  It never occurred to me that someone who needed his help should resist the urge to call him, and it set a great example of the importance of helping others.
7. Be a support to your spouse.  I grew up in the 70’s, the era of women’s rights.  But my mother often reminded me that for a man in a single income household, the pressure of having to work to pay the bills should never be underestimated.  Later, as my mother’s work grew, my father was also her greatest supporter.  A career is long, full of ups and downs.  Believing in and being there for our spouse is one of the greatest contributions we can make.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the things your parents taught you have helped you in your career.  Please feel free to share below.