Hey Dads - Happy Father's Day!

Fifty years between these two photographs

by Skip Cohen

When I start writing on Sunday mornings, I always feel compelled to warn you - I'm way off the topic of business and marketing. And today, Father's Day brings out a lot of personal stuff - many of which the "experts" say is inappropriate to share on social media. Oops! LOL

I want to kick off today with a BIG Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. According to Google, there are an estimated seventy-two million Dads across the US. I wish you all a day with smiles and moments when your heart screams louder than your kids when they were little. And to you new Dads out there, cherish every minute because you wake up one day and they're grown - You don't want to feel like the lyrics in a Harry Chapin song.

Next comes looking back on my own life as a Dad. When I was twelve and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I'd always answer the same way: "A DAD!" Well, my wish came true, and although I'm estranged from my kids today, nothing changes the smile that comes from the memories of watching them grow up. 

And to my own Dad, who passed away almost nine years ago, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you. Poor Sheila's heard every story and still laughs over the best ones. They're all classics, each one representing your love for your family, your humor and your ability to laugh until you cried! I sure miss you Pop.

​It's a perfect day to share a guest post Dad wrote for me in 2010.

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Just Keep Your Eye On the Left Front Fender by Skip's Dad

My Dad over the years...

by Ralph Cohen

Yesterday was my 88th birthday.  I have been happily retired for many years, and unemployed for at least 15 of those. Now, out of the blue, comes our son, Skip, threatening me with employment! The pay he considers adequate is $.02 per word. So gathering together, my 50+ years in business experience, I thought this would be a good time to put my two cents in.

I am not a plagiarist, but I must quote my father who spent the last months of his life writing advice to his children:

“Conduct your business in an upright manner and remember, the most important thing in one’s life is to be honest with one’s self. Maintain the high standard and dignity that your business requires. Do not go into deals hastily and be visible in your business as much of the time as is possible.  If you take time to play, do it away from your business, because your livelihood needs all the attention you can give to it.”

Early on, I concluded that the best testimonials came from my many friendly competitors.  We didn’t really compete with each other, in the true sense. True, we were in the same field of endeavor, but we all knew we were there to help each other. Happily, the “tough competition” fell by the wayside.  

I remember giving Skip driving lessons and I told him, “Watch the left front fender…..the rest will take care of itself!” I’ve found this is really true of everything in life.

An old axiom says “If you tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.”  That is all part of reputation-building. I found that, sadly, in the field of real estate, truth is hard to come by for many. In our case, it was a major building block in the reputation which we enjoyed, and helped us to thwart the competition.

Goodwill is all of the above, plus a lot of caring for your clients as well as your competitors.  If life is a give-and-take situation, giving is the more important of the two.  The taking will come with time and be far more appreciative.  Just remember - you heard it here!  

​Ralph Cohen, Founder and Creator of Skip Cohen

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Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and Father's Day. I hope you get the time to create a few new memories to cherish and savor in the future. Go for those eleven-second hugs with your family and if get time to kick back and just chill - take a look in your rearview mirror and notice how your kids seemed to have grown up overnight!

Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.