Aptly called ‘dad jokes’, these one-line zingers are typically told by fathers and are usually met with groans and cringes from the fam, maybe a giggle if it was a really good one… But whilst dear ol’ dads love a quick win with a short joke, often when it comes to advice… their life lessons have more of a long game.
In honour of Father’s Day the team at MediaCast have rounded up the best advice our dads ever gave us.
Meg - Never forget to smile! My dad always made a big deal about smiling at people – whether it was family, friends or strangers. He used to say that you never know where a genuine smile could get you, you could make someone’s day unknowingly, make a new friend or even meet the love of your life – and it all starts with a smile!
I always try living my life by this simple piece of advice – a little bit of effort goes a long way!
Olivia - I’ve always loved finance and I strongly attribute this love to my dad who taught me a thing or two. Despite me breaking these rules a few times, the best advice he ever told me was never lend and never loan money.
Jess - My grandpa always told my dad “Remember you’re a Murray and a gentleman.” It was later passed onto me every time I walked out the door. Of course, it was adjusted to ‘gentlewoman’. I hear his voice in the back of my head saying that every time I find myself in a situation where my type of reaction is crucial.
He also says, “Don’t let the little things become big things.” This could be applied to anyone who lets the finer details keep them up at night, you may be faced with a snowball effect. It’s so important not to let those things get you down and to reach out if they do.
There have also been a few times where I’ve been at a crossroad – do I play it safe or take the risk. Dad always said, “If an exciting opportunity comes along that you want to pursue, then that’s what you do. You work out details as required.” Advice that pushed me to take the leap and move to a different country.
Amy - My dad said always be nice to people on the way up because you never know who you might meet on the way down.
Cavill - The best advice my dad ever gave me was a subtle one… But it was around the importance of setting goals and how to work towards achieving that goal.
When I was ten years old, my dad sat me down and asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I was obsessed with writing and at the time, I said I wanted to be a journalist. We jumped on the QUT website and found a double degree that would get me a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Business, all I needed to do was get an OP 5.
Over the next eight years, I worked my butt off at school to get the best grades I could. In high school, dad helped me choose subjects that would set me up best to get into the degrees I wanted. Every time I was stressing over an exam or procrastinating an assignment, he would remind me what I was working towards…
I couldn’t see it at the time, but at ten years old, my dad and I had set a goal, and we’d planned how I was going to achieve that goal. I wanted to go to QUT like my dad, and I wanted to do a degree that would help me get into journalism. Fast forward to the end of high school, I got my OP 5, and I got into the exact degree that I picked out all those years ago.
It set me on a trajectory to learn about PR in my business degree, which as it turned out, I enjoyed ever so slightly more than my journalism degree. So here I am, almost 20 years later, utilising every single bit of that degree, working with journos every day and ever so grateful for my dad’s advice and his guidance throughout the most important, formative years of my life.
We hope these little pearls of wisdom help you. Remember to reach out to your fatherly figure today and wish them a Happy Father’s Day!