Wisdom from My Father: Ending Every Conversation with Love

Lessons from my father.

Here’s a remarkable fact. Of the thousands of conversations I had with my father, some of them very heated, I don’t recall ever ending a single one of them in anger or resentment. Not one.

How?

Dad always ended any disagreement with a smile and an affirmation of goodwill: “Adam, don’t be upset with me. I love you”, he would say. “And what I’ve said to you today is because you are my son and I want you to be better. I could be wrong, but please reflect on what I’ve said, and see if there’s at least some truth in it.”

Take it from me – it’s hard to be angry with anyone who ends a discussion in this way.

Dad also used affirmations of goodwill to end the vast majority of his conversations with business colleagues.

Even if there was conflict, he would smile and say: “We are lucky to be working with each other and we should never forget that.”

Long after all the deals are forgotten, what remains are your relationships. Take care to foster them.

Relationships really matter.