Great article!! Thank you so much for sharing! The story about your dad making a Monopoly board was awesome - what a cool dad! And relating the marshmallow experiment to the art director as a real life example, priceless.
Another Gem! Absolutely a must read for young (and not so young)people to clearly understand the importance of delayed gratification and patience paying off mostly. It instills value in everything that deserves value, especially morality in bad times. Your dad was not just a wiseman but also a fantastic visionary who could teach a lifetime lessons by his simplest form. Amazing. You and your family are blessed with such wisdom, grace and love. 👍
That's very kind, Baku. One quick clarification, since my saying he "was" an engineer might have read the wrong way: he's still very much here. I only meant his old line of work, he's changed careers since. Lucky to still have him. Appreciate you reading.
My sincere apologies. I should not have assumed and truly sorry. Anyway, though, so glad that you and your family have that blessings of wisdom and grace nearby here to tap into.
That was such a well written article. Thanks always for sharing your writings. You were blessed to have such a great father figure. It’s also nice learning a little about your upbringing. Thanks
Thank you, Val. One small clarification, since my saying he "was" an engineer might have given the wrong impression: he's still very much around. I only meant it as his old line of work, he's changed careers since. Lucky to still have him.
Great article. Having the historical perspective you have brings a whole new meaning. My Dad was an immigrant to the US and came here for the American dream. I try to teach that perspective to my kids and hope it takes. The government will never truly help you, have to work at things yourself and prioritize things. Can’t have everything, at least not all of us.
Thank you, Daniel. Your father crossing an ocean for the American dream, and you passing that perspective on to your kids, that's the chain that actually matters. You work, you prioritize, and you accept that you can't have it all. You do those things, and suddenly life has meaning. Thanks for reading.
The hand-built Monopoly board reminds me of the one that has been a family heirloom since 1939. And it’s probably in a similar condition. Except the one in my family wasn’t hand-made.
I accidentally left my comment about this on the wrong article, trying again!
I love the hand-made Monopoly board, what a wonderful gift from your father. I grew up playing Monopoly with my family but the lessons learned never sunk in. Thank you for sharing and for your insight.
Thank you, Catherine. For what it's worth, the lessons didn't sink in for me as a kid either. Took some years for sure. Sometimes the game just plants the seed and waits.
Although growing-up in post-war Britain, my father (a gifted engineer), made stuff for me too - Go-Kart, Tricycle for example. Yes, many in 50s Britain suffered post-war shortages, though not scarcity like those in the former USSR.
I learnt too and my most prized room was the garage I built. I sold up and left the UK I 10 years ago - I miss that garage horribly. I could even do repair jobs latterly on my mid 90s Porsche and rebuilt numerous engines as a teenager.
Now I’m sick of replacing stuff such as cellphones - on which repairs are very trying - every 2 years. Folk don’t appreciate what’s coming!
Another excellent, interesting, elegant reflection on real life, personal discipline, and understanding the playing field. Thanks for sharing the personal stories. Cheering all of our families on. Agree with everything you said.
Another great read, Lau! You always keep me engaged with these incredibly interesting articles! I don’t often share articles with my children, but I will share this one with them !
Great article. Like I told my kids when they were growing up:
In most instances:
Short term pleasure equals long time pain.
Short time pain equals long term gain.
Two lines, and you've got the whole essay, Steve. Good on you for drilling it into them early. Thanks for reading.
Great article!! Thank you so much for sharing! The story about your dad making a Monopoly board was awesome - what a cool dad! And relating the marshmallow experiment to the art director as a real life example, priceless.
Thank you, Alan. Yeah, cool indeed, no argument there:). Glad the art director tie-in clicked for you.
Another jewel.
Thank you,
DFH, MD
Omaha, NE
Much appreciated, Frank. Thank you.
Another Gem! Absolutely a must read for young (and not so young)people to clearly understand the importance of delayed gratification and patience paying off mostly. It instills value in everything that deserves value, especially morality in bad times. Your dad was not just a wiseman but also a fantastic visionary who could teach a lifetime lessons by his simplest form. Amazing. You and your family are blessed with such wisdom, grace and love. 👍
That's very kind, Baku. One quick clarification, since my saying he "was" an engineer might have read the wrong way: he's still very much here. I only meant his old line of work, he's changed careers since. Lucky to still have him. Appreciate you reading.
My sincere apologies. I should not have assumed and truly sorry. Anyway, though, so glad that you and your family have that blessings of wisdom and grace nearby here to tap into.
Don't give it a second thought, Baku. It was my wording, not your reading. And thanks for the kind words.
Loved everything about this! Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you, Jean. Glad it resonated.
That was such a well written article. Thanks always for sharing your writings. You were blessed to have such a great father figure. It’s also nice learning a little about your upbringing. Thanks
Thank you, Val. One small clarification, since my saying he "was" an engineer might have given the wrong impression: he's still very much around. I only meant it as his old line of work, he's changed careers since. Lucky to still have him.
it is so hard to teach children low time preference. It’s even harder to teach adults.
Great narrative and a valuable lesson for parenting.
Ha, the adults are the hard part, you're right. Low time preference is half of life and almost nobody gets taught it. Thanks, Thomas.
The “Board” needs to be enshrined as a family heirloom.
It's getting there. I may frame it one day so we don't wear it out completely.
Excellent post!
Thank you, Dana!
Great article. Having the historical perspective you have brings a whole new meaning. My Dad was an immigrant to the US and came here for the American dream. I try to teach that perspective to my kids and hope it takes. The government will never truly help you, have to work at things yourself and prioritize things. Can’t have everything, at least not all of us.
Thank you, Daniel. Your father crossing an ocean for the American dream, and you passing that perspective on to your kids, that's the chain that actually matters. You work, you prioritize, and you accept that you can't have it all. You do those things, and suddenly life has meaning. Thanks for reading.
The hand-built Monopoly board reminds me of the one that has been a family heirloom since 1939. And it’s probably in a similar condition. Except the one in my family wasn’t hand-made.
That’s the one part I missed on.
1939, that's a real piece of history. Hand-made or not, a board that's survived that long has earned its heirloom status. Look after it.
I accidentally left my comment about this on the wrong article, trying again!
I love the hand-made Monopoly board, what a wonderful gift from your father. I grew up playing Monopoly with my family but the lessons learned never sunk in. Thank you for sharing and for your insight.
Thank you, Catherine. For what it's worth, the lessons didn't sink in for me as a kid either. Took some years for sure. Sometimes the game just plants the seed and waits.
Nice stories.
Although growing-up in post-war Britain, my father (a gifted engineer), made stuff for me too - Go-Kart, Tricycle for example. Yes, many in 50s Britain suffered post-war shortages, though not scarcity like those in the former USSR.
I learnt too and my most prized room was the garage I built. I sold up and left the UK I 10 years ago - I miss that garage horribly. I could even do repair jobs latterly on my mid 90s Porsche and rebuilt numerous engines as a teenager.
Now I’m sick of replacing stuff such as cellphones - on which repairs are very trying - every 2 years. Folk don’t appreciate what’s coming!
Another excellent, interesting, elegant reflection on real life, personal discipline, and understanding the playing field. Thanks for sharing the personal stories. Cheering all of our families on. Agree with everything you said.
Thank you, Jay, that means a lot. Cheering yours on right back.
That board looks like it was bought. Thats dedication. Fantastic Lau
Right? Surprised me too when I dug it out. The man has a real eye for detail. Thanks, Pete.
Another great read, Lau! You always keep me engaged with these incredibly interesting articles! I don’t often share articles with my children, but I will share this one with them !
That's the highest compliment there is, Neena. Thank you. I hope they take something from it.