2. Inspire and teach others by your actions

“My father taught me to work hard, laugh often and keep my word.”- Michelle Obama

A lot of what I learnt from my father was not what he said, but what he did, and how he interacted with others. As an officer in the military, seeing how he treated the people he met had a huge impact on the way I live my life and run my business. Although the military operates on a strict ranking system, my father had the humility and grace to treat everyone, from peers and superiors to soldiers and drivers, with genuine respect.

As I grew to know my father more, I realised his actions always aligned with his ideals, which was above all else, to be a good and genuine person. And really, who could want for more than that?

Today I work and socialise with people from all walks of life. I know that every person is on their own unique journey, and just as my father did, I find myself all the more inspired and enriched by their stories.

      3. Don’t be afraid to dream big

My father gave the greatest gift anyone could give another person. He believed in me. – Jim Valvano

A long time ago, I was having coffee with a friend and his two teenage boys. When the conversation turned to buying a home, he said to his two boys: “When you guys grow up you won’t be able to afford to buy a house in Sydney anymore.” That is such a disheartening thing to say to your children or anyone. The boys were only in their teens, and they had their whole lives in front of them.

One of the best things my parents did for me when I was growing up was to always encourage me to pursue my dreams, though many of them may have seemed far-fetched, even ridiculous during the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution. It made me believe that if I worked hard enough, anything was possible, and they were absolutely right.

      4.  Be open about your hopes and dreams

I never really appreciated how lucky I was to have such an open family, where discussions about what we wanted for our lives was actively encouraged. We all saw how hard my father (and mother) worked, but because we also knew he was working so hard to make his dream of giving us a better life come true, he united the family in a common goal.

Family first was very much my father’s motto, and because our opinions and dreams were always respected, I developed a strong desire to dream big and excel in everything I did.

“Talk early, talk often” is one of my own family’s mantras, and I’ve seen that by involving our children in discussions from a young age about where our family is heading – and what wealth is for – has given them the drive they needed to forge their own path.

      5. Be generous

Without doubt, one of the most powerful things my father taught me – or rather, showed me – was the beauty of generosity.

When he served in the military, everyone with the surname Chou became what was known as the Chou battalion. At the end of the war, the sole survivor of that battalion was my father.

Years later, my father told us that because of his ranking in the military, he was on a reasonably good income. So, every month without fail, he sent every single dollar he earned to all the widows and children of those who had lost their lives in his battalion. Little did we know, at that time we were only living on my mother’s income, some of which she was also giving away to support her brother and sisters.

What struck me most about this story, was how genuinely happy they were to be in a position where they were able to give. They never asked for anything in return and their reward came from the gratitude they had that they were able to offer help and support.

        6. Be grateful

“The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” – Norman Vincent Peale

 I never take for granted the life I lead, but I would not be in the position I’m in without the wisdom of my parents, and the love and support of my wife and children. My work has often taken me away on business trips, and even though I called home every day, I knew my children missed me. What makes me proud is that they both understood that I was travelling to help other people, as well as our own family.

And so, with the permission of my children, I’d like to end this article by sharing what they wrote on my card for Father’s Day when they just teenagers.

Happy Father’s Day.

Warm wishes

Joseph Chou