One Lesson My Dad Taught Me That Changed My Life

By Jayson Krause, Managing Director of Level 52 & Author of The Science Behind Success

My dad interrupted my brother and I one hot summer day. I was about 10 and my brother was 12 and we were immersed in a two-person game of street hockey when my dad ordered us to stop what we were doing, get on our bikes and follow him.

He didn’t tell us where we were going, we simply hopped on our bikes and followed him down the street and onto the asphalt bike path that danced along the south side of the river in my hometown.

Without announcing it, my dad abruptly stopped his bike and asked us to get off and stand near him. Out of compliance, I fired up my kickstand and annoyingly walked over to where he stood.

He pointed down to the path at a green weed that had grown up through a tiny crack almost at the perfect center of the path and he used a stern voice as he shared a story with us.

This weed was having a great sunny day when out of nowhere this path was thrown over the top of it. In darkness and uncertainty, the other weeds gave up and died, but this weed refused to give up. It pushed and pushed until it found the smallest crack with a little bit of light. It kept pushing until it finally broke through.

In your life, as you grow up, there will be times when you will feel in the darkness because of some big problem or obstacle. It will feel like there is nowhere to go and nothing to do. This will happen to you. I want you to remember, that if this little weed can push through the weight of this powerful path, then so can you. All you have to do is find a reason and find the light.

This lesson has stayed with me. As an entrepreneur, husband, and father of 4 kids, there have been many times when the weight of life’s obstacles has cast a strong shadow of doubt and presented moments of smothering uncertainty. In those moments, I reach into the pockets of my memories and this little lesson that happened on a sunny day about 35 years ago, still inspires me to find a reason and find the light.

Happy Father’s day Vern Krause. Thank you for your guidance, support, and many lessons that have been stepping stones to getting across some turbulent times.