What Father Means To You

Dear Reader,

If you’re a father, accept my belated Father’s Day wishes.
May this special relationship bring you a lifetime of love and satisfaction.

OR:

If your relationship with your dad and/or a child of yours was less than stellar:
I hope you find a way to reconcile with each other or to let go of these painful memories!

YES–I know only too well how hurts from your past can take root in your brain. As a result, they keep you from achieving success to the best of your capabilities.

So know that you’re not alone if you’ve had painful relations with your father.

Personally, I was surprised by the number of responses I received to my outreach for a Father’s Day marketing post stating some form of this sentiment.

Despite the fact that I would have made a similar statement as some points in my life.

Beyond our biological fathers, this term applies to our forebears as well.

We are associated with these men and women in a variety of ways:

Familial ties,
Religious affiliations,
Ethnicity including language differences,
Race,
Community associations,
Citizenship,
National heritage,
Financial resources,
Educational level,
Generational age and/or
Sexual orientation.

By the luck of our birth, we’re connected to diverse people by pre-determined conditions beyond our control as well as those that we make of our own free choice.

During this precarious period, the risk to our physical health, safety and financial well-being persist regardless of our defining traits.

To thrive for the long-term, we must continue to stand strong and vigilant against injustice and inequality regardless of how long we and our ancestors have lived in this great country and/or the world more broadly.

Because it’s our burden to change our divisive words and actions so we work together to build an inclusive community and a better future for all of us.

Despite increased new COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths daily across the US, this past week marked 3 key events supporting change towards a more inclusive world.

In a 6-3 landmark decision, the US Supreme Court rule protected gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination. They cited the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the words of Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, “An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.” [Click here for the full decision.]
In a 5-4 vote the Supreme court upheld DACA (aka: DREAMers) rights and protected 700,000 young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. [Click here for the full decision.]
African-Americans commemorated the 155th anniversary of the day when slavery was finally abolished in the US. In Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District, this day has special meaning since white mobs burned Black Wall Street to ashes during the 1921 race massacre. In the words of Reverend Al Sharpton:“I’m puzzled by people who go around saying ‘Make America Great Again.. I want them to give me the date when America was great for everybody.”

These public actions reveal the power of this great country of ours to evolve and live true to the foundation set forth by our founding fathers. Despite their ownership of slaves and disregard for the women in their lives.

But in the past 300 years, people around the world have evolved. And we need to amend our laws to reflect our broader, more enlightened perspective.

It’s up to us to serve these higher goals.

Why discuss this in a marketing forum?
Because as marketers you do your business and the greater community a disservice when you only focus on profitable sales.

As Douglas Karr’s father said:

“Money comes and money goes, all you really have in this life is your reputation.”

Edelman Trust Barometer Research consistently shows that to succeed over time businesses and their leaders must continue to: