On the return leg of a west coast business trip last year, I was pleased to be the benefactor of a rare first class upgrade. Shortly after getting situated firmly in Seat 1A, a quiet, middle-aged gentleman took the seat next to me. We exchanged pleasantries, names, hometowns, purpose of travel, etc.—pretty normal stuff for a long flight. He was an independent consultant who was working with a construction company on a large high-rise commercial project. With a PhD in Psychology and an MBA, he was hired to work with the chief executives of both the client company and the building owner to make sure they didn’t kill each other during the course of the project.
After two hours of flight time, the conversation steered toward our upbringings and the impact they had on our working careers. We discussed everything from the steadfast disciplines of attending Catholic grade schools to the competitive spirit of youth sports. When the topic turned to parental influence, he asked me why I work for my father. Without really thinking about the depth of the question, I replied “I don’t work for my father. I work for Violand Management.” Without missing a beat he responded, “You have been working for your father your entire life.”