Introduction

My parents had a profound effect on me and the way I think. This is no major revelation in itself, but some of the effects are worth sharing. My mother, of course, had a lot to do with how I turned out, and I may write a book about that sometime, but this book focuses on my father. Dad was always vocal about things and many of his sayings really stuck with me. Mother often said these and other things, but (no offense, Mother) this group I'll share as if they came just from Dad.

Some of the lessons he taught me were obvious, spoken attempts to share a particular piece of information. Others, that were less obvious or non-verbal, sometimes even subliminal, he communicated to me through his actions and attitudes. Lately, I've found that in day-to-day conversation with those around me, these "sayings" keep popping up. Often, I catch myself saying: "My Dad used to tell me..." followed by some little bit of wisdom or an anecdote that relates to the current topic. Over the years, as I have begun to witness some of life's lessons personally, these bits of wisdom or "wizbits" have become even more meaningful to me. When added to my new experiences, they have begun to mold my attitudes and directions in life. The wizbits have become much more than the "one-liners" Dad told me. I think he knew that would happen and intentionally planted these seeds to grow.

This is an attempt to bring those "wizbits" to others. I hope that they will make you smile, help you remember your father with kind regards, and maybe even make you a little wiser.

Table of Contents

Childhood Wizbits

Never Point a Gun at Someone Unless You Plan to Shoot Them
Do Something Even if It's Wrong!
Just Keep on Going to Sunday School
The Lazy Man's Load
Try Everything on Your Plate... Variety Is the Spice of Life!
You Can Catch More Flies with Honey than with Vinegar
We Can Make Time to Play
If You Don't Have Time to Do It Right, How Will You Find Time to Do It Twice?
If You Want Juicy Tomatoes, You Have to Give Them Plenty of Water
You Have to Make Money off Your Friends... Your Enemies Just Won't Buy from You.
You Can Run Out of Gas... But You Can NOT Run Out of Oil.
Teenage Wizbits
Never Ask for a Raise Until You're Worth More to the Company
If There's a Leak in Your Boat, Bail it Out!
Dad's Hammering Technique
Don't Force it, Get a Bigger Hammer
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Don't Overcorrect
If It Is Broken, Fix it! If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It!
If You Want to Get Better, Practice!
Work Before Play
Everybody Drives a Used Car
The 5[ Per Mile Rule.
You Have to Be Willing to Walk off the Lot
If You Don't Get it Done Today, it Will Be Here Tomorrow.
Adult Wizbits
Don't Burn Your Bridges
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder - But Sometimes it's for Somebody Else!
When I Was a Child, I Spoke as a Child...
Fantastic! Now What? -- The Sausage Mill
Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
You Can Do almost Anything if You Try
Fish or Cut Bait
You Only Get One Chance at a First Impression