"John Madden was raised in Daly City, a few miles south of San Francisco, the sports-loving son of a mechanic who had once given him some very sound advice, the kind of wisdom that most fathers are too dumb, or afraid, to impart: "Don't start working until you have to. Once you do, that's it. Put off working as long as you can."
From Badasses - The Legend of Snake, Foo, Dr. Death, and John Madden's Oakland Raiders, by Peter Richmond.
A great fucking book. More importantly - amazing advice. Perfectly honest. John Madden's father told his son the truth about life. Working sucks. Put it off.
Ironically, Madden grew up to do a job that he loved, a job that requires you to work 8 days a week.
But his father wasn't wrong. A parent can drive a kid to succeed, giving them the impression that life is fair and rewards await. Or a parent can be honest and tell their kid that a large portion of life is sheer drudgery and all you can do is find ways to maximize your happiness and hope for the best.
Maybe Madden succeeded because his father told him the truth. Who knows.
Personally, I think his Dad was a genius.
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