What My Dad Taught Me About Serving Others
My dad was the guy who pulled over to help when a car was broken down. The lesson he taught me most, without ever making a speech about it, was to serve the people around you.
The most lasting lessons we pass on are usually lived rather than spoken. Chris Sund’s dad taught him to be kind to everyone and to show up for people, not with speeches but by doing it, from watching his grandsons when Chris worked odd hours to stopping for strangers on the side of the road. Those lessons now live on in the people Chris’s sons are becoming, and in how he tries to lead.
When my boys were young, I worked odd hours managing restaurants, so traditional daycare was not an option. My dad stepped in. He watched the boys whenever I needed him, and he was there for me anytime I needed anything. He taught me how to be a father and an adult, mostly by example.
Always be kind to everyone
My dad was the guy who would pull over when a car was broken down on the side of the road. He always helped people, and he did it without expecting anything back. The lesson I remember most is something he used to say: “Always be kind to everyone.” He usually followed it with a joke, but he meant the first part completely.
All jokes aside, he taught me the importance of serving others and being there for them. I did not fully understand how much that shaped me until much later.
Make the most of the time
We lost my dad suddenly, during a family trip. The call came while we were at the beach with my boys. It is the kind of moment that rearranges what you think matters. The lesson I took from it is simple: make the most of your time with the people you love, before it is too late. Do not assume you have more of it.
Pieces of him live on
My dad was there to help raise my boys, and pieces of him will live on in the people my sons become. That is the opportunity every one of us has. The way we treat people, how we show up for them and what we teach by example outlast us.
It is also why I believe leadership is about more than results. The people you lead carry how you treated them home to their families. Leaders have the chance to pass on something good every single day.
There is more inside you, and in them
I end my signature keynote with this idea. There is more inside you. But there is also more inside the people who are counting on you. So take the step. Do the work. Become the person you know you can be. And then turn around and help someone else see who they can become.
That is the heart of You Are Capable of More and my book, You Are Capable of More. See also You Do Not Need More Time. You Need To Stop Assuming You Have It. and Someone Is Carrying Something You Have Already Forgotten.
The lessons that last are lived, not spoken. Be kind to everyone, show up for people, make the most of your time with the ones you love, and remember that how you treat people lives on in them.
Frequently asked questions
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You Are Capable of More
A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self. The bestselling book behind Chris’s keynotes and the 2026 Paris Book Festival winner in the How-To category. Many teams hand a copy to every seller at their kickoff.
Become more.
Then help someone else.
Chris Sund speaks on this in You Are Capable of More, for conferences, leadership teams and company meetings.
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