He was 14 when his father died. Living at home with his mother and sister and a shortage of income, he quit school and looked for a job. The Prendergast Family ran Kansas City underground…his job was running gambling numbers on the streets. An impressionable young boy learned his lessons quickly and recorded both the good and the bad with one line quotes. This became his code. Determined to have a better life, he joined the Army, married, and after WWII they made their way to South Dakota.
Always self-employed…the journey of raising five children wasn’t easy. Many days and nights were spent trying to ‘crack the nut,’ his idea of making sure he made enough money every day to provide for the family...which was his endless driving force.
“If you want to be an eagle, you need to fly with the eagles” were his words. “You don’t need to experience everything to learn a lesson…successful people and history are great teachers.” Be a good student, pay attention, and ask questions…knowledge builds confidence.
Catholic school, street experience, and Army training defined a set of solid core principles. He judged people quickly by what they did and not by what they said. He seldom gave a second chance. His word was golden and expected everyone else to be the same. There was little tolerance for not telling the truth. Respect was top of the list followed closely by a commitment to do the right thing.
He trusted in God and lived the Serenity Prayer. He believed we innately know what is right and what is wrong. Rules are good guidelines but not necessarily needed for those with a good heart. Life is better for everyone when we do the right thing and not when we don’t…one shouldn’t need to be reminded, but when it was needed, it should be quick and significant.
There was no substitute for hard work and good money management. “Cash is King” was his motto. Make money, save, and live on what’s left. Minimize debt. Keep good reserves. Invest wisely. Don’t rely on anyone but yourself. Be self-sufficient. Take care of those you love and be generous with your time and money.
He was proud of his accomplishments and humbled by the success. He was my father and if alive today, I’m fairly certain he’d wonder what we did with our founding principles? Common Sense always prevailed for him…he’d wonder where that went too.
When it’s time to consider making a move from where you live now…The Tony Ratchford group has a practical and proven process to help you maximize the outcome.
