Losing a parent at a young age is a hard hit many of us took, but if we reflect back and get past the darkness, there are tremendous lessons and valuable experiences that came out of that tragedy. As unpleasant as they may be, they shaped our character and catapulted us forward into the human beings we are today.

There’s a significant difference whether you lose your dad at eight years old – as I did – or at 16 years old, just like my guest, Marshall, experienced. The lessons you learn and the memories you hold on to are, in a way, more and better defined when you get to spend more time with your parent.

In the previous episode, I shared with you the story of losing my dad and how that tragedy has impacted the rest of my life. Today, Marshall Durston, one of my great friends, discusses how it felt losing his father in his teenage years and how that translated into his family and business life.

So, listen to Episode 02 of You Got This! to find out how Marshall and his family learned to live with the void in his heart and how he managed to create a beautiful life for himself, despite his loss.

Some questions I ask:

• What would a couple of the lessons you learned from your dad be? (03:31)
• How did your dad’s death affect the relationship with your sisters, over time? (05:50)
• How has losing your father at 16 years old impacted your relationship with your kids? (09:23)
• Talk about hunting with your dad because that was a big part of your relationship. You’re still going hunting, so what emotions does that bring up? (11:36)
• What message would you have for a recently widowed woman? (21:24)
• What message would you have for that 16-year-old kid that just lost a parent? (23:34)
• How did your dad’s absence from your hockey games change your approach on ice? (26:46)

In this episode, you will learn:

• How his dad’s death forced Marshall to transition from boyhood to manhood overnight. (00:52)
• How the death of a parent solidifies the importance of family and the roles each member has. (02:37)
• The importance of living within your financial capacities. (04:23)
• The residual impact Marshall realized existed in his life long time after his father’s death. (07:43)
• The qualities and traits Marshall indirectly learned from his father, in terms of doing business. (14:29)
• The mindset of turning tragedy into triumph. (26:00)

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