My greatest mentor

Lessons from My Father

On March 11, 2025, my father, Ed Tiernan, would have turned 88. He spent his career as a Philadelphia police officer, a man of integrity, discipline, and an unshakable sense of right and wrong. He never climbed the corporate ladder or wrote leadership books, but what he taught me about life, work, and resilience shaped everything I’ve built.

My dad was my greatest mentor. He was the person I turned to for every major decision in my life and career. Whether I was negotiating a salary, considering a career change, or navigating a difficult boss, he was my first call. His advice wasn’t polished or wrapped in corporate jargon. It was blunt, clear, and always grounded in love.

No Platitudes, Just Real Talk

While some mentors hand out conventional wisdom, my dad’s guidance was simple and direct. When things got tough, his words were always the same: “Don’t let the aholes get you down.” Not elegant, but effective.

When I started chemo and began losing my hair, I called him in tears. I expected comfort. What I got was perspective.

“Will it grow back?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then what are you worried about?”

That was my dad. No sugarcoating, no dwelling on the pain. Just a reminder to focus on what matters and keep moving forward. He saw me as strong even when I felt weak. He saw me as a fighter when I was struggling to see myself that way.

A Hero in Action

The summer before my senior year of college, I had a plan: stay on campus, take summer classes, and work so I could graduate on time. The plan depended on one thing—a car. A boyfriend at the time had promised to help me get one, and I believed him. That car was supposed to be the key to everything, including moving from my dorm to my summer apartment.

But when the time came, he ghosted me. I was stranded in a closed dorm, surrounded by all my possessions, with no car and no way to move them. I lost it. I called my dad, sobbing, three hours from home.

Three hours later, he showed up. No hesitation. No lecture. He packed up my things, moved me out, and brought me home. And waiting for me there? A car. A beat-up 1980 Chevy Monza that he had scraped together $800 to buy because I needed it.

That’s who he was. He didn’t just tell me he loved me—he showed me. Again and again.

Core Values That Built Confidence

Thanks to my dad, integrity, loyalty, honesty, and hard work aren’t just words to me. They’re the foundation of everything I’ve built. He taught me that you have to respect the person looking back at you in the mirror and make choices that let you sleep at night.

He was my cheerleader, my sounding board, and my moral compass. He never let me forget who I was or where I came from. When I faced decisions that forced me to choose between what was easy and what was right, his voice was always there, steady and sure, reminding me to pick the path that would make me proud.

His Legacy Lives On

My dad passed away in 2009, and there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t miss him. I miss being able to pick up the phone and ask him what he thinks. He was my safe space to vent, complain, wallow, and then get back on track. Even now, when I’m staring down a challenge, I find myself wondering what he would say, how he would guide me, and what advice he would give.

Although my son never met his grandfather, I try every day to pass my dad’s lessons on to him. I tell him about the greatest man I’ve ever known, about how his grandfather believed integrity wasn’t just a value—it was a choice you make every single day. My dad taught me how to be a better person, and because of that, I am a better parent.

To the Mentors Who Shape Us

Today, on what would have been his 88th birthday, I celebrate the man who shaped my life and my career in ways he may never have fully realized. He wasn’t just my dad. He was my greatest mentor.

Here’s to the mentors who show up for us, who teach us what matters most, and who leave us better than they found us. And here’s to my dad, whose love, guidance, and wisdom continue to guide me through the moments that matter most.

Who shaped your values, your career, or your life? And what lessons are you passing on to the next generation?