Susan Sarich wrote her dad a letter this Father's Day thanking him for all the lessons he taught her.
''I thought that was a better gift than a tie this year,'' said Susan.
Susan said her father instilled in her a strong work ethic, which has helped her build and run her business, SusieCakes, a bakery with six locations in California.
Her father, Ken, was a fireman in Chicago. Firemen work 24 hours straight and then get two days off. Ken also had two other jobs. Eventually, he worked his way up to Battalion Chief in the firehouse.
''He was constantly working,'' said Susan. ''He never complained.'' That inspired her to always put her ''whole heart and soul'' into whatever she was doing.
Despite her success, Susan stays humble and involved in every aspect of her business -- another lesson her dad taught her. Her father, who started his career working for the Department of Streets and Sanitation, picking up trash and shoveling snow, told her: "You are not above any job.''
Indeed. To this day, Susan still takes out the trash, washes dishes, cleans the front mirrors and even unplugs toilets when duty calls.
''The general manager is not more important than the prep cook,'' she said.
