Several weeks ago, I used this column to share lessons I learned from my parents in recognition of Mother's Day and Father's Day. My intention was to honor mothers and fathers everywhere for the wisdom they impart to their children.

The column apparently struck a chord, because I had a record response from readers about similar advice they received from their parents. And with Father's Day fresh on my mind, I can't think of a better time to pass some of it on to you.

One person said her father taught her the difference between needs and wants. There are items that we need in order to live and there are items that we want, but can live without.

Another writer mentioned character. He said it wasn't something his parents taught him, but rather showed him in the way they lived their lives. In other words, want a good kid? Be a good adult.

One reader even sent a link to a video that was made as a tribute to his own father as well as a legacy for his sons that explained his philosophy of life. It was so inspirational, as well as an enduring gift that many of us can imitate.

And on and on the responses went. How gratifying that so many chose to share their own experiences of the tremendous wisdom gleaned from their parents. Here are some of the dozens that I received.

-- All choices have consequences. Stop and think about what you are doing and what might result. And then accept responsibility for your actions, even if it hurts.

-- Appreciate what you have. It's more important to want what you have than to have everything you want.

-- Trust your instincts, but always do your homework. The time it takes to do a little, or a lot, of research to confirm your hunches is time well-spent.

-- Almost doesn't count. Don't settle for almost right, almost finished or almost good enough.

-- Hard work means no shortcuts. Work efficiently, but do the job right. Cutting corners doesn't cut it.

-- Always have a contingency plan. Life is full of surprises. Sometimes you have to change your plan or your strategy to deal with those events. I call this making mid-course corrections.

-- Embrace life's choices head-on. It's your life, so live it to the fullest. You never want to look back with regrets about the "what ifs?"

-- Values matter. When you sacrifice your values, you sacrifice your reputation.

-- You are only as good as your word. If people can't trust you to tell the truth, then nothing else matters. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

-- Cream doesn't rise to the top; it works its way up. Paying your dues is not a punishment, it's called getting experience.

-- Choose family over money. No amount of money or success can take the place of spending time with your family or those closest to you.

-- Forgive and forget. Carrying a grudge is a heavy burden. Wouldn't you rather rise above than sink down to the offender's level?

-- Hope springs eternal. When you give up hope, you give up.

I am grateful that I can still hear my father's advice when I need to make a tough decision. I learned not only from his words but also from his example.

My good friend Lou Holtz said the best advice he ever got about marriage and raising a family is that the most important thing you can do as a father is to show your children that you love their mother.

And here's what Martha Stewart wrote about her own dad, in a post on the LinkedIn networking site: "The best advice I've ever received was from my father when I was 12 years old ... He told me that with my personal characteristics, I could, if I set my mind to it, do anything I chose. This advice instilled in me a great sense of confidence, and despite the fact that sometimes I was a little nervous, I stepped out and did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I think it really often is up to the parents to help build confidence in their children. It is a very necessary part of growing up."

Mackay's Moral: Parents teach lessons, even when they think no one is watching.

From all appearances, Gretchen Carlson has lived a charmed life. From being a child violin prodigy to admission to Stanford University to becoming Miss America and then a tremendously successful broadcast television personality, happily married with two children she adores, she seems to have it all.

But it was not just handed to her, nor was it a series of lucky breaks. Gretchen's brand-new book, "Getting Real," is a how-to for developing a life plan and carrying it out.

I am delighted to recommend this memoir by a fellow native Minnesotan. Her story is a remarkable example of how hard work and discipline produced results in every phase of her life.

In her own words, Gretchen was accustomed to making sacrifices to achieve her goals. Whether it was practicing her violin for hours, studying hard, working out or hitting the bricks to break into television news reporting, she kept her goals in plain sight and persevered until she reached them.

In the book, she shares how she picked up her violin after a several-year hiatus to prepare for the Miss Minnesota pageant: "Once I started practicing, I was instantly back in my old mode. I discovered that the competitive spirit never goes away. Returning to music taught me something, not just about playing the violin, but about having that fire, that desire to achieve ... I had put aside my drive, thinking it was time for a rest. But I saw I needed it, I was born with it. You can teach people skills to hone their craft, but unless they have the fire in their belly, the skills don't matter. I never again let my passion slide."

Gretchen writes of the pageant: "I'm not saying that looks didn't enter it, although I wasn't even close to being the prettiest. It was about competing on a high level and challenging myself to be at the top of my game. It was about winning scholarship money that would help me pursue my dreams."

Let me add a personal note here. I was a judge at the 2001 Miss America pageant, and it is so much more than a beauty contest. Talent counts for 40 percent of the score, the evening gown/personality/expression portion is 40 percent and the swimsuit competition is 20 percent. In other words, a contestant must be talented and well-spoken if she hopes to have any chance of winning.

But being Miss America didn't automatically open doors for her. After completing her degree at Stanford, Gretchen faced the same challenge that so many new grads faced: You can't get hired without experience, and you can't get experience without being hired. Again, perseverance and hard work won the day.

Her job search led her to Richmond, Virginia, and then to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas and New York. She had to deal with sexual harassment and an ongoing threat from a stalker who followed her from city to city. Her fighting spirit, however, helped her keep her goal in view. She mentions one of her proudest achievements, the American Women in Radio and Television "Best Series" award for a 30-part series on domestic violence for KSAX in Dallas. She currently hosts "The Real Story" on the Fox News Channel.

As a mother, she shares her work ethic with her children. "Personally, I have ambition for my kids to excel, but these days it's a challenge to define for them what excellence really means," she writes. "I know from experience how wonderful it is to compete and win, and while it is disappointing to lose, it's also an opportunity for parents to teach kids a very important lesson -- that failure in life is a key to success."

Gretchen has shared a fascinating story that serves as a blueprint for setting goals and achieving success. Hard work, determination, perseverance -- now that's "Getting Real."

Mackay's Moral: Let this Miss America show you how to achieve the real American dream.

One day, the body and its parts began to criticize the belly for enjoying a life of idleness and luxury, while they spent all their time working to feed it. So they entered into a conspiracy to cut off the belly's supplies in the future.

The hands would no longer carry food to the mouth, nor would the mouth receive the food, nor would the teeth chew it. Not long after following this plan, the parts began to fail, and the whole body began to waste away.

Then the members realized that the belly, which seemed cumbersome and useless, had an important function of its own. They could no more do without it than it could do without them. If they wanted to keep the body in a healthy state, they must work together, each in his proper sphere, for the common good of all.

The moral of this Aesop's Fable: Only by working together can the greatest good for all be achieved.

In a word, teamwork. You have to work together.

Everyone wants to be the star. Unfortunately, stars rarely win anything by themselves. For any star to shine, a team is needed to back him or her up.

Ask Babe Ruth if he could have won a single baseball game all by himself. Ask Henry Ford if he could have built a car company all by himself. Ask Thomas Edison if he could have made all his inventions all by himself.

No matter how good you are, you can be better when you work with the right team. In the business world, you need to provide an atmosphere where teamwork is not only encouraged but expected.

More importantly, everyone on the team not only has to pursue the same goal, but must also feel that his or her role is crucial to the team's success.

To illustrate the importance of assembling a team, consider these questions:

Do you need more than one person? Maybe the work calls for different skill sets or different perspectives. Or maybe it's just too much work for one person to handle. For example, a chef alone can't run a restaurant; waiters, busboys, dishwashers and other people are required. Form a team when you really need a concerted effort.

Will the project create a common purpose? Sometimes forming a team is useful when you want to build a sense of teamwork in your department. If the project will pull people together and give them a common goal, a team can strengthen bonds and have a positive effect long after the task is completed.

Can you depend on the team members to support each other? If the team consists of members who don't get along or respect the others' contributions, the work will suffer. Promote team-building exercises and activities to enhance the group's dynamics. Provide opportunities for each team member to showcase their contribution.

Finally, does the project truly require a team to accomplish the goal? If a project can be completed successfully by one person, why waste the skills and talents of otherwise busy workers? Use teams wisely to maximize productivity.

Don't underestimate the value of creating teamwork opportunities outside the normal business arena. Company ball teams, choirs, volunteer projects and outings allow people to get to know each other on a different level, which can translate into better cooperation in the work place.

Mackay's Moral: Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.