This advice from my dad when I was 7 years old has made me happier and healthier.

My sister and I were forced to go on lengthy bike rides with our parents every summer. I would ride behind my dad's bike on a tagalong attachment, while my toddler sister was secured in a yellow netted trailer.

Our trips were not casual like "Let's ride to the 7-Eleven in the neighborhood." Instead, my dad would tighten my shoelaces, adjust my helmet strap under my chin, and apply greasy sunscreen on all my freckles before we embarked on our half-day adventures along West Michigan's White Pine Trail.

He would chant, "Don't cheat your body! Don't cheat your body!" as if he could sense my weak legs struggling up the hills. I would roll my eyes.

My dad, a psychologist, thinks shortcuts often mean doing something poorly.

Despite my mistakes in school, such as not getting straight As and being a poor violin player, I still managed to receive a standing ovation from my dad at a figure skating competition, even though I didn't execute any jumps.

During my sophomore year of high school, I attempted to conceal a poor report card by stating that I wouldn't attend college and would instead join Disney On Ice.

"My dad said, "Perhaps you will, but remember to leave yourself the choice to do both.""

While many fathers desire their children to be truthful, diligent, and multifaceted, studies indicate that mine places a strong emphasis on prioritizing our emotional and creative pursuits.

Despite having two jobs, my dad set aside time to attend my skating competitions, football games with my sister, and even fit in a few rounds of golf every week, to my mother's amazement.

My commitment to not cheating myself helped me achieve success in college, graduate school, and ultimately fulfill my childhood dream of living in New York.

Every Christmas, my family and I go for walks on the White Pine Trail, taking care not to stop until my dad's phone indicates we've covered exactly six-point-zero miles.

Career, money and life advice from the dads of CNBC Make It staff

The advice given by your father, whether it is corny or wise, has a significant impact on our thoughts and actions. It influences our perspectives on humor, finances, careers, relationships, and our own identities. In this article, the CNBC Make It team shares some of their favorite pieces of advice from their fathers.

• Whenever my dad would drop me off for a school dance or some other adolescent social gathering, he'd remind me to stay true to myself and my values, even when it might not be the "cool" thing to do.
• My dad advises against getting tattooed, prioritizing maxing out 401k contributions, maintaining a strong reputation, living within means, and saving cash for future purchases.
• My dad reportedly sang this Hafez verse to my sisters and me, which translates to "Don't waste your time on those who don't deserve it." - Elham Ataeiazar, animator.
• This April, my dad turned 50 years old. Over the past half century, he has learned three things that have helped him experience more happiness and fulfillment: trusting his intuition, avoiding unnecessarily stressful situations, and doing what he loves. –Renée Onque, health and wellness reporter

• When considering a new project, my dad, an architect who owned his own firm, had three criteria: personal interest, client involvement, and money. If the project met at least two out of the three criteria, he would take it on. This is something I thought about a lot when job hunting. –Zachary Green, producer
• "Two types of individuals exist: those who act quickly and those who are hungry," as stated by Jessica Leibowitz, supervising producer.
• As a middle school student, I asked my dad, a professional marketing writer at the time, to edit my English essays. "This is good," he said. "Now cut it in half." I protested and worked hard to achieve the impossible task, but he told me, "This is good. Now cut it in half again." After hours of work, I finally managed to pull it off. The essay received an A, and I was both annoyed and proud. Later that year, he started asking me to edit his writing. We discussed the importance of learning to edit in the writer's voice, not your own. Although I'm not sure if he was trying to train me as a journalist, the lessons I learned are applicable to my life today. Thank you, Dad!

• Tasia Jensen, producer, recounts how her father advised her to either solve her financial problems in NYC or return home to Utah when she was struggling to make ends meet. Despite the tough advice, she is still in NYC five years later and appreciates her father's directness, which helps her stay focused and motivated.
• As we were exiting our home, my father would impart two pieces of advice to my brothers and me: "Avoid wooden nickels" and "Return with your shield or on it." The underlying message was "Stay alert; don't be deceived or swindled," and "Give it your all and pursue your goals with vigor, so that you either succeed or perish in the attempt." - Ester Bloom, deputy managing editor.

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