Mike the Milkman’s Wisdom: Why Priorities Matter

You wouldn’t guess it from his unassuming title, but Mike the Milkman is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. He was my father-in law and good friend. RIP Mike.

Mike started off loading milk crates on the back of milk trucks. When I met him he and his wife, Joyce, owned a large dairy distributorship. They retired in their early 50s.

He didn’t have an Ivy League education or a fancy corner office. What he had was people skills, common sense, and a knack for making the right decisions when it mattered most. And let’s not forget Joyce, his wife of six decades, who I still try to talk to and see 4-5 times a week, who is just as smart and the engine behind their success—both in business and in raising three remarkable daughters.

Mike started his career hefting milk crates, working long days on the back of delivery trucks. Twenty years later, he owned his own distributorship, chaired the board of a local bank, and retired comfortably at 52. His secret? Keeping his priorities in the right order:

1.  Health first. Without it, you can’t take care of anyone else.
2.  Family second. Love, support, and prioritize them.
3.  Work third. Do your best, serve your customers, and never cut corners.

I learned that lesson the hard way. Fresh out of law school, I believed success meant outworking everyone else. I pulled marathon days, skipped weekends, and ignored the toll it took on my well-being. But as I climbed the ladder, representing high-profile clients in Orange County, I saw the cracks in the facade. Big houses, expensive cars, miserable lives. Many of these “successful” people were drowning in stress, failing marriages, and distant relationships with their kids.

Mike’s advice changed everything. Now, when a new opportunity comes my way, I channel my inner milkman. I ask: Will this hurt my health? Will it steal time from my family? Does it align with my professional goals? If the answers don’t measure up, the opportunity can wait.

Because at the end of the day, no one wishes they’d spent more time chasing invoices. Follow Mike’s three keys, and trust me—you’ll deliver the life you really want.

Mitch Jackson | links