I've long believed (and personally experienced) the profound impact a dad can have on his daughter.  From how she sees and feels about herself to how she relates to the opposite sex, dads wield some pretty significant influence.  

A new article in Forbes suggests that influence even extends into her career choice.  A study conducted last year by the University of Maryland found that girls are three times more likely to follow in the career footsteps of their fathers than their peers a century ago.  The article goes on to point out that one additional point of difference is having a profound impact on girls and that is the amount of time dads spend with their daughters.  The result are girls who feel respected, admired and loved.  That emotional grounding is enough to set any child--male or female--on the road to success.

As the summer swings into high gear, make spending time with your kids a priority. And encourage your spouse to do likewise.  If your workplace allows it, let them join you for a day at the office to learn more about what you do when you are away from them. Tell them about the careers you considered, why you ruled them out and what you would do differently.  Recognize the unique talents and gifts they have and start a conversation about how they might use those gifts either as a paying career or as a support to the community.  Above all, let them know you love them for who they are, not what they do.