Firstly, the Son has possibly spent all the holidays of his adolescence either following Dad and his workmates to job sites and labouring for them, or doing work with Dad around the house. All those hours spent around a successful trades person are hours where the Son is learning how to emulate the successful habits and practices of the Dad. It wasn’t necessarily intentional (Dad may have wanted Son to go to uni and become an engineer), but it is an effective communication of knowledge and skills.

Secondly, the Dad may have hereditary attributes which make him a brilliant tradie. That may be physical size or strength, dexterity, etc. etc. The Son may have received these in his genetic inheritance.

Thirdly, the Dad knows what disciplines it takes to be a great tradie, and may have inculcated these in his son. Getting up early, paying attention to detail, looking after your tools - all of these things may be intentionally taught at home.

Lastly, Dad can probably instruct the Son on how to play the game of getting started. Either the Son can work for Dad, or Dad can make a call and get the Son to work for a mate, or Dad knows the right place to apply, and exactly what they are looking for. Once begun, Dad can make sure his Son takes the overtime, buys the best tools, treats people right, works on the bigger and better jobs.

So while Dad being a great tradesperson doesn’t guarantee that the Son will follow in his footsteps, Dad can do an awful lot to improve the Son’s chances.

Yeah, but just because Father is a successful plumber doesn’t mean that Son will be.