AGT judge Simon Cowell says advice from his dad inspired his success

America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell is perhaps notorious for giving ruthless advice to would-be superstars on his TV talent show.

But the music mogul-turned-multimillionaire says he wouldn’t be where he is today if it weren’t for some early guidance from his father.

Speaking at an event in London this week, the British entrepreneur recalled being 12 when his father advised him.

“He said: Everyone had a sign over their heads that said, ‘Make me feel important,'” the now 63-year-old recalled at European Advertising Week.

At first, Cowell said, he was confused. But then he understood what his father meant.

“At the time, I thought, ‘What are you talking about?’ And then I got it. If you’re involved in something, everyone plays a part in it. It’s stuck in my head,” he said.

Cowell, who by his own admission was “incompetent,” said that class went on to shape his highly successful career.

At 16, he started working in the mailroom of music publishing company EMI Music, where he says he became interested in other people’s work and learned more about the industry.

“I was curious, so I drove everyone crazy. I used to walk into everyone’s office and ask them a million questions, and eventually I realized you don’t actually have to be eligible to sign an artist,” he said.

Then, years later, Cowell, who had established himself as a major music manager with bands like Westlife and Five, said he was inspired to open up his search for talent to the public.

This spawned his first UK TV talent show, Pop Idol, which went on to become a multinational franchise and eventually spawn variations including The X Factor and America’s Got Talent.

“The truth is, to really do this job … you just learn, you look, you listen,” he said.

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