"Like father, like son". I heard it most of my life. The one who first said it does not come to me. There is one thing wrong with the statement. It simply isn't true. Sons are not, and are not meant to be, clones of their fathers. Many sons have moved far beyond who and what their fathers were. Others have followed in the same vocations but moved in different directions with those vocations. Still others have become nothing like the father-parent, and even have set out to be as different as possible. As one reads through the Old Testament you see that sons were often different from their fathers. I am nothing like my father. He had abilities I could never touch. I have some that were not his. The blessing is that, in spite of being different, I am blessed with some of his ways and characteristics. He never encouraged me to be a railroad man. I never encouraged my son to be in ministry. I was free to choose as was and is my own son.
You probably read about Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral "firing" his son, who was heir apparent to that ministry located in California, but known through TV worldwide. The old man fired his son! He was taking the ministry a different direction and his father did not agree and had not relinquished his control. If Oral Roberts were still alive he might have done the same to Richard. He didn't have to. Others took care of it for him. Billy Graham turned that vast, sweeping ministry over to his son. The jury is still out, but it will never be the same, for sure. The son is no Billy Graham. On the other hand, Joel Osteen has far surpassed his preacher/father in building a tremendous following with his "feel good" preaching. He is no longer battling the Baptists from which his father came, but embracing them and all others to his ministry.
Each one of us has a purpose in life. For some it may be in following dad with the family farm. He had better do it different from fifty years ago, however, or it will fail. Others simply have to break away and follow their dreams. "Like father, like son.....". Only with God.