Father Of All Tweetchats: Fatherly Advice And Tools For Success
“My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and let me watch him do it.”
— Clarence Budington Kelland
Our fathers are role models, and there’s much to learn from them (besides corny dad jokes)! With years — or decades — of experience, fathers have many helpful stories and life lessons to share. From teaching you how to grill or how to use money wisely, fathers are very important in our lives.
In celebration of Father’s Day this Sunday, we wanted to have some familiar faces join us and share their experiences as both fathers and successful entrepreneurs, and of course, bestow upon us some great fatherly advice for success! Thank you to Gene Petrov (@LDRBRND), Jason Kintzler (@jasonkintzler), Dan Willis (@MLLNNLmotivator), and Pete Howe (@petermorrishowe) for sharing your wisdom with all of us! Missed the Twitter Chat? Here’s a quick recap:
Q1: What is your best quality in yourself that you can attribute to your dad? How do you think this quality has helped in your success and who you are today?
Gene: My dad has always been a hard worker and he certainly passed that on to me. It is a precious gift in a time where too many people feel entitled to get whatever they want whenever they want it without having to earn it. Effort and success are intimately connected.
Jason: Most definitely it's work ethic. I was raised with a clear understanding of what it meant to work and how that would be reciprocated. My dad was also entrepreneurial, so I also could see that path was possible from an early age.
Dan: My dad had a simple mantra of "Hardwork and Honesty". It's ingrained in me.
Pete: My father taught me that everyone has something that makes them special and interesting. When I was in high school he encouraged me to get to know kids who were being bullied and find the wonderful things about them others overlooked.
Q2: Work from home / stay at home Dads have been on the rise, but with the recent changes, what do you think your children have learned from being closer to you while you work? What should you be sure they see more of you doing (since you know they’re watching)?
Gene: I've been WFH/SAH [working from home/staying at home] for a few years now. But there was certainly an adjustment with having everyone home all day, every day. I think it was good for my kids to see how my wife and I worked together to give each other space to work and to rest. Super important!
Jason: As weird as it sounds, I think my kids have seen me "at work" long before the recent events. Both of their parents are fully engaged both at home and with work. I do unplug and be present as much as possible, but ..A3a I'm not the type of dad that's going to overcompensate in that department. I really feel like I'm setting an example for them that will just be a part of their understanding of work and life.
Dan: The work ethic. They know I am up at 4:30 am and working hard all day long. It has instilled a great work ethic in them.
Pete: I hope they have learned to come ask me for help before problems get too out of hand (messes, fights, hunger). I would like to be sure they see me being patient and kind.
Q3: Dad’s got some cents! What lessons about money did you pick up on from your Dad? What financial lessons from your parents taught you the most?
Gene: “It's not how much money you make. It's how much you save.” This was a driving force in his life - especially as a poor immigrant. He knew that lean years and tough times were a reality. So it was important to plan ahead when there was a surplus. Sage advice.
Jason: Eeek. Honestly, I think I had to learn all that the hard way. My dad isn't a saver, but he's a hard worker. My grandfather saved and saved, but by the time he retired, he was too tired and crippled to enjoy it. I think that left an impression on my dad and I both.
Dan: The biggest one had to be that debt is not a currency. It can be a tool at times but it should never be treated as an equal to assets.
Q4: Being tough and “macho” isn’t always the answer. While self-confidence is important, so is humility, honesty, and growth. What can you teach them about courage, resiliency, and the importance of their actions and reputations? What can you teach them to create next generation leaders?
Gene: Really important concept here for dads. I want to teach my kids that I make mistakes and have failures. I get sad and cry. Men don't have to stuff their emotions and be some sort of robot. I want my kids to be emotionally healthy adults.
Jason: I feel like these kids are born with or without leadership or entrepreneurial mindsets. Their environment and influences certainly matter, but bottom line, the two biggest traits I want to instill are confidence and empathy. The rest is just extra credit.
Q5: Dad, for many, is your very first hero. What lessons do you make a point to instill in your kids? Why is this so important to you? How do you hit your points home and make sure they stick? How do you teach by example?
Gene: It can be exhausting but we focus on big principles a lot (and repeat them A LOT). Repetition is necessary to make the lessons stick for when they become adults. We specifically focus on: Kindness, Respect, Self-Control, Honesty, Integrity, Generosity, Loving Others
Jason: It comes back to work ethic. In work, in sports, and in life, hard work pays dividends. My kids inherently understand this because they see it day in and day out from their parents. Share the joy that comes with completing a project or a long mountain bike ride.
We also hope that you learned/related to the advice that these wonderful fathers gave! Before we end off, we want to wish all the fathers out there a happy Father’s Day!
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