Daily Dose of Dad

Recently two of Albert’s Einsteins personal notes concerning his “secret to happiness” have surfaced in the media and I thought it very fitting that we look at the notes of the genius.  These notes sold recently for a combined $1.8 million, so apparently someone placed a great deal of importance on them.

“A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest”

“where there’s a will, there’s a way”

The first note commanded the highest price at auction at $1.56 million.  To me, this note seems to say to be content.  While I rarely am satisfied with being stagnant and content, I do think there is a weariness that comes with constantly pushing yourself to pursue success.  Burnout is common and frustrating.  I have also found that as I have gotten older, I find much more joy in the simpler things in life.  I encourage you to look around and embrace those simple things and not allow them to get lost in the shuffle as you reach for success in life.

The second note is a common saying we use today, but knowing it was embraced by Einstein can give us hope of reaching our goals.  Truly where there is a will, there is a way, but you must still put the will into motion and act upon it to reach the “way”.

My favorite musician is Dave Matthews.  I often find relevance in his lyrics and use those words to impact my world.  One of his most powerful statements is found in a line from the song You Might Die Trying.  It goes like this:

To change the world
It starts with one step 
However small
First step is hardest of all 
Once you get to your gate 
You will walk in tall 

Powerful words if you allow them to sink in.  Many times we procrastinate in moving into a new area of our life simply because of the size of the first step.  The first step is truly the hardest.  Finding the energy to step out of our comfort zone and venture into new territory is a challenging process.  However, as the verse says, once you take that step and are able to walk into that new realm, you will walk in tall .  Meet your challenges head-on and don’t be afraid to take that first step.

A young poet named Erin Hanson wrote a short, but very powerful poem several years ago.  The words are childlike, yet powerful.  The verses allow you to visualize a mother bird speaking to her newborn on his first attempt to leave the nest.

There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask, “What if I fall?”
Oh, but my darling,
What if you fly?

This poem should challenge you to not hold back on things that you want to achieve.  The risk of failure is assured for those who do not try, simply because you have robbed yourself or something so very important…hope.  I encourage you to take that first step toward achieving your goals and not be discouraged by others or by the size of the task.  Hold on to hope and maybe you too will fly.

A great list from author Travis Bradberry –

1. Quit doubting yourself. 

2. Quit putting things off. 

3. Quit thinking you have no choice.

4. Quit doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. 

5. Quit thinking everything is going to work out on its own. 

6. Quit saying “yes.” 

There are dozens of ways we get in the way of achieving our full potential. We doubt ourselves, we decide that something is just too hard, or we tell ourselves that we’ll worry about it tomorrow. If you really want to succeed—and I mean really succeed—stop focusing so much on what you should be doing and, instead, take a really good look at the things you should quit doing.

I am a father to four awesome boys and to one very special daughter.  It was a long wait for a daughter as she is number 4 in the order of my five children.  I will never forget the surprise I got in 2006 when the ultrasound revealed her to me and my wife.  The anxious silence in the room before we were told.  There is always that pause, when you could literally hear a pin drop, as the ultrasonographer quickly scans the screen, looking for things both good and bad.  Then she clears her throat and tells you “you have a girl”.  It’s a great feeling and I am so grateful that God blessed me with a daughter.  I’m so proud of her.

Today’s post is an abbreviated reprint of an article from Inc.com by Lolly Daskal.  Today I will list the final nine –

18 Hard Things to Do If You Want to Be a Successful Leader

10. You have to be transparent when you most want to be opaque.

11. You have to trust before you can be trusted.

12. You have to lead by example even when there is no path.

13. You have to be positive when everyone else goes negative.

14. You have to care about others–maybe more than they care about you.

15. You have to care about your character more than your reputation.

16. You have to ask questions even though people don’t always have answers.

17. You have to lead when no one is else is following.

18. You have to invest in yourself even though others may not.

Today’s post is an abbreviated reprint of an article from Inc.com by Lolly Daskal.  Today I will list the first nine –

18 Hard Things to Do If You Want to Be a Successful Leader

1. You have to be able to foresee the future but stay focused on the present.

2. You have to be able to reach your goals and deliver on results.

3. You have to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable.

4. You have to feel the fear and take the risk anyway.

5. You have to know how to inspire others while finding your own motivation.

6. You have to bring people along when they’re reluctant to move forward.

7. You have to embrace failure as you fail forward.

8. You have to be able to rise above drama and dysfunction.

9. You have to be accountable for your actions and responsible for your behavior.

One of the greatest joys I have ever known as a father is watching my four sons compete on the soccer field.  Whether working hard on defense to prevent a score or on the offensive side of the ball to get a score, the adrenaline rush is beyond comparison with most other things I have encountered.  It makes my palms sweat, my heart race, and my breath quicken.  Not because I am living vicariously through them to achieve any self gratification, but because I want them to succeed.  I had the unique pleasure of watching two of my sons this past weekend on the field.  One emerged victorious and one did not, but with each of them, I felt a closeness with them as they were on that field.  The hours of practice, sweating in the heat, suffering through injury, and planning and discussing strategy culminating with a performance with and against their peers is hugely rewarding, win or lose.  I am so proud of all four of them in so many ways, but watching all four of them play soccer has been so gratifying.  Thank you guys for giving something so great to your father.  I remain – very proud of you!

Another great portion of a Switchfoot song:

The verse goes like this:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

So the question is, are you fighting the good fight?  If not, when do you start?  If you procrastinate, how can you be sure that you still have time to fight the good fight?

The order of the three statements within the verse is important.  You must fight the good fight to finish the race and if you do, you will have certainly remained faithful.  I encourage you to fight the fight everyday.  Stand up for what is good and right and just.  Don’t simply conform because you see the masses march in step to what seems popular or socially acceptable.  Stand firm on a Godly foundation and resist temptation.  You will indeed be victorious.