Fathers Do What Leaders Do… You’re Not Going to Like This One.

Dads are leaders of the most important level of society there is, the family. I believe this with my entire being.

“Leaders are readers and readers are leaders.”

I didn’t even take the time to check out to whom to attribute this quote, but I believe it. It’s axiomatic. It’s almost a self-evident truth that needs no proof. If you want to lead well you have to be a continual learner and one part of being a constant learner is to read…books, blogs, papers, even novels from time to time. Good leaders know they don’t have all truth inside of themselves and knowledge is growing at an exponential rate and so to stay on top of things, to stay creative, to motivate one’s team, to think of a new way to solve an old problem, to see the trends, leaders have to be in the literature.

Leaders are readers and readers are leaders (influencers).

Dads are leaders of the most important level of society there is, the family.

I believe this with my entire being.

So my goal is to read at least one book on fathering per year. Still. I read a great book on fathering the other day while flying home from an event I was speaking at. My kids are all over 18, but I’m still learning. When my kids were young, I was reading two or three books a year on parenting because I had so much to learn. Growing up in a divorced home and not wanting a repeat of that in my clan, I vowed to learn how to do it right. I wanted to learn from recognized experts on family life; those who had done the right living and thinking on the subject.

I told you you weren’t going to like this. Most men don’t read and don’t really like to read. But you have simply got to force yourself to read. If your boss said that you could get a raise and a promotion if you read a certain amount of material, what would you do? You’d read the material whether you liked to read or not. If I said that you will be a more successful dad and build a better family if you read even if you don’t like reading, what would you do? Say, “I’d read.” Thanks. Part of maturity is not doing what we like but doing what we must.

Now this really isn’t fair because I like to read and I’m a passionate learner. Ok, you can’t immitate me on many things, but on this you can, become a passionate learner and keep on learning to lead your family well.

What should you read on fathering?

Uh…what I write…and there is a ton of other good stuff. Don’t forget the Bible!

I knew you wouldn’t like what I had to say. But I also know you want to be a success, so you’ll do it!

Strength and Courage,

Pete