Can You Be a Great Father and a Great Businessman?

When my life is complete, my hope is that my children will say I was both a great father and a great businessman.

I think about this often. What does it take to be great at both and what are the key similarities in human qualities that should impact both?

In business, I believe you can be great with a few key elements:

1. Knowledge: Do you own your position and the craft you are in?
2. Hustle: When others pull their foot off the gas pedal, do you press down?
3. Kindness: Do you treat others the way you want to be treated?
4. Ability to Bust Through Brick Walls: When you have a bad day, do you wipe it away and kick the next day’s butt?

In being a great father, can these traits work, too?

1. Knowledge: Are you constantly learning what makes a great parent specifically for your kids?
2. Hustle: Even when you are exhausted, do you find a way to give your children the love and attention they deserve?
3. Kindness: Do you treat your kids with respect?
4. Ability to Bust Through Brick Walls: When you have a bad day as a parent, do you move onto the next and make the next day great for your kids?

Perhaps I am oversimplifying it, but those foundations resonate well with me. They become guiding principles for executing well as a father and as a businessman.

Executing on both, though, can be hard – especially in the hustle category.

We are taught, as individuals, that the 80-hour work week is a symbol of hustle. However, the true hustle is being as efficient as you can in less than that. Quality hours far surpass wasted time. I have focused hard on this. I try to make the best of the hours I have. The most important measurement is: did I accomplish everything I wanted, and if not, then extra hours may be necessary.

We are also taught the importance of work/life balance. For me, they turn into much of the same – and I would argue that’s not unhealthy. I love what I do and never see it as a job – more so an endless journey.

So, can you truly be great at being a father and a businessman? I believe so. It’s not necessarily always easy to balance both, but with craft and principles, anything is possible.