Becoming a father is one of the best experiences a man can experience. It can also bring some unique challenges to entrepreneurs.
The financial obligations and daily responsibilities of raising children can (and should) take priority over your business goals and personal pursuits at times. As a dad and owner of many businesses, I understand this. Juggling both roles can be challenging, but incredibly rewarding.
After a decade as an entrepreneur and a dad, I’ve implemented a few habits that have helped me be a present father while pursuing my business goals.
Prioritize Your Time
If you don’t prioritize your time as a dad and entrepreneur, you’ll soon find that you’ve made little to no progress with your goals. It’s important to remember that you cannot do everything, so focus on the activities that matter the most to your business and family.
Make a list of tasks and goals you need to accomplish each day and assign a priority level to each one. This can help you stay focused and ensure that you are spending your time on the tasks that get you closer to what you want to become. Set aside specific times each day to spend with your family and loved ones. This can include activities like reading a book with your children or watching a movie with your spouse.
By prioritizing and scheduling your time, you can be present in the moment and avoid distractions that could pull you away from your goals.
Everything you do can either get you further away or closer to the person you are meant to be. Whether it’s forming a daily habit or making a small sacrifice, it all matters in the long run. Choose your daily actions wisely and you will see success in all areas of your life.
Be Disciplined
Your business success depends on your discipline and ability to execute your plans. The same applies to parenting. Raising children requires discipline and structure to ensure they stay on track and develop the necessary values and habits to succeed in life.
Every good parent wants their children to succeed. If you’re reading this, then you are one of those parents. If you can practice daily discipline in your life, your kids will be more inclined to do the same based on your example.
As an entrepreneur dad, it’s vital to establish boundaries and have a routine that takes care of both your business and family life. This way, you won’t feel like dad duties are interfering with your business or vice versa.
Have you read the book, The Miracle Morning? If you haven’t, you should.
Choosing to have a morning routine that includes exercise, meditation/reading, and being present with my family has been a game-changer for me over the years. Starting my day with a little discipline sets the tone for the rest of my day and, as a result, has set the tone for my life.
Delegate
I own a lot of businesses. People often ask me how I do it all. My answer is simple, “I don’t.”
I delegate so much of what happens behind the scenes to people I trust. People who I believe can do the job better than me. It’s already been said in this blog post but I will say it again, you cannot do everything yourself.
There will be times when you need to delegate tasks to others to get things done faster and more efficiently. Whether that means hiring someone to help with your business or asking your spouse to help with the household duties, delegation can allow you to focus on the essential things while still being present with your family.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, especially if it will help you find more time to spend with your family. Men, in general, often have a hard time dropping their egos and asking for help. I promise it will be key to achieving your goals and getting you to where you want to go.
Start today by evaluating your daily and weekly tasks along with things you want to do more of but can’t, due to time constraints. Choose a few tasks that you can delegate, and calculate how much time that would save you every week. Now compare that free time to the time it will take you to do the things you want to do more of.
Very soon, you will see how much time you can start dedicating to more meaningful tasks now that you’ve decided to start delegating.
Remember the words of Elon Musk, “There’s no way you can work without sleep. You need to rest and recharge. You need to enjoy the moment, enjoy the journey, and not just be a workhorse.” Fatherhood and building a business are to be enjoyed. They are challenging but rewarding.
Balancing fatherhood and entrepreneurship is not an easy task, but with the right mindset and approach, it is possible to achieve success on both fronts. By prioritizing, disciplining yourself, and delegating, you can build your empire and still be present for your family.
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