…And What I Did to Transform Into a Man Living & Leading From The Heart!

As the new year begins, I want you to reflect on the past few years as an entrepreneurial man and consider how you treat your wife kids. Ponder this question – Do I treat my family differently than my clients – if so, why?

Unfortunately, reflecting on my life, I recognize where I have done this. My wife’s comment, “I wish you supported me like you do your clients and social media friends, “ struck me. Talk about a gut punch!

Here I was, pouring my heart into clients and social media “friends,” while my family received my leftovers, which was little more than a short-tempered, grumpy old man. It’s no surprise they bought me a Grumpy Dwarf shirt from Disney.

Regrettably, I learned far too late in life what it means to be a husband and a dad, leading from the heart. If it weren’t for Paige putting up with my nonsense for 35 years and my kids willing to speak the truth like their mom, I would still be rolling down a destructive path.

Transformation isn’t for the faint of heart, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s fundamentally different from a short-term change or quick fix to get your way or calm a tense situation. With transformation, you’ll never return to the old you. Have you ever seen a butterfly transform back into a caterpillar? Transformation means you’re finally addressing who you truly are and drawing a line in the sand!

I didn’t become a toxic man, husband, and father overnight, and the transformation didn’t come without discomfort or happen overnight. I also learned not to expect those closest to me to see the change occurring, at least not initially. When we violate trust and safety, it takes time to rebuild both. Even with transformation, we still face the natural repercussions of our past actions or lack thereof.

In seeking discomfort, striving to be uncomfortable, and aspiring to be the best husband, friend, and dad I can be, regardless of the pain it entails, I am becoming a man who lives and leads directly from the heart, not with iron fists and a razor-sharp edge tongue.

The Jewish scholar Paul wrote the following:

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Now, these three remain: faith, hope, and love — but the greatest of these is love.”

I’m here to listen if you’re ready to talk and begin your transformation. Let’s walk this journey together! As the new year starts, I want you to reflect on the last few years as an Entrepreneurial man and ponder how you treat your wife and kids.