Thread by @tyromper

My dads an incredibly smart man.

•Great leader
•Can fix anything
•Socially strong & networks well
•Read a book a week for 30 years

He NEVER moved up in his company.

I asked him WHY & the answer he gave me brought me to tears.

Here’s THE BEST LESSON my dad ever taught me.

He told me at 25 he gave up drinking for good.

His dad was a war hero but had a drinking problem & he was on the same path until he met Jesus at 24 & I was born.

He didn’t go to college.

He married my mom at 18 to escape childhood & at 18.5 they were pregnant with my sister.

He had to grow up fast & took a job at an auto parts store at 18.

He was quickly promoted & promoted again to assistant manager by 20.

At 23 he was promoted to manager & running his entire shop.

The money was good,
but the hours weren’t.

60 + hours a week & never home.

His mentor, a man named Bill Miller, & a manager of a bigger store was stepping down after 40 years of service.

My dad went to congratulate him afterward & what Bill told him changed my dads life & ultimately mine forever.

He pulled my dad aside and said,

Garry it’s NOT WORTH IT.
I’m an old man now.

I gave everything to this company.
I missed my sons baseball games &
my daughters dance recitals.

After 40 years I got this F*cken watch.

He threw it away.

I wish I could go back & NOT work so much.

My kids are grown & moved away.

My dad remained friends with Bill & the next year decided to step down as manager.

He went on to work as a parts guy 5 days a week from 7:30-3:30.

The thing I always recall about my childhood is my dad was always home & always there on weekends playing & coaching!

Truthfully, this decision cost our family money.

We grew up on the bottom cusp of lower middle class.

But looking back,
My childhood was the greatest!

I never had the newest anything.

We didn’t dine at fancy places or take extravagant vacations.

MY DAD WAS MY HERO THOUGH!

He worked as a parts guy for Ford & another couple companies over the next 40 years until retiring last year.

He also:
•Coached all my sisters teams
•Made every dance recital of hers
•Coached me in: ⚾️ 🏀 ⚽️ 🏃🏈

To this day his nickname among my friends is:

“THE LEGEND!”

He also ran 12 full marathons.

Got my mom into running & working out & they did a marathon together!

He volunteered for our small town 26 years in a row & built a gym there that is used by hundreds now.

He still coaches & mentors youth today in that gym.

This is him recently.

He also got my sister & I interested in health & fitness from an early age.

Our family has run 5 relay marathons together.

Here’s him & my sister running their first race together & another one 40 years later!

My kids are active & healthy & so are my sisters because of him.

I reflect back on what my childhood would’ve been like if my dad did the “normal” thing.

If he prioritized WORK & MONEY over FAMILY & HEALTH like a lot of men do.

I’m grateful he decided NOT to be “normal” & climb the company ladder.

I’m glad he was home!

PRESENCE > PRESENTS

Now that I’m a father of 3 I’ve made similar choices.

I was promoted many times in corporate banking & found myself making great money with great incentives.

Those incentives came at too high a cost for me tho.

3 years ago I told my boss I’m quitting corporate to be home more.

I worked 2.5 days a week as an entry level employee instead of running a staff & branch.

I was 37.

My boss was flabbergasted,

“Once you go down you never come back up he warned!”

I did this many months until I grew my side business & was able to quit completely 2 years ago!

I called my dad to tell him,

Thanks dad,

I love you & I’m going to honor your legacy & continue to pour into what matters just the way you taught me!

I’m going to coach all my kids games just like you!

I’m going to lead my family on adventures & pour in daily just like you!

I know my path isn’t for all.

I also know the role of a man is:
•PROTECT
•PROVIDE
•PRESIDE

I take all of those very seriously.

We have systems in place & for over 9 years we built income streams, passive income & live far below our means to make this possible.

We got super intentional & decided
Less stuff
-new cars
-fancy watch
-vacation home
-designer clothes

Weren’t worth me working a job I didn’t love for the next 25 years & being gone 50hours/week.

I’d rather live frugally & be around the people I love doing things I love more.

Perhaps my kids will grow up & follow a similar path or perhaps my daughter will grow up & be the first female President :)

Either way I’ll support their dreams & I’ll be there each step of the way to cheer them on, support them & love them!

Most important to me,
I’LL BE THERE!

So again,

I don’t challenge anyone that loves their work & works 80 hours a week that my way is better.

We all make choices that we think is BEST FOR US.

My one final thought to you would be:

•Pause a bit.
•Reflect.
•Get off autopilot.

If you do work a job you don’t love,

Look around,

Is the stuff worth it?

Ask yourself WHY you keep going day in & day out?

Can you set a plan in motion to get out?

My dads friend Bill Miller once said he would give anything to go back & get TIME with his kids.

TIME is the one thing we never get back.

I’ll forever be grateful my father,
THE LEGEND,

Paused a bit & decided he wanted to be PRESENT more than just give us PRESENTS.

I sincerely hope you do the same & whatever conclusion you come to you go full steam at it & live your best life too!

Cheers & have a blessed day.

Thanks for reading:

We get 18 summers & they go fast!

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