"Daddy Work!"

Leading the Extra Mile; P4

“Daddy work!” That’s what I heard my 2-year-old son yell from his high-chair at 6 in the morning as I was coming down the stairs. I turned the corner and saw him smiling and waving, repeating the phrase “Daddy work! Daddy work!” It caught me by surprise and got me thinking about a lot of things. I have always considered myself a family first kind of person and with my son making the announcement of my departure, I began to reflect on my time and how I spend it. Without question my family is the most important thing in my life and everything I do is for them. Growing up, my parents never missed a game, event, ceremony etc. and that is how I have prioritized my relationship with my wife and son. Sometimes we get so caught up in the challenges and triumphs that come with our careers, that at times, we forget to stop and smell the roses. Be in the moment. Revisit those priorities and realign yourself. Do we need to make a living to support our families? Of course, but don’t forget supporting your family isn’t just financial, but emotional and physical. As professionals we want to excel and demonstrate our dedication to our profession and those we support. It’s tough sometimes to balance trying to get ahead and ensuring we devote enough time to our family and friends. A lack of work-life balance will not foster happiness but rather create burnout, resentments between people, and can potentially impact health negatively. That work-life balance will help ensure that you are successful by recharging your batteries, relieving stress, and reminding you what truly matters in the long-run. I’m not going to remember the number of times I was promoted, the number of successful PowerPoints I delivered, the times that I met or exceeded metrics. What I will remember are the amount of wedding anniversaries we celebrated, my son’s first steps, the birthdays, and games that I was there to coach, the graduations and major life milestones. Those are what I live for and that’s what keeps me motivated at work. Someone once said that at the end of your life you won’t wish you had spent more time in the office; you’ll wish you had spent more time with the ones that mean the most to you. There will always be times where there is give and take between work and life. Hopefully, more times than not, you’re giving to your family and taking in those ‘oh so sweet’ memories.