How much time do you devote to your work and family?
We all want our businesses to succeed, but at what cost? If your life revolves around your work alone, it may be time to reassess how you view your relationships with your work and family.
Here at The Mentee Podcast, we know how difficult it is to be both a good parent and entrepreneur, but we want to remind you that at the end of the day, your family is as important as your business. In this episode, Craig Kessler, author of The Dad Advice Project, talks all about his journey of writing his book and becoming a better dad.
Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:
- Being open about your struggles can help you find support
- Parenting is both a responsibility and a privilege
- Children need both good parents and good mentors
- Exposing your children to your work or business gives them a head start
- Don’t feel guilty about spending time with your family
Episode Highlights:
[04:44] Craig’s Journey
Craig Kessler was the Chief Operating Officer of Topgolf before becoming the Chief Executive Officer at Buff City Soap. Buff City Soap started as gifts given to its founder’s family and friends. An influx of positive reviews then transformed what started in a garage in Memphis, Tennessee into a franchise with 190 stores.
[06:30] The Dad Advice Project
Craig’s book, The Dad Advice Project, is a compilation of letters from people he knows about being a dad. He never had the closest relationship with his father, so since he couldn’t ask his father when he had questions, Craig turned to his friends who could relate to him.
Craig shares that the book isn’t about giving advice; instead, it focuses on the mistakes and hardships of being a father. Men tend to be private about their struggles with relationships, and Craig saw how the book helped them open up.
[13:01] Advice for Dads
The book touches on many major themes including:
- Encouraging your kids and helping them feel safe
- Spending time with your kids; quality over quantity isn’t true
- Loving your spouse and making sure your kids know it
Craig also shares tactical advice. These are several activities you can try in your home. For example, Craig’s family has a tradition of gratitude every month. Each family member will introduce themselves and share what they’re grateful for. This practice helps the kids build confidence, storytelling skills, and gratitude. Learn more by listening to the full episode!
It’s not enough to be a good parent; children also need to be surrounded by mentors they can look up to. Craig surrounds himself with a variety of people and makes sure his kids feel comfortable asking him for advice.
[19:04] Balancing Life and Work
Before working with Topgolf, Craig worked at a private equity firm. As Topgolf’s COO, Craig helped the company grow from 15 to 70 venues and from 5000 to 25,000 associates.
Despite how busy he is with work, Craig makes the effort to balance his work and life. On the weekends he has work, he brings his kids along. They even know the staff and management teams! In a way, Topgolf became family for them too. Craig also makes it a point to be home for dinner and present with his family.
Your work and business growth will always be waiting for you to return. Don’t feel guilty about spending time with your family.
[23:32] Helping Craig
Craig wants to help people become better dads to give kids better lives. Check out his book, The Dad Advice Project, to learn more about good parenting.
Resources Mentioned:
https://www.amazon.com/Dad-Advice-Project-Words-Wisdom/dp/1642939447
