As a professional speaker, this picture with my son last night is one of my favorites. It’s not a picture of me speaking in front of a large audience. It’s not a picture of me winning an award. It’s not a picture of me trying to look like something I’m not.
It’s a picture of a dad, who had the opportunity to volunteer as a coach with his 9 year old son just before he did something his dad never got a chance to do. Get a hit on a Major League baseball field!
Every Spring in Goodyear, Arizona, the city allows the local Little League teams the opportunity to play one game in the Goodyear Ballpark. It is the Spring Training Stadium for the Cleveland Guardians and the Cincinnati Reds. Last night a group of 7,8 and 9 year old baseball players had the opportunity to play on the same field of Big League ballplayers.
Many of us focus so much on our careers, we forget why we do what we do. I experienced so many who succeed in their professional lives but fail in their personal lives. Growing up with a single mother who worked multiple jobs to provide for me and my sister, it’s important for me to be available as much as possible for my wife and kids. This is one of the reasons I chose my career. I wanted flexibility and the ability to provide for my family.
This season, I’ve only missed one game and one practice because of work. During the game, I stood in the dugout watching Elijah play and had a conversation with another dad/volunteer coach who had the opportunity to change his work schedule so he could watch his son do the same. His comment to me? “This is what it's all about!”
As you pursue your professional dreams, don’t forget why you’re pursuing that dream.
