Become a great husband, father and provider out of a sense of honor, pride and obligation. Let those items be your sparks to start.
—
I hate to use the word “Love” with an inanimate object, but I must. I loved the tankless water heater in our last house. We had bought that home before the water heater was installed. The home behind us had a tankless water heater, so we decided to pay the difference and try one.
Oh my goodness! You never ran out of hot water. You could take as long a shower or Jacuzzi bath as you wanted, and the hot water just kept coming.
teach leadership sessions around the country.
|
I would have REALLY loved one when I lived in our home with my wife and two daughters. They frequently bathed or showered first because of the extended preparation time. Old dad was left with the remains of the 50-gallon water heater that was normally at ground temperature because it had just refilled the tank. Short and invigorating are the adjectives that describe my showers in a home populated by 75% female.
Our tankless water heater was gas powered. It used high-powered gas burners to quickly heat water as it runs through a heat exchanger. It was highly efficient because it only used gas when a hot water faucet was on. Overall it was very love worthy but it had one small drawback. It required electricity. With a standard gas or electric water heater, you have hot water stored if the power goes out. The tankless gas water heater requires an electric spark to start the gas fire that heats the water.
♦◊♦
I teach leadership sessions around the country. Those sessions have to do with leading others at work. The title is: “Leading Like You Own It–Why We Never Wax A Rental Car.” The Leadership roles of husband, father and provider, are just as, or more important than being a great leader at work.
As a husband, father or provider, do you need a Spark to Start? Will it take:
- Health issues?
- Financial issues?
- A job at risk or lost?
- A troubled marriage?
To spark your start to becoming a better husband, father or provider?
Why do we never wax a rental car? It’s because we don’t care. It’s short term. We slide our debit card, hand over the keys and that chapter is over. Life is not like that. Living life like a rental car is making short term decisions with long term consequences.
Many of us treat different aspects of our life like a rental car. We say the words, “I love you” to our spouse or children and yet we treat our health in a manner that virtually eliminates the possibility of being able to someday hike with a grandchild. I’m 61 years old, and I’ve rented rustic cabins, built fires and hiked with both grandsons. I have another grandchild on the way, and I am taking the steps to hike with that one. Those memories are worth so much more than any food item, cigarette or any other item that reduces my opportunities for making future memories.
If I needed another Spark to Start, it would’ve been yesterday when I saw a lifetime smoker that is my age pulling an oxygen bottle. That would be very difficult to pull up those hills I’ve hiked with my grandsons.
♦◊♦
Become a great husband, father and provider out of a sense of honor.
|
I don’t know what will spark your start to become a better husband, father or provider. You may be good at all of the roles today, but do not become complacent. Do not look at yourself as a family member. I’ve worked with corporations with family members and at times, EVE, (Entitlement, Victim Mentality and Enabling) is very damaging to the organization.
Instead, I challenge you to view yourself as an athlete on a professional team. You are at risk of being cut at any moment you fail to maintain high performance as a husband, father or provider. What does your husband, father and provider résumé look like?
Become a great husband, father and provider out of a sense of honor, pride and obligation. Let those items be your Sparks to Start. All sparks can be narrowed down to two categories. We will start “getting better” in different aspects of our lives as a result of inspiration or desperation. Great husbands, fathers and providers begin through Inspiration. Even starting through desperation is much better than not starting at all. Not starting at all is unacceptable.
I prefer Inspiration. What have been some of the Sparks that have helped you Start?
—
Photo: Flickr/ Dennis Wilkinson