My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it
And as he grew, he’d say
“I’m gonna be like you, Dad
You know I’m gonna be like you”
As a 2nd grader in the late 1970s this Harry Chapin song about fatherhood and the pitfalls of not spending time with your child hit me in the gut.
To me, my father was the man in the song.. working long hours .. absent from the dinner table as he hustled and tried to make his tool and dye business successful enough to support a family of six children .
“When you comin’ home, Dad?”
“I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then”
The good time rarely comes.
The father misses the boy’s milestones growing up
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, c’mon let’s play
Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today
I got a lot to do”, he said, “That’s okay”
And he walked away but his smile
Never dimmed and said
“I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him”
And the boy becomes a man and the father – long retired – wants to spend time with him…
I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind”
He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I could find the time”
“You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kid’s got the flu”
“But it’s sure nice talkin’ to you, Dad
It’s been sure nice talkin’ to you”
How about you? Will the last lyrics I share with you be of regret or satisfaction that the business you built gives you the lifestyle you desire so you can spend your time on your true priorities..
“When you comin’ home, son?”
“I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then, Dad
You know we’ll have a good time then”And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me…
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I work with service business owners who started the business to have a better life, only to find themselves falling short and then getting frustrated by the broken promises and lack of results when they sought help elsewhere.
That’s when they find me and I show them exactly what path to take when investing their time and money in their business, so they can live the life they want.
We do it through 1;1 consultations, group master round tables and workshops and other collaborations whose insights are 100% tailored to them and which can easily be implemented.
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