As much as I’ve grown through years of running businesses, building teams, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, nothing compares to the lessons I’ve learned from being a father. I can say without hesitation that raising my children is the most meaningful leadership role I’ll ever have. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that so many of the principles that drive success in business—like discipline, integrity, resilience, and empathy—are the same values that shape strong, compassionate, and capable human beings.

I don’t expect my kids to become entrepreneurs just because I am. My goal isn’t to hand them a blueprint to follow, but to equip them with the character, mindset, and confidence to forge their own paths, whatever those paths may be. Whether they pursue business, the arts, science, or anything else, I want them to be grounded in values that matter. So much of what I teach them about business is really just a reflection of how I try to live—and what I hope they carry forward into the world.

Leading with Integrity from Day One

In our house, we talk a lot about honesty. Not because it’s a nice idea, but because it’s a foundation. Whether you’re building a business, a friendship, or a life, if people can’t trust your word, nothing else you build will last. I make it a point to show my kids that integrity doesn’t just mean doing the right thing when others are watching—it’s especially about the choices you make when no one is.

When I’ve made tough decisions in business, even when they weren’t the most profitable in the short term, I’ve always tried to explain to my kids why I chose the ethical route. I want them to see that long-term trust always outweighs quick wins. Business is about people, and people remember how you treat them. That’s a lesson I want them to carry into every relationship they build.

The Value of Hard Work and Persistence

There’s no substitute for hard work. It sounds simple, but it’s one of the hardest lessons to really absorb—especially in a world that often celebrates shortcuts and overnight success. I’ve shown my kids that everything I’ve built came from consistency, not luck. The long hours, the setbacks, the difficult seasons—all of that is part of the journey. Success doesn’t come from talent alone. It comes from getting up every day and putting in the work, even when you don’t feel like it.

When they get frustrated with schoolwork or lose motivation during a tough soccer season, I tell them stories from my early years in business. I talk about the times I thought something would fail, and how pushing through taught me more than winning ever did. I want them to know that it’s okay to fall, as long as they get back up. In fact, the getting up is where all the growth happens.

Teaching Them to Think Like Problem Solvers

One of the biggest gifts we can give our kids is the ability to think critically. I try to encourage curiosity and questions in our home. When they come to me with a problem—whether it’s something as small as a toy breaking or as big as a conflict at school—I resist the urge to just fix it for them. Instead, I ask questions. I want them to learn how to evaluate a situation, consider options, and think through the best course of action.

In business, being able to solve problems creatively and calmly is everything. Things rarely go exactly as planned. But if you’ve learned how to stay calm and look at challenges as puzzles instead of roadblocks, you’ll go far. I want my kids to know that the answer is not always obvious, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach.

Character over Achievement

One of the most important things I try to remind my kids—and myself—is that who they are matters more than what they do. It’s easy to fall into the trap of defining success by titles, money, or accomplishments. But I’ve seen plenty of people with impressive resumes who lack empathy, humility, and kindness. I don’t want that for my children.

I want them to be confident, but also kind. I want them to stand up for themselves, but also know how to listen. I want them to aim high, but never step on others to get there. If they grow up to be good people, the kind who treat others with respect, own their mistakes, and give back to the world—they’ll have succeeded in ways that really count.

Leading by Example

At the end of the day, the best way I can teach my kids is by living the lessons I talk about. They’re always watching. They see how I treat people, how I handle stress, how I show up for my family and my work. I’ve learned that the small moments—how I react when something goes wrong, whether I say thank you to someone holding the door, how I talk about others when they’re not around—those things stick with them more than any speech ever could.

Being a parent is the most challenging and rewarding leadership position I’ve ever held. And it’s one I take seriously every day. I’m not perfect, and I never pretend to be. But I do try to be consistent. I try to be present. And above all, I try to show them that leadership isn’t about being in charge—it’s about how you show up in the world.

If I can pass that on, I’ll consider it my greatest achievement.