Finally, it’s Father’s Day! The one day us dads get to do the things we like with family and finally “get some gosh darn respect around here!”
As the oldest child of four, I always knew I wanted to be a dad. My youngest sister was born 10 years after me, so I was prepared to handle the long days, short nights, loud screams, messy diapers, messy house, etc… What I was not prepared for was exactly what everyone told me, “You have no idea how it feels until you hold your child in your arms for the first time.” Wowzers was that incredible wisdom! Honestly, I never knew I could love something/ someone, so much. I am officially at the point where I can admit that I now cry during disney movies as I live vicariously through my daughter watching her laugh, love, shout and cry as the story unfolds.
Before my daughter, Ava Rose, was born, I had a different “baby” that I loved, cherished and that kept me up all day and all night…Bottom Line Marketing. I’ve learned a lot from my experiences with BLM that helped prepare me for fatherhood. Here are some of the lessons I learned along with some wisdom from our owner (and BLM’s newest dad) Chad Kennedy:
Dedication: Our clients are our family, period. You’re always there for family, in good times and in bad. For the last couple years, and especially in the last couple months, we’ve had some pretty extreme doses of those roller coaster highs and lows! At BLM, we are always there for our clients, because that’s how much we care.
Patience: It’s not always easy, but patience pays dividends. From miscommunications to piercing screams at 3am (both at work and home) having patience grants you the clarity to find a solution. At BLM, we dedicate ourselves to finding solutions and always having a few backups ready when a problem presents itself.
Hard Work: If it was easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing. I want, no, I live for the challenge! I want to help build our clients to new heights almost as bad as I want my daughter to have everything she needs to become the best version of herself. Astronaut, ballerina, princess, and business owner, you name it…3, 2, 1, Lift Off!
Independence: Sometimes, you have to roll up your sleeves, step out into the world and get sh*t done on your own! Below, Chad compares his experiences with his daughter’s independence to encouraging our team at BLM to take ownership in their work:
“Grace is only 1, but she is already demonstrating independence….wow that goes fast. There are times that Grace needs and wants my attention and help, but there are other times she is so happy to walk off on her own and take on whatever task it is she decides she needs to do….checking all the tupperware to be sure it’s clean and in good shape, looking to see if there is anything new in the pantry she needs to inspect, or climbing up on the couch to jump on the pillows…all these things that even after a year she has decided she doesn’t need me for.”
He continues, “Like being a dad we have watched people soak in the learning experience and do things on their own. We have had to make decisions on when to let them manage on their own, when to let them make mistakes to learn from and when to jump in to help. Watching people develop into professionals has been awesome and although it can be frustrating you can’t always be there to do a task for them….The goal, whether it be a 1 year old learning how to be a part of the world or a twenty and thirty-something learning how to be a professional, is always to help people be independent and be the best they can be.”
Wisdom: This reminds me of a lot of things, grandpas, good CEO’s, good world leaders and a little song I relate to far too often “I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger!” It is so important to make and learn from your mistakes. If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough. It is also incredibly important to listen and learn from your peers and mentors. The lessons I have learned at BLM helped me learn how important it is to listen, watch for cues and learn how to understand my daughter, so that I can do my best to impart what wisdom I have as effectively as possible.
Honesty: It should be simple, but it’s not always common. At BLM, we flat out pride ourselves on honesty and I have vowed to do that same for my daughter, even when it’s hard. I’d love to shield her from all the bad things in life, but strength builds character. Like BLM and our clients, she needs the truth to grow up understanding the world we live in and have the strength and determination to power through.
Growth: Complacency is non-existent in the BLM culture. We always strive to grow and stay ahead of the game. Chad is the man with the crystal ball…the one we all trust to see and predict the future. Chad has learned a lot from his experiences and shares this insight:
“Grace will be a young lady far too soon and off to college before you know it. She is learning everything so fast because she has never seen it before and she just soaks it up. Although totally different it’s not unlike Bottom Line. We have grown from a handful of people to a company of over 40 people.” It is important to embrace growth, cherish every moment along the way, learn from your mistakes and take time to reflect on how far you have come. Chad continues, “Being called Daddy Chad at work was always something we had fun with, but the truth is that all the things I have learned from helping this company grow are completely applicable to being Daddy Chad at home. Grace and I will benefit from that experience at home and hopefully it will come full circle to benefit BLM at work.”
Love: Love is a strong word to use in the workplace, but I mean it. We are a little bit different than most agencies and are firm believers in “love what you do, and do what you love.” Thankfully, I get to do that at home and the office. I love taking care of my clients and I love taking care of my daughter.
While Chad and I may be embracing our “Father Figures” these days, one thing is certain…Our experiences with BLM, our clients and our new baby girls, have made us better in every way. We are better, stronger, smarter and hungrier than ever to step up our game in all aspects of life. We can’t wait to share the benefits with you and will certainly keep you updated on the girls, whether you want to hear it or not!
To all the dads out there, cheers & happy Father’s Day!