This will be my first writing geared towards parenting.

I am a father to four, and have now been a Dad for 10 years. Boy, oh boy does time fly.

Joining Apogee Strong program has been the best thing for my own personal growth, and continuing to chase my truest potential as a man, and father. Three years with Apogee now, and i have got to learn a lot. One thing that has really stood out is the amount of book’s i have been challenged to read, and the mentor’s i have got to listen to.

All these great men, and women pursuing excellence, or trying to make the world a better place through their own experience, and knowledge were always up against a lot. But they stayed in the fight, and are now able to pass on that knowledge.

I read about this famous author named Walker Percy who once wrote a letter to his uncle and adopted father, Will Percy when he was a young man in school. He probably expected to receive a lecture about his grades in reply. Or to be admonished for letting the family down. Or perhaps to be sent money for a tutor even.

But the reply surprised him. Because there wasn’t any of that. Instead, Will waved off those concerns, telling Walker:

“My whole theory about life is that glory and accomplishment are of far less importance than the creation of character and the individual good life.“

Isn’t that wonderful?

Do you want to know how long that took me to figure out?

For so long i was chasing glory! I was chasing that next shiny championship belt! I was chasing that next win, and my hand to be raised! I was chasing that phone call from the UFC!

I was in a constant state of stress, not even enjoying my own journey. I would only allow myself to celebrate for 24 hours win, or lose, before i was telling myself ” Onto the next!’

It took me having my own child, my little girl getting to an age where she could speak for herself, and looking up at me calling me “dad’ to realize NONE of that mattered more then my character, and that title of fatherhood.

A stressed out dad, chasing things that didn’t really matter. The only thing that mattered was who i was to her. Who i was to my little nephews, and nieces. Who i was to my future children.

So isn’t that exactly what every stressed, self-critical, confused kid needs to hear about life? 

Who you are is more important that what you do. I’d rather you be good than successful. Character is more important than fancy belts, the next win, or even cash!

It can be easy to lose sight of this. But its really important to try to remember.

We all know how competitive the world is, and we see the potential our kids have. We don’t want them to make the same mistakes we did. We want them to be better then we ever were.

But ultimately, those things will take care of themselves if we raise them right.

The ancient warriors knew that character was fate, and we need to remember that with our own kids.

The good life, a life lived well, healthy, present, full of doing good, and serving other’s, will be a successful life and always a more important one too.

Doesn’t matter what you do in life.

Your character will always be more important.

Stay dangerous!

Stay safe!

Lead your family!

-Michael hill