Hey men. Have you ever wondered why your kids turn more to their mom than to you? Maybe it’s to talk about something on their mind or an issue with a friend. Or, maybe it’s just to take them somewhere. But they ask her first. It’s happened to me on more than one occasion. So I asked my wife why they always come to her first. She explained to me that my kids, just like everyone, want to be around someone who listens to them, lifts them up and makes them feel good about themselves. So, now that I have five teenagers, I’m learning to listen more and lecture less, praise more and criticize less, encourage more and instruct less. These are the things that I am doing while striving to be the dad I was meant to be.

Until next time,

Mark

My daughter Emily and me with Michael W.

Yesterday, Michael W. Smith, Tony Dungy, my daughter, Emily, and I went to Rocketown in Nashville, Tennessee.  Michael W. founded Rocketown in 1994 to give teens a positive alternative to the many negative pressures they face.  The first of its kind in the Southeast, Rocketown has grown into a regional outreach as well as a model for faith-based relational outreach across the country. Mark Ezell, President of Purity Dairies, co-founded the current facility which opened in 2003. It houses a coffee bar; photography, art and dance studios; stages for live entertainment; and Middle Tennessee’s only indoor skatepark.

Coach Dungy chats with a Rocketown teen.

To date, there have been more than 425,000 visits with an average of 1,350 teens from across Middle Tennessee participating in programs each week.  Michael W. is encouraging people to start Rocketowns in cities across the United States. Check out www.Rocketown.com

Coach Dungy played dodgeball with the teens there.

Tony Dungy and I had a great opportunity to bring the All Pro Dad message to 12,500 people in Atlanta at the Catalyst conference. It is a really exciting gathering of young leaders from across the U.S. These young men and women were really excited to be there and really excited to see Tony! We had a blast!

I enjoyed speaking at The Melting Pot restaurant national conference today on “Discovering Leadership’s Unseen Essential.” Over 130 restaurant franchisees and many of their spouses from all over the nation got together here in New Orleans. This afternoon, in the spirit of serving and loving others, the team served food to people in need and helped with some construction in some struggling areas of New Orleans. It’s been a real pleasure working with Bo Johnston, and his brothers, along with their Marketing Director, Kendra Shier. The Melting Pot has great food too!

Until next time,

Mark