People sometimes dream about being famous. I remember thinking as a little kid—with a desire to be famous—about someday being in the NFL, NBA, or being a Major League Baseball player. Fame is a fun goal to have and there are a lot of perks, but it does have some drawbacks. Sometimes, fame is not all it’s built up to be—it can be a drain, especially on families.
Here are a couple of ways fame has affected my family.
Interruption Fatigue
When I was coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, my oldest daughter was just starting middle school. She didn’t want to go out in public with me anymore because people would always interrupt us. At school, she preferred to be dropped off a block away because she grew tired of people asking about the team or games. This is why we’ve needed to figure out how to deal with fame. There are times when we just want to go out and spend time together as a family uninterrupted.
Security Concerns
I’m not at the same level of fame as some other people. I’ve been places with Peyton Manning where it’s really difficult for him. And I’ve had a chance to visit with Michael Jordan’s security officer. He said he wouldn’t allow Michael to go into a building that didn’t have a second exit. He would always go in first and make sure there was a back door so they could leave if needed.
When you think about those types of things, you realize that fame is not all it’s made up to be and it can put a drain on your family if you’re not careful.
Sound off: What has been draining on your family lately?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What do you think it would be like to be famous? What would be the upsides and downsides?”