#041: Tackling Fatherhood: What the Super Bowl Taught Me

In this episode, Rob Rohde will uncover valuable lessons learned from the Super Bowl and how they can be applied to fatherhood.

Overview:
This episode explores the parallels between football and fatherhood, drawing insights from the Super Bowl to offer practical advice for dads.

Key Highlights:

• Preparation is King: Examining the importance of preparation both in football and fatherhood, emphasizing the need to study our children's behaviors and plan ahead.
• The Lonely Work: Discussing the significance of behind-the-scenes effort in both sports and parenting, highlighting the importance of consistency and personal growth.
• Enjoying the Process: Exploring the value of finding joy in everyday moments as fathers, emphasizing the journey of parenthood alongside its challenges and victories.
• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Drawing parallels between teamwork on the football field and the support networks crucial for dads, stressing the importance of collaboration and encouragement.
• Life Isn't Fair: Acknowledging the reality of adversity and unfairness, emphasizing the role of resilience and leading by example in navigating life's challenges.

What to Expect:
Listeners can expect to gain insights into how lessons from the Super Bowl can be translated into actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of fatherhood. This episode offers practical advice, encouraging dads to embrace preparation, perseverance, and teamwork in their parenting journey.

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Chapters

• 0:02 Super Bowl Lessons for Dads
• 9:34 Lessons for Dads

Transcript

Rob Rohde: 0:02

You are listening to The Business of Being Dad. Get ready as we delve into the world of fatherhood, leadership and legacy. I'm Rob Rohde, your humble host and fellow single father, and I'm so excited you're here to join us. This podcast was intentionally designed for you, men who believe they're destined for greatness, those who never settle for excuses but instead take meaningful action, and individuals who reject the notion of being ordinary. We're here for the ones who understand that being a phenomenal leader goes hand in hand with being an exceptional father. Why? Because we believe in you. We believe you hold the power to shape your identity as a man, a father and a leader. We believe you are the architect of your future and you get to determine the impact and legacy you'll leave behind. So get ready to explore the depths of personal growth, strengthen family bonds and create a legacy that resonates through time. Together, we'll rise, inspire and change. Let's get started. Well, hey there, welcome back to episode 41 of The Business of Being Dad podcast. I hope you're all doing well and fully recovered from your post Super Bowl hangover and no, I'm not referring to the I drank too much hangover, although if that's you, then maybe don't drink so much but I'm referring to the post Super Bowl letdown that so many major sports fans experience, the letdown that football season is over, there's no more big games to watch. Well, in honor of all of you football fans out there, today we will talk about what the Super Bowl taught me about fatherhood.

Rob Rohde: 2:02

As I was kicking back with the family watching the game, I couldn't help but notice so many valuable lessons we could learn. So today I want to share with you four key takeaways from the big game and how each of them can relate to our role as a father. Are you ready? Let's go.

Rob Rohde: 2:21

Key takeaway number one preparation is king. So we're going to start with preparation, and maybe you've heard the saying proper preparation prevents piss, poor performance. Those are the six Ps of preparation, and it couldn't be more true. It couldn't be more truth for athletes and it also couldn't be more true for us as fathers. Every team that makes it to this level, to the level of the Super Bowl, spends countless hours in the film room. They spend time studying and practicing and doing all the little things needed to prepare themselves for success. They're in the film room watching the opposing players' habits and their tendencies, because they know that every single detail matters. Well, as fathers, every detail matters for us as well, and we can apply the same principle to our kids. We should spend time studying our kids. We should spend time watching their mannerisms, their facial expressions. It's important for us to learn to read their nonverbal cues, because when we learn their nonverbal cues then we can understand when they're struggling and we have a better idea when they're something heavy on their mind. And preparation also applies to the logistical things like taking time to plan ahead for the week, whether it's setting aside dedicated family time or tackling those household chores before they start to get out of hand. Just simply making a point to be proactive in our approach can help us stand top of our game and be more present for our kids.

Rob Rohde: 3:59

Key takeaway number two we need to do the lonely work. When I say do the lonely work, I'm referring to putting in the time and effort to do the work that nobody sees, that work that nobody asks you to do or even knows that you're doing it. It's the thousands of reps in the weight room, the countless drills, maintaining your diet, having a good sleep schedule and so many other things. All of these reps, all of this work results in being in prime physical and mental condition for these athletes and it puts them in the best position to succeed. Well, in the same way, being a dad often involves putting in the hard work when nobody's watching. For us, it might mean showing up day in and day out, even when it's tough, even when nobody notices and regardless of the response we get, because you know that's what will make the difference in the long run. And it also means investing in yourself and your own growth as a man, a leader and a father.

Rob Rohde: 5:03

Key takeaway number three it's important to enjoy the process. You know, I think it's fitting that we follow doing the lonely work with taking time to enjoy the process, because this is a piece that allows us to be consistent over time. Yes, we have to do the hard work, obviously, and for football players, putting in the hard work is the price that they pay in their ultimate attempt to win the Super Bowl. That's undoubtedly their ultimate goal, but enjoying the process, that's what keeps them coming back year after year, from the highs of victory to the lows of defeat. Every single moment contributes to the bigger picture, and the same applies to us as fathers. It's important for us to find joy and fulfillment in the everyday moments we spend with our kids. It's important that we're able to appreciate the growth and learning that comes with the role of being a father. So we should each look for opportunities to find joy in our parenting, to create joy for our kids.

Rob Rohde: 6:11

And key takeaway number four is that teamwork makes the dream work. It's impossible to talk about lessons learned from the game without emphasizing the value of teamwork. I mean, we saw it in action on the field during the Super Bowl and pretty much every game we watch. You have offense and defense and special teams and coaches all working hard, all working towards a common goal. They're all lifting each other up, pushing each other to keep going, to go beyond their limits, encouraging each other when they make a mistake and providing hope and direction and guidance when needed. And again, that same principle applies to us as fathers. We are better, stronger and more resilient when we work as a team, whether that's with our co-parent, our support network or other dads. Iron sharpens iron. We need each other. So those are the four key takeaways. Number one preparation is key. Number two we need to do the lonely work. Number three it's important to enjoy the process. And number four teamwork makes the dream work. So four takeaways, one for each quarter, but since this year the game went into overtime, I've got a bonus lesson for you. And that is key takeaway. Number five life isn't fair. So, finally, I'd like to address the reality that life is not fair.

Rob Rohde: 7:47

In football, just as in life, there are moments of victory and moments of defeat. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things are not going to go our way. Sometimes things happen to us that we can't control. Sometimes it's egregious, like a safety taken out your knees on a crossing route, and sometimes it's circumstantial, like the ball taken an unfortunate and unusual bounce. But either way, it's how we choose to respond to adversity that matters. As fathers, we can't control everything either, but we can control how we react to them. We can control how we react to the hard things that come up in our life, and our goal should always be to teach our kids resilience, to teach them perseverance and the importance of bouncing back stronger than before, and the best way we can do this is to lead by example. Showing our kids how to handle setbacks with grace and determination teaches them valuable lessons, valuable life lessons that will serve them well over time.

Rob Rohde: 8:51

Before we wrap up, I want to encourage you to take these lessons from the Super Bowl and apply them to your own life as a dad. Choose one, whether it's embracing teamwork, putting in the hard work, focusing on preparation, learning to enjoy the process, or even facing life's unfairness with resilience. Again, choose one and focus on it in this coming week. There is always room for growth and improvement, so let's commit to being the best dads we can be for ourselves and for our kids, by putting these life lessons into practice. And there you have it, dads Five valuable lessons from the Super Bowl that we can apply to our lives as dads.

Rob Rohde: 9:34

Let's remember these lessons as we tackle the joys and challenges of being fathers. Thanks for hanging out, dads, and until next time, keep being the amazing dads that you are. Take care, men. Thank you for joining us for The Business of Being Dad podcast. If you found value in today's episode, I encourage you to share it with a friend who could benefit from our discussions on fatherhood, leadership and legacy. Together, let's build a community of like-minded men who embrace ownership, commit to growth and make an impact. And now, before we go, remember greatness is within your reach, so stay strong, stay focused and create your legacy. I'm Rob Rohde, and you've been listening to The Business of Being Dad, where fatherhood meets success. See you in the next episode.