Rules For My Sons

Maybe not rules, but more of a guideline?

After losing my father a couple years ago and then battling cancer (and dominating it) this past year, I’ve been more focused on my three sons.

Not just focused on spending time with them, because that has always been important to me. But focused on what I tell them, what they are learning from me, and what I am leaving them with.

What will my kids remember that I taught them?

What if I don’t have enough ‘time’ left to instill/teach them all the lessons I feel that they should know?

So, I started a list.

I will add/subtract to this list, but I figured I’d put this down ‘on paper’ as something that my sons can look back at someday. This is some of the advice I am giving, will give, and want to get through to my sons as they continue to grow and develop.

Again, not a complete list and it may change, but it being Father’s Day, a good time to put this draft out:

1). Be Coachable

2). If it’s important enough to you, you’ll make time for it

3). ‘Anything is possible!’ – in a Kevin Garnett voice

4). Always hold the door

5). Look the person in the eye when shaking hands

6). If you start, finish

7). Failure is fine as long as you learn something from it (failure is feedback)

8). Do something (many things) that scares you

9). Dogs are better than cats

10). Consistency is more important than perfection

11). Call winners

12). Be relentless in what you want

13). Home Team – always

14). More workie, less talkie – don’t tell me, show me – don’t just sing it, bring it

15). Don’t be the person who can’t decide what to order at a restaurant

16). Ask questions and find answers

17). Give Credit. Take blame.

18). Write down your goals

19). You only have to prove it to yourself

20). Sit with winners, the conversation is different – who you surround yourself with is important

21). How you respond after doing something stupid shows who you are

22). Eyes up, Rise up

23). Dream Big – then plan & execute

24). Never believe it when they say ‘it isn’t personal, it’s just business’

25). Make Mother’s Day your most important holiday

26). Leverage what you can

27). Our active and veteran military are the reason you are able to do what you want, we owe them a great debt, thank them every chance you get

28). There is no way around putting in the work

29). Don’t start fights, but don’t be scared to bleed

30). Everyone should have a truck and experience a convertible

31). If you say it, do it

32). It’s easy to put in the work when you feel good, anyone can do that. It’s when it’s difficult, or your tired, or you don’t have time, when everyone is making excuses, that’s when winners put in the work and create that distance to become successful

33). To be the best, you have to beat the best

34). Chase greatness everyday

35). Music makes everything better

36). It’s always better to lead by example

37). You are where you are because of what you did leading up to now. If you are not happy where you are you must make changes to what you are doing

38). Rub some dirt on it and get back in there

39). Giving feels better than getting

40). The Yankees are still the evil empire (I’ve also included the Giants in this)

41). There’s always a scoreboard, but it’s up to you what game you’re playing

42). Business/life is a collection of sprint competitions, not a marathon

43). Take a deep breath…now solve the problem

44). There’s always someone out there trying to outwork you

45). It doesn’t take talent to work hard

46). Be incomparable

47). Regret hurts worse than temporary pain

48). The journey is more important than the destination

49). Always try to make a difference

50). Don’t judge, but know that you will be. The level of importance you put on that is up to you

51). Better never stops

52). Action beats fear

53). Fake it to you make it was made up by the life coaching industry. Earn it!

54). Complaining never gets you anywhere.

55). ‘Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face’ – Mike Tyson – you’ll understand it better once it happens to you

56). ABL- Always be learning – you can find people and experiences everywhere that you can learn from

57). “Be a product of unrealistic thinking to get unrealistic results” – Jesse Itzler

58). You are special and can do anything, but you have to be willing to put in the work

59). Drink your coffee black, and your bourbon from Kentucky (we’ll discuss this later)

60). Be kind and stand up for others

61). Sometimes I will be in front of you leading and clearing a path and guiding you. Sometimes I will be next to you, standing beside you. Sometimes I will be behind you, having your back. Just know that I will always be there for you

62). The only asset you can’t replace is time

63). I love you

That’s all I got for now. Happy Father’s Day!
– Pat Beith

P.S. I figure I would also share this. My son James had to recite his morning mantra with his 1st grade class each day during the pandemic virtual school and I love it and it is so powerful –

I Am Kind

I Am Brave

I Am Smart

I Am Strong

I Am Hard Working

I Am A Leader

I Am James

I Am Me

Rules For My Sons

Rules For My Sons

0 Comments for “Rules For My Sons”

Leave a Reply