What do you do?

A reader recently wrote to me about this common question and his unique answer. This man, who I’ll call “Stan,” explained that his parents divorced when he was a little guy - just five years old - and he grew up without his father under the same roof. His mom did a lot of the things a dad would do, but “Stan” said as hard as she tried, it wasn’t the same.

Years later, when he became a father, he reflected back on the void in his growing years and came to believe that a father is the most important person in a boy’s life. With that, he was determined to be the kind of dad he wished he’d had.

That’s when he began to change the way he answered the question, “What do you do?”

“Stan” ignored the ego-driven answer about career and position and answered this way instead, no doubt with a broad smile:

“I am the genius father of two.”

That declaration of priority and pride was first uttered more than thirty years ago, and his answer hasn’t deviated since. “Stan’s” reply is a reminder of the most important job we have and that real success is our living legacy in our children - in what we bring to them and what they eventually bring to the world.

What greater work is there than this? What greater gift do we leave behind?

And so, I wish a very happy Father’s Day to “Stan” and to all the genius dads who prioritize their children. We, your sons and daughters, have benefitted greatly. Thank you for working overtime and recognizing that being a parent is the most important job there is.