Wisdom Meets Passion by Dan Miller and Jared Angaza

Title:  Wisdom Meets Passion

Author:  Dan Miller and Jared Angaza

Rating:  Right for you if you are looking for inspiration

Reason for Reading:  I have enjoyed reading many of Dan Miller’s previous books, including 48 Days To The Work You Love and No More Mondays.

Format:  I read this on my Nook SimpleTouch

Summary:  The book is a description of a less common point of view about work, both the ways in which people work and the purpose of their work.  Written in parallel, with both Dan and his son Jared writing something for each chapter, the book challenges conventional notions of working for a steady reliable paycheck and benefits.
Dan and Jared attempt to expand the reader’s understanding of the various methods for working, as well as the reasons why someone works.  Also given significant attention is the powerful results one can obtain when they, as the title describes, combine wisdom and passion.  When someone is using both what they know and what they care about, they can unlock tremendous opportunities and reap rich rewards.

Review:  The book provides several examples of different and less conventional work opportunities, many of which are inspiring.  If you enjoy meeting different people, people who live a different life from most of the population, these stories will connect you to them.  Wisdom Meets Passion is short on practical advice for job searches or small business start up, but just might inspire you to find something off the beaten path you might otherwise have missed.

Other resources: www.48days.com

All Pro Dad

Title:  All Pro Dad
Author:  Mark Merrill
Rating:  Good
Reason for Reading:  As a father to three children, I am particularly interested in books on intentional fatherhood.
Format:  e-book
Summary:  All Pro Dad is Mark Merrill’s description of the 7 qualities of quality fatherhood.  Mark is the founder of All Pro Dad, a non-profit organization that seeks to encourage intentional fatherhood for men.  Mark describes the lessons he’s learned from his own service to his family as a father, and what he’s learned from working with other fathers and families.
Review:  I found All Pro Dad to be an enjoyable read full of meaningful content.  Mark has described practical and powerful ways to grow as a father and connect to one’s children.  I plan on referring to this book as my children age and what they need from me change.  This book is recommended for any father wanting to improve their relationship with their children.
Joseph
Other resources:
FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze®.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“I want to stir my milk”:  Fathers are role models, like it or not.

I made myself a cup of coffee this morning, putting probably too much sugar and milk in it.  As I’m stirring my concoction, my three-year old daughter says, “Dada, I want coffee.”.  My response is, “No, you can’t have coffee.  You can have milk.”  Then I hear, “Dada, I want to stir my milk.”

The logical part of my mind quickly points out how silly it is for her to stir her milk.  Since she’s not mixing two things together as she stirs, she’s really just wasting the energy she’s expending.  The milk isn’t going to be any different.  But, I just a quickly realize that three-year olds aren’t exactly known for being logical.

I happily provide her with milk and a spoon with which to stir it.  Of course, changing the taste of the milk is not the point at all.  She wants to stir her drink because I am stirring mine.

All fathers are role models.  Everything a father is doing or not doing is being noticed by his children.  They see what he eats, they hear what he says, they pay attention to how he treats others, and they notice where he goes.  His children want to know who he is and who they are.  A father teaches both by his actions.

The good news is that by embracing this principle, a father has a powerful tool with which to influence his children.   He does not need to put the rest of his life on hold or go through some formal training.  This tool is already working, but to often, fathers need to use it more intentionally.

The bad news is that it isn’t easy.  It means  a father intentionally being what he wants his children to be, and doing things he wants them to do also.  It means exhibiting calm in response to tumult, empathy in the presence of conflict, and contrition following poor choices.

That last one is tough.  No father is the perfect role model, but putting on a front for his children is impossible.  In his book All Pro Dad, Mark Merrill says, “by and large, our children can see right through us.  They know if we are the real deal or not.”  When a father makes poor choices, it is an opportunity to display courage and honesty by apologizing to his children.

It is easy to find persons we would probably not want our children to imitate.  Those people seem to occupy much of the media’s attention, some deservedly so and some not.  But is equally easy to find those who have the most opportunity to serve as a child's role model.  They are called fathers.

Resources:

All Pro Dad.com

All Pro Dad by Mark Merrill (affiliate link)
Follow Mark Merrill on twitter @MarkMerrill

In The Loop with Andy Andrews Episode 18:  How to help your kids see the world differently
Andy Andrews.com
Follow Andy Andrews on twitter @AndyAndrews