When I started this site, it was meant to be an experiment on a few fronts:
- What would I end up writing about?
- What would folks want to read about–and would anybody actually read it?
- Could I learn to do a little coding?
- Is it possible to make a little money along the way?
In April, I will have been at this experiment for two years. The experiment results so far:
- I’m still not completely sure what my main theme is…
- or what folks want to read about…
- I dang sure can’t code and…
- I have only garnered $2.24 in my Amazon affiliate account (which won’t release until I hit $10, so I’ll include a link to something at Amazon at the end of this post. You can go in and buy something–you don’t have to buy what I link to… just grab anything, whether you need it or not. I hit $10, I can buy some peanut butter for the fam).
While I’m not sure exactly what I’m doing, I think the succession of my blog’s taglines might be telling. Here they go:
A Father Learning to be a Dad: I don’t remember where I read or heard this idea, but it hit me ‘tween the eyes. Any dude can father a child, but a being a dad is something completely different. Consequently, I made it my first tagline: A Dad’s Journal… a Father Learning to be a Dad. And it’s still true.
I don’t want to be their best friend, but I cherish being called Daddy. A Dad creates memories. A Dad listens. For a daughter, a Daddy means that she’ll put some thought into the song she chooses as her Daddy/Daughter dance for her wedding.
Productive Fatherhood: How sterile does that sound? Actually, it could sound the opposite: well-able to produce as a father. We did have three kids in the span of 18 months, so I was productive in that department.
I have to admit, I was in a major Zen Habits and Getting Things Done phase. I still appreciate those things, but I’m not sure if I’m a productivity and/or personal growth guru. It might be a little arrogant of me to couch myself as a productive father. I still stink at budgeting. My closet’s a mess. My backyard is still basically in the same shape as pictured in my inaugural post.
Living from the Why: This is the current tagline. It might not make sense to others, but I recently took a personal two day retreat and dedicated part of it to going through Michael Hyatt’s Life Plan template.
It occurred to me during that process that I wanted the motivation for everything I do to be anchored in my values and purpose. If I drill down deep, then my work should be motivated by my desire to honor God, provide for my family, and serve the people around me. This isn’t always the case, but it’s good to shoot for the ideal.
Even more importantly, it’s great accountability to have the ‘Why’ as a filter. The awesome thing is that fun is deeply important to the why (see also ‘A Father Learning to Be a Dad’).
Living from the why is not as severe as it seems. The ‘Why’ can include everything from a walk in the park to serious study, especially when the why includes a wife and a bunch of little ones.
I’ll stick with this one until the next big idea hits me in the face.
Questions (Leave a comment if you’d like):
- If you had a ‘tagline’… what would it be?
- Has it changed recently?
- What are your top three whys?
I forgot… My favorite recent read: Unbroken by Laura Hillebrand
I’m glad to have lurked, commented and enjoyed it all.
Thank you very much.
I believe I would have two taglines, and admittedly these are two things I have recently learned about myself. First, “Look at my now.” And second, “Enjoy the process.” Very apropo, don’t you think for a nearly 63-year old? You would think that these were things I would have already learned. But going through your process over the last two years has been a good teaching tool. I have enjoyed it and seen you enjoy it, and I guess I wanted to have that in my life.
As for the “now”- I have come to the point of wanting to live in and truly experience the process so I can see how God works it out! I can honestly say that this is bringing me much joy, albeit rough sometimes. A true “being still and know that I am God” time.
To me you are brave to share your “taglines”. Keep on writing!
Ive also changed my tagline dozens of times, currently it is souveniers of fatherhood, because I usually just write stuff I want to remember about my kids. I like to read stories of other dads with their kids.
I love that (souvenirs of fatherhood).
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