I thought I understood responsibility. I thought I knew what it meant to lead, to sacrifice, to work hard for something bigger than myself. But then I became a dad, and everything shifted.

Having kids didn’t just change my life at home. It changed how I show up at work. It changed how I lead my team, how I make decisions, and how I define success. Fatherhood didn’t soften me, but it did slow me down in the right ways. It made me more thoughtful. More focused. More aware of the kind of legacy I want to leave behind—not just for my family, but for my business too.

Redefining What Success Looks Like

Before I had kids, success was about the grind. I believed in outworking everyone. I wore long hours like a badge of honor. If something needed to get done, I did it myself. I prided myself on being first in and last out.

But when my first child was born, that mindset started to feel… incomplete. I realized that if I didn’t learn to let go of control, I’d miss out on the one thing I couldn’t get back, time with my family.

Success shifted from being about volume and hustle to being about balance and intentionality. I still work hard. I still care deeply about the quality of our projects and the strength of our business. But I’ve learned that being present at home matters just as much as being productive at work. The two feed into each other.

Leadership Looks Different Now

Fatherhood taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up consistently, being dependable, and creating a safe space where others can grow. That lesson translates directly into how I lead my company.

I used to think I had to be the strongest guy in the room. Now I know that real strength is being able to say, “I don’t know yet, but we’ll figure it out.” It’s being honest, listening more than I speak, and building a team that doesn’t just rely on me, but grows alongside me.

At home, I want my kids to feel secure, encouraged, and challenged to be their best. At work, I want the same for my team. That mindset shift has changed how I coach my staff, how I handle conflict, and how I invest in people’s development.

Time Became More Valuable

Kids have a way of making you realize just how fast time moves. One minute you’re holding them in the hospital, the next they’re running around the backyard with scraped knees and wild imaginations. It goes quickly.

That awareness bled into how I look at my time overall. I became more protective of my calendar. I stopped overcommitting. I started asking, “Does this really matter?” before taking on extra work. Not because I wanted to do less, but because I wanted to make sure I was doing the right things, the things that mattered most.

That same thinking now shapes our approach at Paving Arts. We’re more strategic about the projects we take on. We focus on quality over quantity. We aim to deliver work that reflects pride and purpose. That clarity came from becoming a dad and learning how precious time really is.

Legacy Over Ego

I used to think about my name on a company truck or the number of projects we landed in a year. That was ego. Now, I think about what kind of business I want my kids to see growing up. What kind of man they’ll say their father was. What kind of culture I’m building inside the company that will outlast me.

Legacy matters more than ego now. It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room or growing for growth’s sake. It’s about doing things the right way. Treating people fairly. Taking care of our clients and our crews. Leaving the world a little better than we found it.

If my kids grow up seeing that I built something meaningful with integrity and care, that’s a win.

More Empathy, Less Judgment

Parenting teaches you patience fast. You realize every child is different, every situation is layered, and you can’t force growth, it takes time and nurturing.

That lesson helped me become a better boss. I started listening more. I stopped assuming I knew what people were going through. I became more understanding when someone had an off day or needed flexibility.

I also learned to celebrate the small wins more, just like you do when your kid takes their first steps or nails their spelling test. Those little moments matter. They’re what build confidence and trust over time, both at home and at work.

Building for the Future

Becoming a dad flipped a switch in me. It didn’t make me work less. It made me work smarter. It didn’t make me care less about the company. It made me care more about doing it right.

I want my kids to know what hard work looks like, but I also want them to know what balance, kindness, and purpose look like too. That means running a business that reflects those values. A business that doesn’t just chase profits but creates opportunities. One that builds with care, treats people right, and stands for something.

Being a father didn’t just change me at home. It changed the way I run Paving Arts. And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.