Read Slower. Implement Faster.


If you’re still struggling as a dad, it ISN'T because you haven’t read the right book, taken the right class, or watched the right documentary.
It’s because you haven’t implemented what you've already learned.

Have you ever looked at another dad who seemed to have it all together: happy wife, flourishing kids, successful life and wondered “What’s he got that’s so different than me?”
The answer is one single, simple little thing…

Guy Kawasaki put it as “Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard.”

The secret sauce that you’re missing? Implementation.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a good idea, failed to act on it, then months or years later seen someone else running with the same idea. When I see their success, I get jealous. But the truth is: they deserve that success because the took action. They implemented. I did not. And I got exactly what I deserved: nothing at all.

A great illustration of this misconception is reading books. I see this on social media a lot. Guys sharing how many books they’ve read this year. Or challenging each other to read a book a week.

Here’s a friendly reminder: the number of books you read doesn’t mean anything. What you implement is the only thing that matters.

How many of those guys reading a book a week have actually implemented anything from what they’ve read?

Naval Ravikant says, “The smarter you get, the slower you read.”

That means: Read slower. Implement faster.

I had a guy ask me recently: “When do you have time to read all these books?” I had just recommended a book that was life-changing for me (The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino, if you’re curious). I could sense his frustration at the fact that everyone is running around talking about how great this book is and how impactful that book is. It gets clicks. It grabs your attention. But it also gets so many to believe they need to spend MORE time reading MORE books to get to their goals.

What if you’ve already read all the books you need and now you just need to implement your way to your goals?

My position is: if it’s worth reading, it’s worth implementing.

Reading a book just to get it done and move on to the next is intellectual masturbation. It’s fooling yourself into thinking you’re doing the real deal when you’re not. Without implementation, it’s all just entertainment. (Obviously, we’re talking about non-fiction here and not a fiction book, where the stated goal is actually entertainment.)

What’s better: reading 100 books a year but implementing nothing, or reading 1 book and spending an entire year implementing it?

Apply this to fatherhood: start implementing what you’ve learned. And if you struggle, the answer is not necessarily finding a new approach, book, or course. The answer is probably as simple as getting accountability in implementing.

Apply this to your marriage. To your business or career. To your hobbies. It’s true in every area of your life.

Implementation is a choice. And most people who struggle with implementation aren’t actually bad at implementation, they just have made the choice yet. You can choose to get distracted by the accomplishment of finishing the next “thing” or you can choose to slow down and actually implement what you’ve learned.

What sets a “good dad” apart from average dads is the choice to implement.

“But what if I do it wrong?” Doing nothing IS doing it wrong, especially when it comes to being a dad. Without implementation, you’ll fail as a dad.

So here’s your permission, and your callout:
Read slower. Implement faster. Metaphorically and literally.

P.S. When you're ready, there are 3 ways that I can help you:

  1. Book a FREE 45-Minute "Power Session" Trouble shoot, get some outside perspective on what you're struggling with, ask for advice or learn more about 1-on-1 coaching & the Men's Groups... FREE with no strings attached. No hard-close sales pitch.
  2. Apply for one of the Men's Groups: Join a small group of men forming an environment of brotherhood & accountability to grow into uncommon men, husbands and fathers.
  3. Apply for 1-on-1 Coaching: Focused, personalized 1-on-1 attention and accountability to go deep on your inner journey with an experienced guide. Firm but caring accountability from another man is a game-changer.

How To Not Fail As A Father

Lessons, advice & perspectives from my mistakes as a father to challenge you & hold you accountable to becoming the Hero in your family's story, not the Villain.

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