Being a good parent is one of the most difficult tasks you will ever undertake.
As a parent, you are responsible for your child's education, behavior, health, well being and on and on.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do is be a good role model for you children as it is you who they will most likely emulate when they become adults.
Your children will look up to you more then any other person in the world.
Satisfaction comes when you hear your son or daughter say, "When I grow up, I want to be just like my dad" or mom as the case may be.
There is no better feeling in the world then to hear you child utter those words.
Those words should be all you need to be inspired to realize just how important it is to be a good leader, not in business but in your home.
You must set the example, and a good one at that for you children to follow and eventually for them to model when they themselves become parents.
Here are a few tips that have served me well in raising my three sons.
Hum, sounds like a good title for a television show.
Anyway, here you go.
Tips Treat your kids fairly.
Don't show favoritism if you have more then one child because you will bread feelings of envy and resentment which will eventually turn to feeling of hate for you and their siblings.
This can sometimes be difficult but it will pay off in the future.
You want you children to grow up knowing that your love is shared among all of them equally.
Participate equally in all your children's activities as much as possible.
Meaning, don't go to all of your daughters soccer games and then make it to only a couple of your sons baseball games.
Believe me, they keep track of this kind of thing and will call you on it.
And enjoy yourself when you are there.
I personally am not a fan of soccer but you wouldn't know it during my sons soccer games.
I was the most vocal member of the cheering section.
(my son hated me for that at the time but loves it looking back in time.
) Tip Two: When you were a kid, you did and said the same things your kids do and say now.
What I mean is, show them the error of their ways but try not to be overly critical.
We all make mistakes, especially kids because they don't know any better.
This is were you come in.
Show them what they did wrong and why it's wrong and explain that everybody makes mistakes but winners learn from theirs and don't repeat them.
If you are overly critical, they will be so fearful of making you upset that they will start to shut you out and won't come to you for advise.
The worst part is that they will learn to deceive you because they don't want you to learn of their errors.
I don't have to tell you the kind of person they will become.
Not good.
Tip Three: The relationship between your spouse is vital in raising good well adjusted children.
If you and your spouse are going throw tough times, sometimes it is best to sit your kids down and tell them what is going on.
No, they don't need to know everything that is going on in the adult world that they are not mature enough yet to handle.
You should, however talk to them and let them know that the problems their parents are having is not a result of them doing something wrong or not doing something and that you will always love them no matter what happens between their parents.
Being a good parent and raising your kids to be good parents is tough, but it's the most important thing you will ever do.
I don't care if you are a ditch digger or CEO of a multi-million dollar company, once you become a parent, everything you do in your life should be done with your children's well being in mind.
Becoming a good parent will benefit you as well.
You will learn the qualities of a good leader that are universal in business as well as in life.
Good luck!