Mario Balistreri
Business Owner, Consultant
YOUR PARENTING STYLE IN 3 VERBS:
lead, encourage, support
HARDEST LESSON?
Patience and not to assume there is an understanding.
HAS BECOMING A DAD CHANGED YOU?
Completely. It cut through a lot of selfish thinking. Things that felt important don’t anymore. You start thinking about who your kids will become and realize your actions have a direct influence on them.
ADVICE FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
Choose what’s right, even when it costs you. Follow your passions and curiosities. Build the life you want, or it will be built for you. Build good habits early. Be persistent, don’t give up when it gets hard; the harder it is, the more rewarding.
WHAT PART OF YOUR FATHER DO YOU SEE IN YOURSELF?
His work ethic and the quiet way he carried responsibility. My dad was always there when I needed him.
Mark Alexander
Owner – Actuate LLC
ADVICE FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
Honesty, integrity & kindness start with being kind and true to yourself. Vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s a strength. Never stop trying.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FATHER?
It is an important privilege, different from being a parent. I am a parent, but I am also a father! A father is a role model who is consistent, supportive, caring, directing, and nurturing.
ADVICE FOR A SOON-TO-BE DAD:
Don’t approach situations like you know it all. Ask for help. Give it your best effort. You’ll never get those days back, so when you fail, keep trying. They will always need you, even when they don’t act like it.
HAS BECOMING A DAD CHANGED YOU?
Yes! I feel it was a gradual and continual change. I have both failed and learned more than I ever have.
Paul Chellevold
Director of Planning/Funding and Grants – SRF Consulting Group
YOUR PARENTING STYLE IN 3 WORDS:
honest, encouraging, proud
ADVICE FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
Advocate for yourself: The world will not wait for you! If you want something, pursue it with passion and determination. You’ll find your confidence when you put your best foot forward and trust the path. If everyone I coached believed in themselves half as much as I did, they would be unstoppable.
ADVICE FROM YOUR DAD:
I still find myself trying to solve every problem. My dad taught me that it’s okay to be a sounding board. Be present. Once kids articulate their issue, have them be a part of their own solution.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FATHER?
Greatest privilege on earth. My family shapes everything I do and motivates me to be the best version of myself.
Ben Hurd
VP, Commercial Leasing – Investors Associated
DESCRIBE FATHERHOOD IN 4 WORDS:
proud, humbling, educational, challenging
YOUR PARENTING STYLE IN 3 VERBS:
loving, supportive, demanding
ADVICE FOR A SOON-TO-BE DAD:
You’ll never be fully prepared, but be ready for the mental and financial responsibility. Spend as much time together as you can. Be as loving and compassionate as possible, yet always push them to do more.
ADVICE FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
Enjoy every day to the fullest – time is very fleeting. Maintain a good work ethic – challenge yourself daily. Have a sense of humor – don’t take things too seriously, but respect everyone.
HOW HAS FATHERHOOD REDEFINED YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?
Once you’re a Dad, you understand the importance of being a role model. Life is no longer about you; it’s about the health, happiness, and success of your children and the life you have created to support them.