George Bernard Shaw wrote, “This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and, as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”  Well said.  Here are 10 ways to find purpose in life.  And here is Tony Dungy’s take on the purpose of life.

Huddle up with your kids tonight and ask:  What do you think your purpose in life is?  Why?

Anniversaries come year after year, and it’s so easy for them to sneak up on us.  Try something different next time that will make your upcoming anniversary special and memorable.  Don’t resort to the easy “dinner and a movie” fallback.  For instance, recreate the memory of your first date by going on the same type date again.  It’s fairly easy to do and will be a night to remember.  For more ideas, visit and bookmark the 10 ways to make your next anniversary the best ever.  And find out the best anniversary present Tony Dungy ever got for his wife.

Huddle up and ask your wife tonight:  What’s been our best anniversary celebration?  Why?

In 1912, while campaigning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Theodore Roosevelt was shot by saloonkeeper John Schrank in a failed assassination attempt.  Determined to still give his speech, Roosevelt proceeded to unleash a fiery oratory with a bullet still in his chest.  After he was done, Roosevelt was rushed to the hospital where doctors treated the wound, but deemed it too dangerous to remove the bullet.  Roosevelt carried this lead souvenir in his lungs around with him the rest of his life.

In so many ways, Roosevelt set the standard for living courageously.  He learned how to put pity in its place no matter what life dealt him.  Can the same be said of you?  We all face trials.  The key is to learn how to keep pushing.  Here are 10 ways to live above your life’s circumstances.  And take a look at prisoners with a life-sentence who are making the most of where they are.

Huddle up and tell your children tonight:  “The hardest thing I ever had to overcome was ____.”

The word “stigma” comes from the Greek and it means “tattoo.”  In Greek and Roman times, when a runaway slave was caught, he was tattooed (branded) with a hot iron as a sign of disgrace.  It was a horrible experience the slave would never forget.

Stigmatizing in a different form still exists.  Many parents traumatically brand their children’s souls for life with their words.  Phrases like, “You always” and, “You’ll never” need to disappear from your vocabulary, starting now.  Instead, substitute praises like “I love you because ___.” and “The three things you do better than anyone are: ___, ___ and ___.”  As a father, you have the power to shape your child’s self-image for years to come.  Why not shape children who know they are securely loved, who have integrity, and are courageous in their choices.  Start by watching the movie Courageous (DVD available January 17^th) and then apply some of the powerful life lessons it teaches in your family.

Shaping a positive self-image doesn’t mean you don’t correct your kids when they need correcting.  But the idea is to steer clear of soul stigmatization.  What you say stays with your children forever.  Be sure to praise them as often as possible.  Need some help?  Here are 10 specific compliments to give your children.

Huddle up with your children tonight and say:  “I am so proud of you because ____.”

Reading a book is almost always superior to playing a video game, but most kids greatly prefer the latter, so here’s a thoughtful compromise.  If 13-year-old Evan Spencer wants to play a popular war video game for his Xbox, he first has to learn something about real war.  That’s because to earn permission from his father to play the game, the Ontario teen had to read the Geneva Conventions and promise to abide by their guidelines while strategizing on his virtual World War II battlefields.

What a great idea. Video games, when monitored and controlled responsibly by parents, can be a great experience.  Ensure the experience is a positive one by you and your kids co-signing our All Pro Dad video game contract.

Share with us your parenting strategy when it comes to video games.

Huddle up and ask your kids tonight:  What are your three favorite video games?  How can we use those to help you learn more?

Here is what history’s most wealthy men had to say about being rich:

“The care of $200 million is enough to kill anyone.  There is no pleasure in it.” – W.H. Vanderbilt

“I am the most miserable man on earth.” – John Jacob Astor

“I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness.” – John D. Rockefeller

“Millionaires seldom smile.” – Andrew Carnegie

“I was happier when doing a mechanic’s job.” – Henry Ford

“I owned more flocks than anyone before me…I amassed silver and gold for myself…I became greater than anyone…yet everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” – King Solomon

Be careful what you wish for.  Living for the love of money is a poor investment.  Here are 10 ways to know what your most important investment is.  And here is a well-balanced, common-sense approach to providing for your family.  Finally, our friend Truett Cathy asks the penetrating question, “Wealth, Is It Worth It?”

Huddle up tonight and ask your children:  Do you think that having a lot of money brings happiness?  Why?

The best remedy for marriage conflict is marriage communication. Disagreements, fights, impasses, separations and divorce can be traced back to poor communication more than any other factor. Likewise, listening amounts to some of the best relationship medicine around.

Listening works best when we ask good questions. Good questions indicate bona fide concern. The man who asks good questions is already well on the way to communication excellence.  The best questions also serve as conversation starters. Remember, you are interested in her. But, once you start talking, she’s going to ask stuff too. The more you know each other on a deep level, the easier it is to fall in love all over again.  So this year, pledge to ask your wife more and better questions to really kick up your marriage a notch.  Here are 10 good questions you should ask your wife every year.

Huddle with your wife tonight and ask her:  “What question do you wish I’d ask but never do?”

The new year is here and it’s worth noting that while one-year goals are good, decade long objectives are better.  According to the philosophy of author Dr. James Boyce, we overestimate what we can accomplish in 1 year and underestimate what we can accomplish in 10.  We do this in our career, and often job-hop rather than stay in one place and get promoted.  We can also do this in our parenting. We may get discouraged by the seeming lack of short-term progress in our children, but if we saw the long-term consequences of our involvement, we would realize it was worth every second.

So, as you think about what you want to accomplish in life, think in terms of decades, not years.  Live your life for the long-term.  Here are 10 goals you should accomplish in 10 years.  And you might be interested in hearing 3 of Tony Dungy’s goals for the next decade.

Huddle up and ask your children tonight:  Where do you think you will be in 10 years?  Why?

We at All Pro Dad would like to thank you for a wonderful year.  We have been so privileged in 2011 to serve you and appreciate your kind encouragement to us.  As a father, one of the saddest parts about coming to the end of the year is realizing you will never get that time with your children back.  They are on a one way train whose track eventually leads out of your home and into the world.  And the fleeting time we do have with them must be prioritized and savored.  To help you in that endeavor, here are some great tools to help your 2012 be a fantastic year for you and your family.  Happy New Year!

Huddle up and hug all your children tonight.

You should be your child’s cardiologist.  Your primary concern for them should be their heart.  What is their attitude?  What motivates them?  Deep down are they mean-spirited or kind?  Are they loving or selfish?  When your child’s heart is right, right actions will follow. It starts with teaching your children compassion.  Here are 10 ways.

Huddle up with your children tonight and say: Why is a having a right motive in everything so important?