Charles Jones
Instagram: @dadbossnetwork
Type of Dad: Dads with all Girls
What's unique about your experience because of the Type of Dad you are?
As someone whos own Dad left when I was young and certainly was no role model being a parent scared me, I never wanted kids and was terrified about the kind of dad I would be. When Emily-Rose was born, I loved her immediately. It did take me about a year to get my head around the fact I was a dad. During that first year, I resented the responsibility and the effect it had on my life. One day something changed in me, I changed. I realized that I had the opportunity to give her everything I never had. I realized that I couldn't just "tell" her how to live, I have to show her. Now I dedicate every spare minute to chasing my dream and trying to inspire other dads to pursue theirs. I believe that by doing this, we will show our children how to pursue what makes them truly happy in life. It's not about money, education, or status, its about fulfillment.
Please tell us what it's like to walk a mile in your shoes?
Hard work! I'm a dad who has made many mistakes and I'm trying to be a better man. I work a very busy job running a kitchen company that I don't own. I'm doing that around 50 hours a week as well as spending about 30 hours a week on Dad Boss Network. The only way I can achieve all this without sacrificing all my family time is to get up at 4 am every morning. That way, I keep at least some of my evenings free. Despite how hard I work, we live in a very expensive area. We rent our home, have no savings, and live paycheck to paycheck. If I don't have a good bonus month from sales, it can be a huge struggle financially. I know that despite this, the work I put in now will pay off in the future. More importantly, even though my daughter is young, she is seeing what it looks like to go after my dreams.
Who have you become since you became a father?
Someone who understands that every action, every decision, and every behaviour will affect my child. I'm far from perfect. I still make mistakes and always will, however, since becoming a dad, I am more driven than I have ever been in my entire life.
What are some of the unforgettable moments that you hold dear?
My wedding day, the birth of my daughter, but it's the small moments. It's when I realize that Emily-Rose has learned something new or when I notice a new element to her personality. It's when she comes up to me for no reason and hugs my leg and says "I love you, my daddy." Beyond everything else, it's when she smiles.
What are some of your challenges/wins as a Dad?
Accepting that I needed to put someone else before myself was a huge challenge for me. I was an only child and because we were very poor, I became very selfish with anything I had. I didn't want to share. It improved as I got older, but that deep-rooted selfishness was very difficult to beat out of myself.
My current biggest challenge is that my wife wants more kids and I don't. I have nightmares about twins. Her mum is a twin and that scares the shit out of me!
What/who are your influences/influencers?
People who inspire me are people such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Harvey and someone I listen to a lot at the moment is Gary Vaynerchuck as his message is so on point with my beliefs.
All of these individuals have something in common. That is overcoming tremendous adversity and they were relentless in the pursuit of their dreams no matter what it took. I truly believe in that.
What were the three best decisions you've ever made as a Dad?
1. To stop being selfish.
2. To show my daughter rather than telling my daughter how to live.
3. To forget about making lots of money and to focus on happiness first.
What's some of the best advice you've received as a man?
The best advice I have ever been given is that "Acceptance" is the answer to everything. If you can accept what has happened and accept what is outside of your control, you can focus your energy on what's next. Don't waste it on dwelling over things you can't change.
How do you want to be remembered? What does legacy mean to you?
I'd like to be remembered for someone who went after what I wanted in life and showed others to do the same. Legacy for me means that I made a positive impact on people's lives, starting with my daughter.
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