There’s a saying in the health and fitness world that goes like this: “Don’t sacrifice your health in pursuit of wealth, otherwise you’ll spend all your wealth trying to regain your health.”

There’s an interesting bit of psychology hidden beneath that quote – the pursuit of wealth, which I’ll categorize as money, provides a fairly immediate return on your investment. 

If you go to work, you get paid. 

Sometimes immediately, sometimes in a couple weeks, or even a month. 

But the fact remains that this is a very straightforward transaction. 

Now here’s an alternate version of that quote, which is not nearly as smooth: “Don’t sacrifice your family in pursuit of success, or you may find yourself with no one to share that success with.”

In both cases, there is a tradeoff between pursuing something with immediate gratification compared to something that doesn’t have any immediate return. 

Diabetes, heart attack, chronic aches and pains – these are well-known health issues. 

Have you given much thought to the cost of not taking action when it comes to your family?

For me, I realized that every day I delayed stepping into my role as a present, intentional leader at home, I was creating distance. 

Distance between my actions and the responsibility that God blessed me with.

Distance between me and my wife. 

Distance between me and my kids.

And the truth? That distance wasn’t going to close itself.

When we stay stuck—paralyzed by busyness, stress, or even complacency—we’re paying a price. It might not show up overnight, but over time, you may find:

• A marriage that feels more like a partnership than a relationship.
• Kids who grow up wondering why Dad didn’t lead by example.
• A home that lacks a foundation of faith, trust, and connection.

What I’ve learned is that leadership at home isn’t about being perfect. It’s about taking ownership and making small, intentional choices to close the distance.

Because the cost of staying stuck? It’s far greater than the fear of stepping forward.

So, let me ask you: what’s one area in your family life where you’re feeling stuck right now?

Faith? Fidelity? Fatherhood? Fellowship?

You don’t have to tackle it alone. That’s why I created the Four F’s Framework—to help dads like you take action and lead your family with confidence.

Here’s how you can start taking action today:

• Download the Four F’s self-assessment to quickly identify where you’re stuck and where to focus next. Just hit reply and say, “Send me the PDF.”

OR

• Take the survey for a deeper dive into your family leadership strengths and areas for growth (a limited number of free attempts are available).

Every step you take matters. The question is: will today be the day you move forward?

I’d love to hear from you—what’s holding you back right now? Hit reply and let me know.