TOOL #9: Optimistic, Never-Surrender Attitude

No matter how tough things get, you can never, ever, quit on your family. Winning dads never quit, and dads who quit never win.

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people
[your family] to inherit the land.” Joshua 1:6, NIV

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never . . . never give in.” Sir Winston Churchill

Do you remember reading about Hernando Cortes, the intrepid global explorer who took Mexico for Spain in 1521? I’m not a big fan of Cortes, except for one thing he did. When he arrived in Mexico, he was one of the first Europeans to ever see that great land. He had a tiny group of soldiers and sailors with him. He was up against tens of thousands of Aztec warriors, a legendary Aztec chief and a great Aztec civilization that spread over thousands of miles. His men were scared, and many wanted to turn back. Cortes faced a mutiny among his already small force. So what did he do?

He burned his ships. By doing so, he eliminated his only means of escape and “bet it all” on his mission. He did not leave a path for quitting. It was victory . . . or death. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not a proponent of colonialism, but there is a powerful lesson to be learned in the leadership decision he made. That lesson underscores the power of Tool #10: an Optimistic, Never-Surrender Attitude. By burning his boats, Cortez unified his team, put the past behind him, and went on to victory against overwhelming odds.

In our lives as husbands and fathers, there will be plenty of times when we will feel like throwing in the towel. There will be periods of conflict and discouragement with our wives. There will be episodes of intense disappointment and frustration with our kids. There will be times of fatigue, disillusionment and self-doubt in our lives. No dad, not one, escapes these challenges.

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