The Daily Dad

Why Not?

Dec 13, 2023

03:32

Snipd AI

In this podcast, they discuss the story of a young man being interviewed for the nuclear program and the importance of honestly assessing if parents are truly giving their best to their children.

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Quick takeaways

Admiral Rickover's question 'Why not?' challenges us to honestly assess whether we are truly giving our best as parents.

To become better parents, we need to reflect on our habits, prioritize our time and make meaningful changes.

Deep dives

Importance of Doing Our Best

When interviewing a young man for a spot in the nuclear program, Admiral Hyman Rickover asked if he had always done his best. When the young man couldn't honestly answer, Rickover replied with, 'Why not?' This concept applies to parenting as well. As parents, we often reassure ourselves that we are doing our best, but how many of us are truly giving our best to our children? Are we fully present or are we distracted by our phones or work? We need to be honest about whether we can do better and identify what is stopping us.

Reflections on Giving Your Best as a Parent

4min

He was a young man fresh out of the Naval Academy and a stint in the submarine service. He was being interviewed by Admiral Hyman Rickover for a coveted spot in the nuclear program. Then he got the question that changed his life.

“How did you stand in your class at the academy?” Rickover asked. “Sir, I stood 59th in a class of 820,” future president Jimmy Carter answered. “But did you do your best?” Rickover asked. And when Carter could not honestly answer that he has always done his best, Rickover simply said, “Why not?” and then ended the interview.

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