Many of you know that I’m a goofy dad. It’s pretty much been that way since Eric was born. He’s an only child but my wife would be first to tell you she really has two kids.

 

Eric is in grade three this year and he’s a bright kid, maybe a little too bright and definitely not challenged enough. Last week he had a nasty cold and I was tasked with doing some homework with him. His teacher suggested that he had to do exercises 12 and 13 in his math book, but it would be great if he was also able to complete exercise 14.

 

When he declared “ok Dad, I’m done”, he wasn’t thrilled when I sent him back to the table to do exercise 14. The little wise guy couldn’t see for the life of him why he had to do exercise 14 if only 12 and 13 were required.

 

We had a conversation about always doing more than what’s expected of you and how positive things happen to those who work hard. I really thought I was making good headway until Sunday morning hockey practice when he was doing puck battles against the other kids. After giving about a solid 60% effort the little bugger came up with the puck in what was a much closer race than it should have been. When I asked him why he wasn’t skating hard, he said “Dad, I got the job done. What’s the big deal b’y?”

 

I know just getting the job done is good enough for many, but I want to run the Tactical Growth mandate with the mindset of delivering beyond expectations. If Eric doesn’t tramp on my last nerve in the process, I hope to be winning my puck battles for some time to come.

 

Yours in investing and parenthood (much more the former),

 

Scott