The Income Goal That Changed How I Parent
My $10k/mo Wake-Up Call
A year ago, I had one of those “ultimate life goal examples” moments that completely shifted how I think about money and parenting.
I was sitting at my home office desk, sipping my morning matcha (yeah, I’m that guy), when my then 8-year-old son walked in.
“Dad, why are you always working?”
Simple question. Hit me like a truck.
I realized I’d been chasing the wrong number.
I wanted to hit $10k/mo because… well, doesn’t everyone? But I never asked myself what that number would actually do for my family.
That question from my son changed everything.
The Real Goal Behind the Goal
Instead of just wanting more money, I started asking better questions:
- What kind of dad do I want to be?
- How do I want my kids to remember their childhood?
- What values am I actually teaching them about work and money?
This shift led me to create what I now call the “Writing Dad System” a way to build income that actually supports the life I want with my family.
My New Ultimate Life Goal Examples
Here’s what my real goals look like now:
The Athlete Dad Goal:
Stay in good enough shape to out-athlete my kids until they’re 20. This means I can’t work 80-hour weeks. My health matters for the long game.
The Present Dad Goal:
Be available for the random questions, the scraped knees, and the “Dad, watch this!” moments. These don’t happen on a schedule.
The Teaching Dad Goal:
Show my kids what it looks like to work hard on something you love. Not just grind for a paycheck.
The Family Adventure Goal:
Have the time and money for experiences together. Not just survive paycheck to paycheck.
How Money Mindset Shapes Our Kids
Here’s what I learned:
Our kids are always watching how we handle money and work.
When I was stressed about hitting arbitrary income targets, my kids felt that stress too. My 5-year-old daughter started asking if we had “enough money” for simple things like ice cream.
That broke my heart.
I realized that my money mindset was becoming their money mindset. And I didn’t like what I was teaching them.
The Writing Dad System: Income That Serves Family
Since that wake-up call, I’ve built a system that lets me:
- Work from home while homeschooling with my wife
- Have more flexible hours for family time
- Build multiple income streams through writing
- Model healthy work habits for my kids
The income goal shifted from “make $10k/mo” to “make enough to live the life we want, in a way that aligns with our values.”
Most months, I don’t hit that goal (hence why I still work my 9-5).
But every month, I’m present for my family in a way I never was before.
What Your Kids Really Need
Your ultimate life goal examples don’t have to look like mine. But they should answer this question:
“What kind of parent do I want my kids to remember?”
Money is just a tool. The real goal is using that tool to build the life and family you actually want.
My kids still ask questions about work. But now the conversation is different:
“Dad, I love watching you write. Can you teach me?”
That’s the win I was really chasing all along.
Your Turn: Redefine Your Goals
Take a step back from your income targets. Ask yourself:
- What does success actually look like for my family?
- How do I want my kids to remember their childhood?
- What values am I teaching through my work habits?
- What would change if I hit my financial goals tomorrow?
The answers might surprise you. They definitely surprised me.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your income is to stop chasing income and start chasing the life you want that income to support.
Your kids are watching. Make sure they’re learning the lessons you actually want to teach.
Want to learn more about building income that serves your family? The Writing Dad System has helped dozens of dads create flexible income streams while staying present for their kids. It’s not about working more – it’s about working smarter.
