Why Your Creative Gifts at Work Also Belong at Home
How to Bring Your Talents HomeInside this issue
On My MindThis week’s episode of Gap to Gig with filmmaker and ROAR founder Sean Waldron hit me in places I did not expect. I asked him what it looks like when a dad brings his creative skills home. He told the story of making a short film with his son. Nothing fancy. Just an iPhone, a dancing skeleton toy, some Hot Wheels cars, and a four year old with a story to tell. When they finished the edit, Sean said his son’s eyes “lit up” as he watched the film on the bed with the entire family gathered around. It was simple, joyful, and exactly the kind of moment you cannot script. But what stuck with me most was this one sentence: “The skills and the gifts that you have aren’t just for the workplace.” So many dads separate who they are at work from who they are at home. We leave our best problem solving, creativity, and curiosity at the office. Meanwhile, our kids are starving for those same gifts. Sean’s story was a reminder that our deepest skills are meant to be shared with the people who matter most. Not as a lesson. Not as a performance. Just as a point of connection. This issue is about that idea. The gifts you sharpen at work are tools for building a richer life at home. And that exchange goes both ways. Bring One Skill HomeWhy it MattersMany dads assume the skills that make them valuable at work belong only at work. Sean called that out directly. As he put it, we often believe our talents exist “to bring home an income.” But those same gifts can build connection, confidence, and joy inside your home. Why it Works Kids don't need a masterclass. They need presence. When you fold one real skill into your family life, you give them a window into what lights you up. And you meet them at their level. How to Do ItPick one skill you use daily at work:
Then match it with a simple home version:
Keep it playful. Keep it short. They drive the pace. You bring the support. Pro TipThe goal is not to teach. The goal is to join them in their world. That is where the magic happens. The Purpose FilterWhy it Matters Sean spent years chasing roles, titles, and work setups that never quite lined up with what he cared about. He moved between freelance, in-house, and independent work trying to find something that felt right. Purpose became the north star. Why it Works Purpose is not a job title. Purpose is the thing that creates pull. As Sean said, the projects he is working on now are the first ones where he feels “convicted to finish” rather than simply excited to start. How to Do It Ask yourself three questions this week:
The answers do not guarantee a career shift. But they point you toward the ingredients that matter most. Pro TipPurpose and desire are not the same thing. Desire feels exciting. Purpose feels necessary. Time to Sprint: The Ambition ResetWhy it MattersFatherhood changes your relationship with ambition. As Sean put it, “The desire doesn’t dissolve at all. The time does.” This sprint helps you recalibrate. How to Do ItStep 1 Write down one ambition you still care about. Step 2 Write down why it still matters. Step 3 List every barrier that makes it feel impossible right now. Step 4 Circle the barriers that are temporary. Underline the ones that are self imposed. Star the ones you can shrink this week. Step 5 Pick one action you can take in fifteen minutes or less. Schedule it. This is how ambition survives real life. Your MoveWhat is one skill from your work life that you want to bring home this week? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response. Connect with SeanWant to follow Sean’s journey as he builds ROAR and finishes his documentary Silly Cannonballs? You can find him here: ROAR Dads and Silly Cannonballs Give him a follow and let him know what part of the episode hit home for you. On the Show This WeekContinue the ConversationThis week’s episode explores creativity, purpose, identity, and the messy middle of figuring out what comes next as a dad. Sean opens up about his career pivots, his journey toward purpose, and the moment he realized that perfection is not the goal. Connection is. Check it Out🎧 Sean Waldron on Purpose, Creativity, and Becoming a Present Dad Listen on your favorite podcast platform The Last LaughTwo minutes for “ruffing”
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