What Makes a Dad Great? It’s Not What You Think

What Sets Great Dads Apart? One Word: Commitment.

When it comes to fatherhood, there’s one trait that rises above all others. It’s not having the right answers. It’s not being the funniest or most athletic. It’s not even having a perfect past.

It’s commitment.

Show me a dad who’s winning with his kids, and I’ll show you a man who shows up—again and again—with unwavering resolve.

This isn’t just guesswork. It’s backed by years of research on what makes highly effective fathers stand out. And it’s the first “secret” highlighted in our free 7 Secrets Profile and Master Class—because it’s that foundational.

Why Commitment Matters Most

Let’s be honest. Fatherhood is tough. Many of us walk into it without a map, carrying wounds, regrets, or insecurities from our own pasts.

Maybe you’re a dad who battles anger or burnout.
Maybe your job demands more than you have to give.
Maybe you didn’t grow up with a strong father figure.

But here’s the hope: You can overcome all of that. You really can.

Because when you commit to fathering with purpose—when you decide, “I will be here, I will fight for connection, I will love my kids well”—you’ve already won half the battle.

Committed Dads Make Their Kids a Top Priority

Think about something you’re great at—your trade, your business, your favorite hobby. You didn’t get there by accident. You trained, practiced, and poured in hours of intentional effort.

Fatherhood deserves the same passion. Not pressure—passion.

When you treat being a dad like it matters deeply, your calendar reflects it. You say “no” to some good things so you can say “yes” to the best thing—your family.

That might look like:

Prioritizing dinner around the table four nights a week.
Coaching your kid’s soccer team.
Adding weekly one-on-one outings to your calendar.
Blocking off time with no phones and no distractions.

Your actions tell your kids, “You matter. I’m in this for the long haul.”

Commitment Means Doing Whatever It Takes

Need inspiration? Let me tell you about Louie.

Louie served two Marine tours, returned home with physical and emotional scars, and made some bad decisions. After prison, he fathered a daughter—Sara—and everything changed.

By the time she was three, Louie had full custody. He became a single dad, and he showed up every single day. Here’s what Sara wrote when she was in 8th grade:

“My daddy has been both a father and a mother to me. Every hairstyle I’ve had, he’s done. He cooks every meal. When our car broke down, he walked up the hill to buy groceries and carried them in my pink backpack.”

Her words say it all:

“He loves me enough to do everything for me—even the embarrassing things.”

Louie didn’t have ideal circumstances. But he had commitment. And that changed everything.