Building Strong Family Values with Devan Gonzalez

I had the pleasure of speaking with Devan Gonzalez, a fitness industry CEO and dedicated father. Our discussion delves deep into the intersection of generational values, modern fatherhood, and business ethics. Devan shares his insights on how defining and integrating core values can help align personal, family, and professional life, ensuring authenticity and consistency.

In this episode, you will be able to:

1. Learn how values have evolved from being taught through religious stories to being integrated into daily life for consistency and authenticity.
2. Learn about value integration in personal and professional life.
3. Master the art of communication and teaching values.
4. Appreciate the role of experience in teaching values.
5. Reflect on parental influence and legacy building.

Hello everyone, Paul Banas here, your host of the Great Dad Talks podcast. This past episode, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Devan Gonzalez, a dynamic CEO in the fitness industry and a dedicated father. We delved deep into the intricacies of modern fatherhood, the evolving notion of masculinity, and the importance of aligning personal and family values.

Generational Values and Shared Legacies

One of the first topics we touched upon was how values were traditionally passed down through generations. Reflecting on this, I observed, “In the past, values like kindness and generosity were often learned through religious texts or stories, rather than explicitly taught or associated with specific holidays.” Devan added a modern twist to this, noting how his business owner friends often integrate core values with a focus on legacy, bridging their personal and professional lives seamlessly.

Importance of Interpersonal Communication

Devan emphasized the significance of communication, both in his professional and personal life. “It’s crucial to explain values and directions to others rather than merely issuing instructions,” he said. This approach, according to Devan, is not only effective with employees but will also be beneficial for his young daughter as she grows.

Consistency Across Contexts

Aligning values across different facets of life can prevent conflicts and foster authenticity. Devan shared how he and his wife are working on a family mission statement to ensure they incorporate their core values into their daughter’s upbringing.

Teaching Values Through Experience

Devan’s approach to teaching values is hands-on and experience-based. He plans to impart lessons of respect and teamwork through real-life situations and martial arts, highlighting the importance of extracting wisdom from everyday activities.

Reflecting on Parental Influence

Devan also reminisced about learning values from his father through observation and conversations during moments of disappointment. “Watching my dad work hard and hearing his explanations helped me internalize those values,” he shared.

Conscious Value Teaching

Here’s some key advice from Devan on teaching values:

• Set up specific situations:Activities like volunteering can instill values like empathy and community spirit.
• Use daily interactions:Everyday moments are also valuable opportunities for teaching important lessons.

Tackling Modern Masculinity

During the discussion, we also touched upon the concept of “toxic masculinity.” I suggested, “The term often mislabels all male behaviors negatively, which is unfair.” Devan agreed, noting, “There’s a double standard when similar behaviors in females aren’t labeled as ‘toxic femininity.’ We need to redefine male values without discarding them entirely.”

Identifying Core Values

Devan shared insights on identifying personal core values:

• Reflect on your journey:Understanding past decisions can help clarify your values.
• Seek uniqueness:Identify what differentiates you and what you want your family to embody.
• Communicate with your partner:Ensuring alignment on family values is essential, especially when raising children.

Confronting Societal Influences

We didn’t shy away from discussing the impact of societal influences, such as social media and school policies, on family values. Devan highlighted the importance of recognizing these external factors and addressing them within the family context.

Evolving Fatherhood

Devan opened up about the initial emotional disconnect he felt after his daughter’s birth, which later developed into a stronger bond. “It’s important to invest time to build that relationship, especially when work and other commitments can be distracting,” he remarked. Experiencing parenthood firsthand offers a transformative perspective that truly shapes one’s worldview.

Legacy and Core Values

Reflecting on fatherhood, Devan spoke about preparing for this journey by clearly defining core values like striving for greatness, teamwork, respect, positive impact, and leading by example. These values form the cornerstone of a meaningful legacy, one that is forged through relationships and consistent teaching.

In conclusion, our conversation was a rich exploration of what it means to be a modern father, the balancing act of integrating core values into every aspect of life, and the importance of forging a legacy built on genuine connections and shared experiences.

Thank you for joining us on this episode. Stay tuned for more insightful conversations on Great Dad Talks. And remember, defining your values is the first step in becoming the father your kids will look up to and remember.