“Pretend life is a video game,” my father told me when I was a teenager. Back then, I was too young and stubborn to grasp what he meant about the spirit of adventure, even if I could parrot the words back to him. It took years of living—stumbling, failing, and occasionally triumphing—for his advice to sink in. Now, as a father of two sons, I find myself wondering: Was it me being hardheaded, or could my dad have framed it differently? More importantly, how do I inspire my boys to seize their potential and carve their own paths in this world?
I believe every man can draw strength from channeling the ambition of someone like Alexander the Great. No, I’m not saying we should wage wars or scheme against rivals, but think about the era he lived in and what he achieved. His mindset, forged in a brutal time, still resonates through his words:
“There is nothing impossible to him who will try.”
— Alexander the Great
“Glory crowns the deeds of those who expose themselves to toils & dangers.”
— Alexander the Great
These ideas didn’t come from nowhere. Alexander spent three formative years studying under Aristotle, soaking up philosophy, while his father, Philip II, fueled his hunger for Macedonian dominance. Alexander himself said it best:
“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.”
— Alexander the Great
This quote hits home for me. It shows Alexander saw a clear distinction between his father’s role and his teacher’s. One gave him life; the other gave him purpose. As a father, I want to blend these archetypes—provider and guide—into something greater. My dad managed this balance in his own way, but how can I take his example and make it better for my sons?
Most men would agree that a father’s core duty is to protect and provide. It’s a primal expectation, etched into our bones since the dawn of time, and despite what some claim, it still matters. Even Alexander acknowledged this in his father, who not only gave him life but shielded him in a cutthroat world of power grabs and assassinations, ensuring he could one day take the throne.
Today, that role looks different but feels the same. A father grinds to put a roof over his family’s head, clothes on their backs, and food on the table. If danger comes—whether it’s a physical threat or something more insidious like toxic influences or financial ruin—a father stands in the gap, putting his family’s safety above his own. But protection goes beyond fists or bank accounts. It’s about shielding your kids from despair, apathy, or a world that sometimes seems hell-bent on breaking their spirit.
Being a guide and mentor is trickier. Some men shy away from it, but the truth is, we’re teaching our kids every day whether we mean to or not. Alexander’s time with Aristotle—just three years—shaped him into a man who reshaped the world. That’s the power of mentorship. My dad wasn’t Aristotle, but he dropped gems like “pretend life is a video game” that I only appreciated later. He was both protector and guide, even if I didn’t see it at the time.
So how do I step up for my sons? It starts with showing them what ambition looks like—not just in words, but in action. I want them to see me tackle challenges, take risks, and keep pushing when life gets hard. I want to teach them to view obstacles as levels in a game, not walls to stop them. But it’s not enough to lead by example. I need to listen, ask questions, and guide them toward their own answers, just as Aristotle did for Alexander. It’s about sparking their curiosity, helping them find their “why,” and giving them the tools to chase it.
As fathers, we don’t get to choose just one role—we’re called to be both protector and mentor, provider and guide. Often we need to develop our own unique role for a fathers heart. My dad gave me a glimpse of this balance, but I want to take it further. I want my sons to know they’re safe, not just from physical harm but from a world that can dim their fire. I want to provide them with a foundation—food, shelter, love—but also with wisdom, courage, and a sense of adventure. Life is like a video game: full of challenges, hidden paths, and epic wins if you keep playing.
So, I’ll keep quoting Alexander to myself: “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” I’ll protect my boys fiercely, but I’ll also push them to explore, fail, and grow. I’ll be their anchor and their compass, showing them that the world is vast, wild, and theirs to conquer if they dare. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll look back one day and say:
“Dad gave me life—but he also taught me how to live it well.”
