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SALT LAKE CITY — Twelve years ago, Greg Blackbourn had a conversation with his oldest son, Ryan — a moment he recalls as the hardest of his life.
“When he was 7 years old, he’d come to me, ‘Dad, dad, dad. Can we do this?’” Blackbourn said. “‘Ya, buddy, I have work, but we’ll do it next week.’”
When next week turned into months, Blackbourn knew something had to change.
“When a 7-year-old came to me and said, ‘Dad, you care more about your clients and your work than your family,’ it was a pivotal moment in my life,” Blackbourn said.
That moment turned into a movement — a lifestyle he decided would be more about family than money. In fact, Blackbourn said if he dies with zero dollars left in his bank account, he’s fine with that.
“I want those memories and that legacy with my family to go on forever,” he said.
Kirk Chugg had a similar experience when he realized time with his four children was passing quickly.
“I’m spending time and wasting time, and it’s going to be gone before I know it,” Chugg said.
Chugg owns a men’s custom clothing company in Salt Lake City and had heard similar comments from his clients. So, three months ago, he started Devoted Dad, an online forum to help men who want to become better fathers.
“Somebody who teaches his children and takes responsibility for the type of people they become,” Chugg said, “That’s huge and that’s who we want to help.”
Devoted Dad has nearly 2,000 members from around the world with a goal of influencing 5 million fathers by 2020.
Blackbourn, a board member for Devoted Dad, is now dedicated to spending at least two hours of one-on-one time with each of his six children every week. His son, Drew, loves his time with his father.
“I’ve seen him change because he talks more about creating value and to help people,” Drew Blackbourn said.
Chugg believes the world is ready for the message of fatherhood — a message, he said, that has been emotional for him.
“Because I see the change in my own family and what it’s done for us,” he said.
Chugg’s son, John, has noticed that change too.
“He started taking more time with me and putting more time into making me happy,” John Chugg said.
Devoted Dad is funded through corporate sponsors. Every afternoon, the organization sends out a “Do Dad” text with ideas for members on how to spend more quality time with their children.
Chugg believes time will not only change families but change the world.
“You can prioritize all the other stuff over being a dad that you want,” Chugg said, “but at the end of your life, you’re never going to wish you spent less time with your kids.”
To learn more about Devoted Dad, visit devoteddad.org.
