Welcome to the Daily Dad podcast, where we provide one lesson every single day to help you with your most important job, being a parent.

I'm Ryan Holiday, and I draw these lessons from ancient philosophy, modern psychology, practical wisdom, and insights from parents just like you all over the world.

Thank you for listening, and we hope this helps.

How to be the greatest ever.

One day, many years ago, the comedian Andrew Schultz forgot to do his

homework. They were on their way to school when he came clean and admitted it to his father. There

could have been a fight. There could have been criticism. There could have been a lecture. Instead,

his father simply asked, well, do you want to stop here on the stoop and do it?

To which Schultz replied, yes, I would like to do that.

His father had only one thing to say afterward.

I'm really proud that you did that.

Again, this could have been a moment full of criticism.

He could have leveled the threat of punishment were this ever to happen again.

But as it happened, it never did. And they would never need to have any more conversations about it.

From then on, Schultz said, I never didn't do my homework.

Again, we've said this before that kids do well when they can.

When you give them the opportunity, kids generally do the right thing.

You don't have to scream, you don't have to force them to do their homework.

You only have to give them the opportunity to show you that they know what's right.

Sometimes they just need one more chance to get there.

Think of what it meant to Schultz to hear from his father that he was proud of him,

instead of that he was mad at him or disappointed in him. Think of what they were able to accomplish

...