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.

It takes discipline. In the 1960s, the young poet Diane DePriam was at one of those legendary beat parties that movies are made of. Everyone was there. There were drugs and ideas and romances. Jack Kerouac was there holding court. And yet DePriam got up to leave and go home early. Why? Because her babysitter was expecting her.

All the other writers in the room judged her silently laughed at her, believed in that line we've

talked about so much here that the pram in the hall is the enemy of good art.

Kerouac was not so silent about his disdain. Unless you forget about your babysitter, he said to her

in front of everyone,

you're never going to be a writer. Yet, DePriamah being a good parent left anyway. As Julie

Philip writes in her fascinating book about creatives in parenting, the baby on the fire escape,

she believed that she wouldn't have been a writer if she stayed. To write and come

home on time, she argued, required the same discipline throughout, a practice of keeping her word.

So often important and talented people use their work and their talent as an excuse to neglect

their obligations as parents. But DePriam was exactly right to see them both as a matter

of discipline and commitment. The idea that anything or anyone is improved by neglecting one

part of their life for another is nonsense. And the opposite is true by keeping your word to yourself,

to your children, you are strengthening an important muscle. By being disciplined and protective of your

personal life, you are being protective and dedicated to your professional life. Don't let anyone

tell you differently. Don't let anyone judge you for that. It's funny actually in the

afterward of Discipline is Destiny, which you can get now, anywhere books are sold, including

we'll link it in today's episode. But I talk a lot in the afterward of Discipline is Destiny, which you can get now. Anywhere books are sold, including we'll link it in today's episode. But I talk a lot in the afterward about my struggles with

being a writer. What I'm proudest of with this book is that I was a better person slash parent while I was

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