Dads in the Limelight ( #limelightdads )-Bill Middlebrooks ( @amazingdads ) #dadchat

Dads in the Limelight Series

Our 377th Dad in the Limelight is Bill Middlebrooks. I want to thank Bill for being a part of the Dads in the Limelight series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

I am a business entrepreneur, community servant, leader in the Detroit area. I attended the University of Michigan Ross School of Business as well as the Harvard Business School as part of the IBM Client Executive Program. I also the founder and Managing Partner of Excellence In Action, Inc, and am co-founder and Partner in Detroit Metro Ventures, LLC, a retail, food and beverage concession business that operates a portfolio of 16 establishments at the Detroit Metropolitan International Airport.

2) Tell me about your family

I have raised two extraordinary sons during his successful 29-year marriage. My oldest son, 1^st LT and Executive Officer Arthur J. Middlebrooks is a decorated combat veteran (Bronze Star Recipient) and a 2010 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. My youngest son, Andrew M. Middlbrooks is a recent graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Public Policy. He currently works for a Life Sciences lobbying firm in Washington, DC.

My new book, Dare to Be Extraordinary: A Collection of Positive Life Lessons from African American Fathers ,is available for purchase at ExtraordinaryFathers.com. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the chosen charities of the book’s featured leaders.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Making sure I understood the specific needs of each of my sons and providing them all the necessary things they needed in life to succeed and not necessarily all the things they wanted.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Spend a quantity of quality time with your children. The investment pay big positive dividends down the road.
Bill Middlebrooks, Dads in the Limelight, #limelightdads, Dad of Divas, Dad of Divas.com 5) Seeing that you (or your position) are in the limelight, how have you come to balance parenthood and outside life? If you are currently not in the limelight per se, please still answer this in regards to how you balance parenthood and outside life.

Balance is important in any part of life but no more so when you have accepted the responsibility to be an engaged, supportive and loving father. I’ve always put the needs of my sons first and foremost and was willing to sacrifice other non essentials activities that didn’t support my mission to raise them for success. To provide balance, it was important to make time for my wife and for them to see me doing that as well. Additionally, I knew I only had a limited amount of time to get them launch on the right path before they were ready to leave the nest.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I’ve learned that there are many different approaches and positive outcomes to being a good father but the underlining theme is that good fathers make a conscious decision to openly accept the challenge of fatherhood, welcome the ups and downs of parenting and are willing to sacrifice to provide their children what they need (not necessarily what they want) for success.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far

Being a father is the most important role, responsibility, challenge and greatest reward all rolled into one that I have ever experienced.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

Seeing both sons graduate from college, accept meaning professional career opportunities and watching them become men of character, integrity and substance.

Bill Middlebrooks, Dads in the Limelight, #limelightdads, Dad of Divas, Dad of Divas.com