He dropped out of high school. He bounced around. He made ends meet fixing bikes. He was not, you would think, going places. Certainly few would have predicated that he’d get his GED, let alone graduating from Cornell. And who would have guessed he’d end up writing two massive bestsellers that were both turned into TV shows?

The novelist Philipp Meyer—whose book The Son inspired one of our best Daily Dad emails—explained that throughout his circuitous journey, which involved numerous rejections and then strange flirtations with medical school and the Special Forces, his parents were always understanding. “When you take the fact that you’re loved for granted,” he told Texas Monthly, “it frees your mind to go after every other thing there is.”

It’s true that tough childhoods can often spur incredible careers. People with a chip on their shoulder can be highly motivated. But as we said recently, far less often do we think about what someone who is loved and supported can do. Think of the risks they can take. Think of the pitfalls they’ll avoid. Think of the advantages they have.

So when we think about our children, we should remember that we’re not just giving them love and support, we’re giving them the freedom to pursue greatness.

P.S. Phillipp Meyer’s The Son is a must-read, multi-generational epic that’s on par with the show Yellowstone, but set in Texas (and better). You can grab a copy over at The Painted Porch.

And don’t miss our fascinating conversation with Meyer on The Daily Stoic Podcast, where he discussed his unconventional path to success, the philosophy that inspires his writing, and more.

Listen to the full episode here or watch it over at the Daily Stoic Podcast YouTube channel, where we post video clips and complete interviews from the podcast. Head here to see more and subscribe today!