In the corporate world of Singapore, we're drowning in buzzwords. We sit through town halls about "synergy," "leveraging assets," and "company culture." Most of it is jargon we discard the moment we tap out of the office. But over the years, I've discovered that buried within that corporate playbook are powerful frameworks that have nothing to do with climbing the ladder and everything to do with navigating the beautiful chaos of family life.
These aren't just management tips; they are profound principles for building a more organised, trusting, and joyful home. As a husband and a father to two young children, I found that applying a few select "office rules" yielded an astonishing return on investment—not in dollars, but in the things that hold real, lasting value: time, peace of mind, and stronger family bonds.
Here are the four corporate principles that have genuinely transformed my approach to being a husband and father.
Principle 1: Fight Domestic Entropy to Maximise Family Time
The Corporate Rule: "Leave It Better Than You Found It"
In technology and engineering, "entropy" is the natural tendency for a system to decline into disorder. It's the messy code that gets messier, the broken wiki page that never gets fixed, or the small inefficiency that balloons into a major roadblock. The rule is simple: constantly put in small amounts of effort to fight this decay.
The At-Home Application
At home, entropy is the pile of toys that explodes across the living room floor. It’s the stack of mail that colonises the dining table. It's the "we'll get to it later" attitude that turns a wobbly chair into a weekend-destroying DIY project. This principle is a mantra for fighting that wave of domestic chaos. It’s not about having a perfect home, but about making small, consistent investments to prevent small messes from becoming overwhelming.
A family-wide, 10-minute "Tidy-Up Dash" before bedtime is our defence against entropy. It’s a small effort that stops the slow creep of disorder.
The Real Value
The ROI here is time and mental clarity. By investing 10-20 minutes a day to combat chaos, we buy back hours of our weekend that would otherwise be spent on massive, stressful clean-ups. More importantly, it reduces the constant, low-level stress that comes from living in a disorganised environment and teaches our children the invaluable lesson of stewardship and responsibility.
Principle 2: Own the Problem (Don't Just Delegate Upwards)
The Corporate Rule: "Hold the Tiger's Tail"
One of the best managers I ever had described true ownership with a powerful metaphor. When you identify a problem, you’ve grabbed a tiger by the tail. You can't just let go and assume someone else will handle it. You hold on tight, manage it, and ensure it's safely handed off to the right person or solved completely. It's the ultimate form of accountability.
The At-Home Application
This principle is a game-changer for creating a true partnership at home. It’s the difference between saying, "Hey, we're low on diapers," and actually going online and ordering them. It’s seeing my daughter struggle with a puzzle and actively sitting with her to find a solution, not just offering a hollow "try harder." It’s about taking full responsibility for the "tigers" in our household—from a leaky tap to a school project—so they don’t run wild and create stress for everyone.
The Real Value
The return is trust and a reduced mental load. When you proactively own and solve problems, you build a powerful foundation of reliability with your partner. It demonstrates that you are an equal, active participant in managing the complexities of family life. For your children, it models initiative and teaches them that they have the agency to solve their own problems.
Principle 3: FTJ (Finish the Job) to Build a Currency of Trust
The Corporate Rule: "90% Done Is 0% Shipped"
In the world of product development, a project that is almost finished provides zero value to a customer. It's only the final 10%—the testing, polishing, and delivery—that turns effort into a usable product. "Finishing the job" is a non-negotiable part of creating value.
The At-Home Application
Every parent knows the graveyard of half-finished projects: the Lego castle with a missing turret, the bike that still needs its training wheels adjusted, the photo album that was never printed. FTJ is a personal commitment to follow-through. If I tell my son I will fix his toy truck after dinner, I make sure it gets done. If we promise a family movie night, we see it through, even if we're tired. It’s about honouring your word, no matter how small the promise.
The Real Value
The ROI is the unshakeable currency of trust. When your children know that your promises are bankable, it forms the bedrock of a secure and loving relationship. It teaches them the immense value of commitment, integrity, and the deep satisfaction that comes from seeing something through to the very end.
Principle 4: Turn Mistakes into "Moments of Delight"
The Corporate Rule: "The Service Recovery Paradox"
In customer service, there's a fascinating concept called the "Service Recovery Paradox." It states that a customer who experiences a problem that is fixed in a spectacular way can become more loyal than a customer who never had a problem at all. A mistake, when handled with genuine care and generosity, becomes an opportunity to build a stronger relationship.
The At-Home Application
This is perhaps the most powerful parenting hack I've ever learned. As parents, we will mess up. We lose our patience, we forget a promise, we get distracted. My old instinct was to be defensive. Now, I see a mistake as an opportunity. A genuine, heartfelt apology is the first step, but the "delight" is in the recovery.
Forgetting a promise to play a game might be fixed with an apology and an impromptu trip for ice cream. A moment of impatience can be repaired by stopping everything, giving a hug, and saying, "I'm so sorry I was grumpy. Let's build a pillow fort right now." It's about making the fix more memorable than the mistake.
The Real Value
This strategy builds deep emotional resilience and connection. It doesn't just patch up a mistake; it strengthens the bond. It teaches our children that it’s okay to be imperfect, that everyone makes mistakes, but that the true measure of character is how we make things right with sincerity and love.
Conclusion: Your Most Valuable Portfolio
The principles that drive success and create value in the workplace—fighting chaos, taking ownership, seeing things through, and making things right—are not just for our professional lives. When brought home, they provide the framework for building our most important portfolio: a thriving, happy, and resilient family. The returns, measured in love, trust, and peace, are incalculable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How can I start implementing these principles if my family life is already very chaotic?
Start small with just one principle. The easiest one to begin with is "Fight Domestic Entropy." Don't try to overhaul your entire home. Instead, commit to a simple, 10-minute family tidy-up session every night for one week. The visible progress and sense of accomplishment will build momentum to tackle the other principles.
2. Isn't applying 'corporate' rules at home a bit cold or clinical?
This is a valid concern. The key is to separate the principle from the application. The goal isn't to run your family like a business, but to use these proven frameworks to achieve loving outcomes: more quality time, less stress, and stronger bonds. The "why" is always love and connection; the "how" is simply a structured way to get there more effectively.
3. What if my partner isn't on board with these "rules"?
The best approach is to lead by example, not by decree. Don't announce a new "corporate policy" for the family. Simply start embodying one of the principles yourself. When your partner sees the positive impact of you "Owning the Problem" or "Finishing the Job," they will naturally see the benefits. Positive change is infectious and often more effective than a formal discussion.
No comments:
Post a Comment