As part of my Authentic Leadership coaching class through Raleigh Coaching Academy, I had the privilege of reading ten books to support the curriculum. Eight books into my reading I told my six-year-old son, Ian, that I had reading for school to do so I could only read him one book instead of our usual two. He asked if I would be willing to read my book to him.

I thought that was a great idea because we were both getting what we needed. I needed to read my books for class, and he got me to spend more time reading to him. Win-win.

The first book we read together was Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza. This book combines the fields of quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology, and genetics to show what is truly possible – all things a six-year-old should be totally interested in, right?

Well, at points during the book, I would read something and then lean over and say “I have no idea what I just read” and he would say “I don’t either” and we would continue.

Later we read Atomic Habits by James Clear. I asked Ian which book he liked better, Atomic Habits or, or, or… I could not think of the other book’s title. And he looked at me with all seriousness and said, “the one about quantum physics?”

“Yes buddy, do you like this book or the quantum physics book better?”

He told me he liked Atomic Habits better because he could relate to more of the stories in the book.

Such a wonderful reminder: To enjoy something, you must be able to relate to it.

Your community, your donors, your clients, and your staff need to be able to relate to your mission; they need to understand who you are and what you do.

My six-year-old teaches me a lot every day, but the reminder to be relatable and easy to understand is a good one.

At one point, at the end of Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, Ian leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I have no idea what you are talking about” and we just laughed, because I had no idea either!

Maybe I need to go back and reread that one. Maybe it will be more relatable the second time through.

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