Dad for a lifetime

American author and businessman Gregory W.Slayton advises fathers to make sure family is the priority. Photos Provided to China Daily

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Fatherhood is a treasure that can't be wasted, a leading CEO and author tells Zhang Yuchen.

Through his whole book Be a Better Dad Today!, Gregory W. Slayton challenges any man with one direct question for life: What's the most important job you have?

The answer is beyond any of his titles as the Silicon Valley adventure capitalist, CEO of many American companies, and former US ambassador to Bermuda.

"Job No 1 is being a father," says the parent of four. "My book is trying to point it out to dads: This is such a wonderful opportunity for joy, blessing and fun (to spend time with your families). Don't throw it away."

Born in Ohio, Slayton was raised by his mother after being abandoned by his birth father, but he found himself taken under the wing of the Chinese-American family of his best friend, Ken Zhang.

"In the first few days when I was with my Chinese family, I thought to myself, I wish I was Chinese and born into a Chinese family," he says. "The Chinese dad is always there - he is committed to his family."

Motivated by his own father's failures and afraid of following in those footsteps, Slayton studied and shared his notes about fatherhood taken on six continents, hoping to inspire fathers to aspire for greatness, regardless of issues they may have to overcome.