Father’s Day: a chat with the dads of SAXX.

Although our underwear does an excellent job of supporting men, the support we get from dads is incomparable.

This Father’s Day, we sat down with some of the dads of SAXX: Adam Craig (VP of Sales), Adam Ferguson (Supply Planner), and John MacDonald (Product Manager). The dads shared what the day means to them, how they support themselves and their families, and how they balance fatherhood with their careers.

In our conversations, the dads emphasized that amidst busy schedules both in and out of the office, spending quality time with their loved ones is top priority. “Nowadays, it’s hard to spend time with my son as we’re both very busy with work, sports, friends, etc.,” John said. “So, when Father’s Day comes around, it’s very nice to sit down with him over those few hours and enjoy his company.”

Quality time is crucial, as are the traditions we create, as Adam C. outlined. “I started a tradition in my early years of fatherhood of having a Father’s Day cookout and was lucky to have four generations come together. These are some of my best memories, and they reinforced the importance of family, taking the time to get together, and enjoying each other’s company. The smiles, memories, and pictures that came from these are priceless to me today.”

As any parent understands, balancing quality time and priorities can be challenging. Fortunately, as highlighted by father of two, Adam F., SAXX’s hybrid work model allows him to do both. “It’s a massive support in creating more balance. I love coming into the office to collaborate with my team, but there are days when I need to both drop off and pick up my girls from daycare. By not having to commute, I’m able to work a full day and be there for the needs of my family.”

The same sentiment was echoed by John. “SAXX has built a culture that allows a more flexible work-life balance. This flexibility allowed me to move my work hours/days around as needed so that I wouldn’t miss some important events in my son’s life. For example, his elementary school Christmas concerts or volunteering at school fundraising events.” 

Adam C. added, “A quote my dad used growing up – and I think about often – is from the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.’ As a dad and husband with a full-time job, I do my best to make sure I’m not missing the most meaningful things in life, which center around my family.” 

As John outlined, balancing priorities also means finding the time to support those in our lives through mentorship and education. “My wife and I have always preached honest and hard work. Although those were principles that I’ve always implemented in my work life, it became more important as I wanted to set a good example for our son.” 

For Adam C., being a dad of three boys and one girl has changed who he is and what he values. “As a father, I want nothing less than to support, encourage, teach, and love my kids unconditionally and make sure they can grow up and live their best lives. It’s not easy – it requires patience and a little heartache, but the life lessons we’ve shared have also made me a better person.” 

To wrap up our conversation, we asked the SAXX dads if they had advice for other dads balancing their lives as parents and professionals. After all, pops wouldn’t be pops without his nuggets of wisdom. 

Adam F.: “Make sure you are including yourself in your evaluation of balance – if you aren’t taking care of yourself, it will probably impact how you show up at work or home.” 

John: “Do what you can to not miss important events in your child’s life. It may not seem like it at the time, but children love it when you’re there watching them or participating in various activities with them.”

Adam C.: “When striving for work-life balance, consider the company’s culture and priorities. When I interviewed at SAXX, I was able to get a good feel for the company culture and how they put employees first, encouraged balance, and were able to identify busy times within a year so you could anticipate those and plan accordingly.”

Happy Father's Day from all of us at SAXX!