Raising the Bar: Why Education Matters to Me
Earn it through education.
January 1, 2026
By Glen Spurlock
As parents and leaders within our families, one of our greatest responsibilities is not just to provide—but to prepare. We don’t simply build things for the next generation to inherit; we build standards they must rise to. That belief is what led me to a simple, intentional requirement: if you want ownership in what we are building, you must first invest in yourself through education.
That statement isn’t about control. It’s about clarity.
Education matters. Always has. Always will. But education doesn’t exist in a single lane anymore—and that’s something worth celebrating.
For some, education looks like a college degree: years of study, discipline, deadlines, and personal growth. For others, it looks like mastering a trade—earning certifications, developing hands-on skills, and learning how to build, fix, and create with precision and pride. In today’s world, both paths carry real value. Both require commitment. Both demand accountability.
What matters most isn’t the title on a diploma—it’s what the journey teaches along the way.
Completing a degree or certification proves something deeper than knowledge. It shows perseverance. It shows the ability to start something hard and finish it. It shows responsibility, independence, and the willingness to grow. Those are the same qualities required to be a true owner—not just of a business, but of one’s life.
Ownership should never be automatic. It should be earned.
By setting education as a requirement, we’re sending a clear message: no one is entitled to the rewards of what we’re building without first proving they’re willing to build themselves. This isn’t about withholding opportunity—it’s about preparing someone to handle it. A seat at the table means nothing if you’re not equipped to contribute.
The world is changing rapidly. Traditional paths are evolving. Trades, certifications, and specialized skills are becoming just as critical—sometimes more so—than conventional degrees. Recognizing that reality doesn’t lower the bar; it broadens it. It tells our children and future leaders: choose your path, but choose it with intention.
Education also shouldn’t stop the moment ownership begins. Growth doesn’t end when you earn a credential—it accelerates. Lifelong learning is what keeps families strong, businesses relevant, and legacies alive.
At its core, this belief is about respect. Respect for the work that came before. Respect for the future we’re trying to protect. And respect for the individuals we’re challenging to become their best selves.
We don’t just want to pass something down.
We want to pass something on—along with the values, discipline, and mindset needed to sustain it.
Because the greatest inheritance we can give our children isn’t ownership of what we’ve built—it’s the education, confidence, and character to build something of their own.
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Don’t Forget the Relationship That Started It All
Love each other intentionally. Choose each other daily.
We fall in love, make a commitment, and begin a journey together—often with dreams of building a family, a life, and a future side by side. Along the way, we experience it all: the excitement, the exhaustion, the laughter, the stress, the joy, and the heartbreak. We grow together as individuals and as parents, navigating the highs and lows that come with raising a family.
But if we pause long enough to really think about it, there’s a powerful truth many of us overlook: we are raising our children for someone else.
One day, our kids will grow up. They’ll meet someone, fall in love, and begin a journey of their own—just like we did. They’ll create new routines, build new families, and prioritize new relationships. And while we’ll always be their parents, we won’t be the center of their everyday world anymore.
What remains is the partner we chose at the very beginning.
That’s the person who shares the quiet moments no one posts about. The early mornings and late nights. The victories that go unnoticed and the struggles that only the two of you truly understand. When the house is loud with children, it’s easy to forget how important that relationship is. When life feels busy and overwhelming, the partnership can slowly slide into the background.
But neglecting that relationship comes at a cost.
Investing in your partner isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Making time for one another, communicating openly, showing appreciation, and choosing each other daily strengthens the foundation of the entire family. A healthy partnership sets an example for your children, showing them what love, respect, and commitment truly look like.
When the seasons of life change—and they always do—the relationship you nurture today will be the one that carries you forward tomorrow. Long after the toys are put away and the house grows quieter, it will still be the two of you walking through life together.
So don’t forget the relationship that started it all. Make each other a priority. Protect your connection. Love intentionally. Because in the end, that partnership isn’t just part of the journey—it is the journey.
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It’s important to invest in our relationships with our partners. We fall in love, begin a journey together, and build a family side by side. Along the way, we experience the highest highs and the hardest lows—together.
But when you really stop and think about it, we’re raising our children for someone else. One day, they’ll meet a partner of their own and begin the same journey we once started. They will build their own families, their own routines, their own lives.
What remains constant is the person you chose at the beginning—the one you share the everyday moments with. The quiet mornings. The late nights. The victories no one else sees and the struggles only you understand.
That’s why it’s so important to invest time in your partner. Don’t neglect one another. Make each other a priority. Nurture the relationship that started it all, because when the house grows quieter and the chapters change, that partnership is what carries you forward.
Love each other intentionally. Choose each other daily.