Bruce Sallan, author of “A Dad’s Point-of-View: We ARE Half the Equation” and radio host of “The Bruce Sallan Show – A Dad’s Point-of-View” gave up a long-term showbiz career to become a stay-at-home-dad. He has dedicated his new career to becoming THE Dad advocate. He carries his mission with not only his book and radio show, but also his column “A Dad’s Point-of-View”, syndicated in over 100 newspapers and websites worldwide, and his dedication to his community on Facebook and Twitter. Join Bruce and his community each Thursday for #DadChat, from 6pm -7pm PST, the Tweet Chat that Bruce hosts.
How long have you been blogging, and why?
Call me odd, call me eccentric…but call me, Please! I don’t like my writing to be called “Blogging” or my website “a Blog.” Don’t ask me why but I prefer to be thought of as a writer.
I’ve been writing for 6 or so years but only writing online for about three. My writing began when I faced the incredibly shock of prejudice at being a SAHD (stay-at-home-dad). My marriage had ended, my boys were 6 and 9, and their mom disappeared. I was a 24/7 dad with two ailing parents. YET, all the moms at my boy’s Elementary School would ask me – knowing my situation – “What do you do all day?” CAN YOU IMAGINE the response I’d have gotten if I asked a mom that question? BUT, the dads asked their own insensitive question, “When are you going back to work?”
This made me realize that dads were the last group that could be disparaged with impunity. Looking around I saw it everywhere. Where once dads were put on pedestals, a la “Father Knows Best” and “The Bill Cosby Show,” now we have “The Family Guy” and Homer Simpson, preceded by The Bundys! I began writing about parenting, dads, divorce, marriage, dating, re-marriage, teens, and more. The rest is…lol…history.
Do you feel you have a unique message to share with the world?
I feel I’m a unique character.
I don’t know of ANY other dad or mom blogger who has ALL of the following: radio show, their own comic strip, published book, column carried worldwide, their own music video, successful Tweet Chat (#DadChat), successful Facebook Page (4,100 “likes”), speaking at major conferences (#140conf LA and NY and Blogworld to name the bigger ones), guest blogging everywhere, radio interviews everywhere, and someone who remains as modest and unassuming as MOI?
Why do some bloggers become successful, while others, perish?
The common answer is “quality content.” I’ll go further by declaring that content matters, but selling yourself, your content, and “working” Social Media is equally important. Good ideas are a dime a dozen. So are good writers. But, good writing coupled with good showmanship – that’s harder to come by!
Life changes unexpectedly. How do you deal with that?
I cry. I rant. I yell. No, I’ve learned that the ONLY thing that I can control is how I react to life’s changes. I’ve had my share of ups and downs and have reached a peace with my life so that the roller coaster has become easier. Of course I have my good and bad days, but EVERY day that I wake up healthy, that my boys are well, and that my wife is next to me is another blessing.
Gratitude IS the key to happiness. I live for now…not for what I hope will be or “when such and such happens.” My life is happening now, period the end!
You had a long career in the entertainment industry and then switched directions. Why?
Showbiz is like sports. You have a limited life. You can choose to hang on or you can choose to leave with grace.
I had 25 years of largely wonderful times. 9 jobs in that time. 30+ produced television movies, several pilots and series, and travel ALL over the world. I spent a night watching the sun rise in Jerusalem when I went to research the movie I’d sold about Golda Maier. I went to the Amazon and Carnival in Rio for “research.” I was in East Berlin, before the Wall came down, visiting while we were filming an escape from East Berlin movie in West Berlin. I shut down the Tower of Pisa for a chase scene in a pilot for ABC and, on the same production, became the first film or television company ever allowed to film in the museum that housed Michaelangelo’s famous statue of “David.” We were blessed to shoot there but “my” star and “my” director got into such a horrible fight that all the footage shot that day was unusable! I met the famous and the infamous.
BUT, when my son was born – four days after my 40th birthday – I knew my best productions were ahead of me. From that day until I left “the biz” a few short years later, nothing in showbiz could compare to being a father.
How does your past contribute to your blogging style?
Style. Pizazz. Showmanship. Good titles. Hooks into the story. Sales Sales Sales.
What makes a good father?
Being there! Time spent with the kids…a lot of time.
What’s most important to you in life?
My boys, my wife, my dogs…and doing good in the world. I want to leave the world better for my time on earth. THAT is my mission with this second career of mine. And, to have fun, and to model a successful working dad to my boys (who really never knew me from my showbiz career since they were so young when I left it).
"You’re such a smart boy!" were his first accolades heard. So, it’s no wonder that this phrase became the title of his business, Smart Boy Designs.