Global Atlantic Financial Group - Leaders Insights Summer 2020 | Page 8

18 SUMMERS
18
You
Only
Have
SUMMERS
JOEL WELDON is in his mid-70s, but if
you met him, you’d guess he’s in his 50s.
He still goes waterskiing with his family.
He’s also one of the best speaking
coaches in the world. A few years ago
when Joel and I were developing some
talks for board meetings, we got into
a deep conversation about family and
how fleeting time really is. That day, Joel
said something that reshaped my entire
perspective on family and the time I
spend with my kids:
“Jim, you’ve got 18 summers. You
understand what I’m saying? You’ve really
only got those 18 summers together with
your kids. That’s it. Sure they’ll still be
your kids after that, but I’m telling you,
it’s different. You gotta grab those 18
summers and really make the most of
them. And boy, do they go by quick!”
A lot of you who are reading this are
probably doing the simple math right now
for each of your kids. Crazy, isn’t it?!
And I really felt under the gun with my
adopted sons since I didn’t adopt them
until ages five and seven. This gave me a
positive push to grab the time that we’ve
got together. You can’t stop time and you
can’t ignore this simple math equation.
So this summer, why not really step
into it? Get done what you need to and
go home early. Put the smartphone away!
You’ve got a lifetime of emails and social
media ahead of you, but you’ve only got
18 summers with your kids. (Some of
you probably missed a few summers
already because of busywork and iPhone
interruptions.)
This summer can be different. It’s just
starting and you now know the math.
You’ve got 18 summers.
Go grab this one.
JIM SHEILS
Jim Sheils developed the Family Board
Meeting process to help business owners
bridge the gaps between themselves and their
loved ones. Since then, both Jim’s message and
his book, the Amazon bestseller “The Family
Board Meeting,” have spread around the globe.
Often called “Crazy Glue” for families, Jim’s
popular and simple frameworks now reach
thousands of parents worldwide, helping them
feel more connected with their kids, be happier
at home and leave a lasting legacy.
JimSheils.com
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