The Art of Living - Issue #22

Eighteen summers. That's all you get with your children before they become adults and start their own lives.

This perspective hit me like a freight train when I first heard it. As entrepreneurs and ambitious individuals, we often get so focused on building our businesses and achieving our goals that we forget about the finite nature of childhood.

Your children won't remember the perfect house, the expensive car, or the impressive job title. They'll remember the time you spent with them. The conversations you had. The adventures you shared. The presence you brought to their childhood.

Time is the most valuable gift you can give your children. It's not something you can buy back later. You can't delegate it. You can't postpone it until a more convenient time.

Some practical ways to make the most of your summers:

- Plan one special adventure each month - Have device-free family dinners - Teach them something you're passionate about - Be present – put away the phone and truly engage

Success without family connection is hollow. Don't sacrifice the people you're working to provide for in the process of providing for them.

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