In the four years of hosting FamilyDads, I have never specifically reached out to tangibly help dads who are either self-employed or who are employed but in difficult work situations at high stress levels and long hours away from family, and who, if given the opportunity, would pursue an avenue of self-employment that could offer more schedule flexibility and time with family.

So if you are in either of these scenarios, or if you just want to learn practical business strategies and productivity skills from a highly experienced and successful business coach, I want to introduce you to a fellow dad I’ve subscribed to for a while who can help you. His name is Ryan Lee. He lives in Connecticut with his wife Janet and 4 young children.

Ryan is also a best-selling author, speaker, coach, and owner of a very financially successful business that generates 7 figures each month.

Yet Ryan runs most of his business from a local coffee shop with nothing more than a laptop, notebook, and pen to do a few hours of work each day and enjoys lots of time with his family.

Ryan has been featured on the cover of the Wall Street Journal and dozens of other major media outlets.

After college, Ryan worked at a children’s rehab hospital where he helped children with disabilities. He was greatly blessed working with these kids who touched his heart and taught him many valuable “life lessons,” and he went on to launch a fitness website that grew into a multi-million dollar business.

Ryan has just launched a new weekly coaching program that I believe can help a lot of dads and their families. I have personally signed up for this myself.

Ryan explains everything in this video here–
http://www.familydads.com/ryanlee.php

Like I said, I’ve not reached out to dads in this way until now, but I want to do more to help dads maximize family time, and I know that for many of us, our work is often what prevents us from spending more time with family.

If you signup for Ryan Lee’s Inner Circle new weekly coaching program through this link, contact me and let me know. I plan to host group conference calls with all who are part of this with me and we can help one another. I will also share the notes I take from each session with you. Also, in full disclosure, I receive a commission on signups through the link above (which helps me continue to host FamilyDads) but if that offends you, please don’t signup.

Blessings to you and your family,
Joey Watkins
a fellow Family Dad

Last year, our attempt at a backyard spring garden was pitiful. We started too late, the weeds quickly overtook our progress, my children hated to go out and work in the heat, and I think the bugs ate more of our harvest than we did.

This year, things are starting out MUCH better!

I did a lot of research during the off-season and made some BIG changes.

First, we started much earlier (in late February.) We’ve given considerable effort to improving our soil. We’ve found plant varieties that are more heat and drought resistant. We’ve laid down hundreds of feet of weed blocking fabric. And my children are actually enjoying our daily afternoon times working together with dad out in the family garden.

Honestly, I’ve been amazed at their improvement in attitude and willingness to work — even my teenage son!

Gardening can be a fantastic way to spend time together as a family. Not only can you grow much of your own food and cut your monthly expenses way down, but it is a great way to spend time together as a family doing something productive.

To this day, I can still recall my dad’s involvement and the exact location of our family garden when I was just a young boy.

You can also give away some of what you grow to those in need.

If you don’t have a family garden, I encourage you to start one. Together. As a family.

But take my advice — start small… very small. Don’t plant more than three or four things your first year. And do some research online regarding how to prepare the soil.

And if you’re going to do a family garden this spring and haven’t started yet, you’d better hurry. I don’t want you to experience what we did last year.

Happy Gardening!

PS – If you’d like some input on family gardening from a fellow dad who has done a lot of research and has a bit of experience under his belt now, contact me for some helpful gardening tips.