The hug I wasn't ready for

I'm writing to you from the last weekend before my oldest leaves for college.

I keep catching myself doing the math on it. The lasts. The number of dinners left. The number of ordinary Tuesdays I didn't know to pay attention to.

This weekend we were at a tennis tournament for my youngest. And all week, the only thing he talked about was wanting his big brother there to watch him play. Not me. Not his dad. His brother.

So we went. And it hit me standing there that this was the last chance my oldest would have to watch his little brother compete before everything changes. The last time, at least, for a long while.

My youngest finished his match, walked straight off the court, and folded right into his brother's arms.

I took the picture through blurry eyes. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. 🥹

Here's what I keep coming back to, and why I'm telling you.

• I was there for it. Not rushing off a call. Not half-watching while I answered email. Actually there.
• The business I built is the reason I got to be. That's not luck. That's design.
• These moments don't wait for a convenient quarter. They show up when they show up, and you're either present or you're not.

I built JodyLeadz on a belief that a lot of people quietly think is naive. That you don't have to choose between a business that pays you well and a life you're actually inside of. Profit and presence. The and is the whole thing.

For years I was told that was a trade. Build the empire now, be present later. Grandkids, maybe. Retirement, if you're lucky.

I didn't want later. I wanted this weekend.

So if you're reading this and you've been telling yourself that the season of showing up comes after the next launch, the next hire, the next milestone, I want to gently push on that.

The launch will still be there. This weekend won't.

Build the business that gives you the moments back. On purpose. That's the whole point of the work I do, and it's the thing I'm most grateful for tonight as I sit here with a full heart and a kid who's about to fly.

Lead with Energy. Live with Intention. ❤️

Jody

P.S. If you've been circling the idea that your business could give you more of your life back instead of taking it, that's exactly what we dig into on a Discovery Call. Let's build the version where you don't miss the hug.