{"id":1013,"date":"2016-09-08T16:54:32","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T16:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fatherville.com\/?p=1013"},"modified":"2016-09-08T16:58:38","modified_gmt":"2016-09-08T16:58:38","slug":"fatherville-interview-julian-caldwell-founder-of-the-getconnectdad-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fatherville.com\/index.php\/2016\/09\/08\/fatherville-interview-julian-caldwell-founder-of-the-getconnectdad-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Fatherville Interview: Julian Caldwell founder of the GetConnectDad website"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fatherville:<\/strong>\u00a0Hello Julian, and welcome to Fatherville. To start things off could you please tell our readers what motivated you to start the GetConnectDad website?<\/p>\n

Get Connect Dad:<\/strong>\u00a0Great question.\u00a0 About seven years ago, this idea came to me after a long custody \u2018battle\u2019 for my oldest daughter, who was 13 at the time.\u00a0 The concept of connecting fathers who are at different seasons in their lives in some manner kept rolling around in my head.<\/p>\n

A few months ago, as I was heading out on a Sunday morning for a weeklong work \u2018retreat\u2019 I was struck with a repeating question in my head.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat would happen if I spend 50% of the time when I am traveling for work focused on being a better father + helping other fathers be better fathers?\u201d\u00a0 On a plane ride from Omaha to New York City, I pulled out my list of 45 or so traits I had been collecting over the past few years and began writing.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, some awesome fathers responded immediately to my idea and volunteered to write.\u00a0 More and more sign up each week to write with us.\u00a0 It has been overwhelming.<\/p>\n

FV<\/strong>: \u00a0How long has the site been online?<\/p>\n

GCD:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0We went \u201clive\u201d in April of 2016.<\/p>\n

FV:<\/strong>\u00a0 On your website on the About Us page it says you work with a team of dads from around the world…how did you choose the dads you are working with?<\/p>\n

GCD: <\/strong>The team has formed in a couple or ways.\u00a0 First, I have had some wonderful men (and women) reach out directly and say, what can I do to help?\u00a0 They are excited about the Traits Framework and it provides some guide rails for their writing.\u00a0 Secondly, I reach out directly to father\u2019s who\u2019s perspective I find interesting.\u00a0 I am extremely interested in conversations that challenge us to be better parents.\u00a0 I read A LOT each day from many father bloggers and look for interesting perspectives, particularly those from overseas.<\/p>\n

FV:<\/strong>\u00a0 Could you briefly tell us about some of these dads?<\/p>\n

GCD:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Oh my goodness, the fathers who are writing are in so many different stages and facing different challenges.\u00a0 Interestingly, there is a good balance between fathers who are the primary caregivers and fathers who work outside of the home.\u00a0 What I love about the parents who are working with us is I really feel like I am making some great connections with all of them.\u00a0 You know, when you really look at what they are writing about, all of them are trying to learn to be better.\u00a0 How awesome is that?<\/p>\n

FV:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0What are some of your favorite fatherhood sites? Tell us what fatherhood books are on your reading list.<\/p>\n

GCD:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0What an awesome question.\u00a0 I actively follow the 150 authors who work with me on developing content.\u00a0 I listen to Mike Struyk\u2019s (2CentDad) podcast religiously, Nick Devries\u2019 (Fat Dad Slim Dad) YouTube Channel, Paul Carlson\u2019s The Unexpected Dad, Scott Behsen\u2019s book \u201cWorking Dad\u2019s Survival Guide\u201d, \u201cThe Dad Gum Blog\u201d, Fatherville (of course), UK\u2019s \u201cLearning to Dad\u201d, \u201cDadonymous\u201d, Troy\u2019s blog \u201dDadRise\u201d, UK\u2019s \u201cHello Fatherhood\u201d, Han-Son Lee\u2019s \u201cDaddi Life\u201d, \u201cRandom Dad\u2019s Podcast\u201d (love these guys), Greg\u2019s Blog \u2013 \u201cDad Ponderings\u201d, Thomas from Scotland\u2019s \u2013 \u201cDad\u2019s Rock\u201d, Alex Fihema\u2019s \u201cFather of 5\u201d and my two favorite poets, Sarah Sales sarahleastories.com and Craig Tischner @poet_unknown.<\/p>\n

As for books I am reading, I am reading some books that are being sent to me for review and comment.\u00a0 I love the energy and the effort some fathers are putting into their writing.\u00a0 My favorite fatherhood book is still Scott Behsen\u2019s book \u201cWorking Dad\u2019s Survival Guide\u201d.\u00a0 It is a constructive guide to finding some sense of balance in a world that will take as much time away from your family as you let.\u00a0 I am a work in progress in that arena; however, Scott\u2019s book is very good and insightful.<\/p>\n

FV:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0What, in your opinion, are some of the biggest challenges dads face today when it comes to raising sons and\/or daughters?<\/p>\n

GCD:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Balance.\u00a0 You know, in the world of fatherhood writers, there seems to be certain themes.\u00a0 The un-involved dad, the Stay At Home Dad, and then the Dad who works out of the home + I am sure more.<\/p>\n

What I hear daily from fathers is a desire to be able to spend more quality time with their kids.\u00a0 Even those who can stay at home talk about making sure the time they are spending with their kids is valuable and productive.<\/p>\n

It is the primary reason for our coming out with our 5 Simple Things you can do with your kids to become more ConnectDAD.\u00a0 The list includes:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Spend 1 extra hour each week with each of your child doing what they want to do<\/li>\n
  2. Read to or have your kids read to you 1 time this week<\/li>\n
  3. Take a walk outside with your family this week.<\/li>\n
  4. Simply say \u201cI love you\u201d this week<\/li>\n
  5. Hug your kids this week.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    FV:<\/strong>\u00a052 Traits? Where did this list of traits come from? How did you decide on these traits?<\/p>\n

    GCD: <\/strong>I kept notes over the past few years when I would meet awesome people.\u00a0 Many of the traits I can directly connect to someone I have met, worked with, worshiped with, you name it. \u00a0I realize that 52 traits are A LOT and most of us can address or focus on 5-10 good ones; however, it has been a work of love for a few years.<\/p>\n

    FV:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Growing up\u2013who were your childhood heroes?<\/p>\n

    GCD:<\/strong>\u00a0 My heroes were all teachers and coaches.\u00a0 I was raised pretty sheltered, so most of my role models were found in school.\u00a0 I loved the attention they gave me as a student and fell in love with their passion for learning.\u00a0 To this day, I am constantly learning something new.\u00a0 In college, they called it active learning.\u00a0 I think maybe it is Adult Attention Disorder.<\/p>\n

    FV:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Who are your heroes today?<\/p>\n

    GCD:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today, my heroes are the men and women who give up everything in their lives to ensure their kids have a better life.\u00a0 When you think of the number of moms and dads who are working 2 and 3 jobs to not only make ends meet; but also to provide a new trajectory for their kid\u2019s futures.\u00a0 Those are my heroes.\u00a0 My father told me years ago that his only goal in life was to have \u2018successful\u2019 kids.\u00a0 Those types of parents are my heroes today.<\/p>\n

    FV:<\/strong>\u00a0Julian what would you say is your biggest accomplishments to date? What are you most proud of?<\/p>\n

    GCD:<\/strong>\u00a0 I would argue, my biggest accomplishment was convincing my wife to marry me.\u00a0 Her involvement in my life has been incredible and I am a better man because of her.\u00a0 I am also very proud of how GetConnectDAD is reaching families in 90 countries every month.\u00a0\u00a0 I am not sure what the next chapter will look like for GCD; however, I am trying to stay very focused on the mission, to connect families better over time.<\/p>\n

    FV:<\/strong>\u00a0Please tell us about your father\/grandfather\/ or a significant male role model in your life.<\/p>\n

    GCD:\u00a0 <\/strong>My father and my father-in-law are the two biggest influencers in my life.\u00a0 My father was very focused on creating successful, healthy kids.\u00a0 He and mom sacrificed more than I will ever have to for all four of us kids.\u00a0 For that, I will always consider him a big influencer in my life.\u00a0 My father-in-law is one of the kindest men I have ever met.\u00a0 There is a quiet resolve in his spirit that I hope to grow in my life as I mature with my boys.\u00a0 His softness around my sons is something I admire and want to model more in the future.<\/p>\n

    FV:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Tell us a little bit more about yourself. Your passions, hobbies, and goals for the future.<\/p>\n

    GCD:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 I am a boring father now.\u00a0 I love camping (with my family), traveling for pleasure (with my family), and playing the piano.<\/p>\n

    My goals are quite simple.<\/p>\n