When we were dating I said I wanted kids, but I really didn’t because I was way too focused on my career. Wow, what a messed up perspective! Looking back on it now, our son has been a blessing in more ways than I could ever have known. Thank you God for bringing Jaylen and Tabitha into my life!
— Jamy Bechler: leadership trainer, executive business coach and father to his son Jaylen through infant adoption.
Starting the adoption journey with your spouse can be one of the most exciting times of your life together. It can also be stressful as you navigate through the ups and downs.
For Jamy Bechler and his wife Tabitha, the journey started off a bit rocky. Jamy was coaching college basketball and was extremely busy in his career. He was not really on board with starting a family like Tabitha was.
As Jamy says “a few years ago, she memorably put her foot down and didn’t let me get away with making a silly decision. It was the best thing she could have done because the results of that decision have been life-altering.”
In this episode, Jamy shares his family’s infant adoption story. He is completely honest about how he struggled to accept how much his wife wanted to have kids.
Jamy is a professional speaker, leadership trainer and executive business coach who works with teams ranging from major corporations to the NBA. Before going into full-time leadership work, he served for 20 years as a college basketball coach, professor and administrator. He now travels across the country speaking to groups and teams on how to reach their full potential and become people of influence.
Jamy has appeared on both radio and television as a guest expert on various topics. He has his own podcast called SUCCESS IS A CHOICE. In addition to five eBooks, he also wrote “The Leadership Playbook: Become Your Team’s Most Valuable Leader“.
Listen as Jamy shares his story in an open and honest way, even sharing tips and advice for other guys who may not be on board with building their family through adoption.
What you will learn about in this episode:
- Why Jamy wasn’t initially onboard with having kids – and how he changed his mind and never regretted it.
- What it was like to adopt a newborn (and become a 1st time Dad) with only 5 days notice!
- How the movie “Blind Side” made a big impact on why their son’s birthmom chose Jamy and Tabitha to be his parents.
- How Jamy and Tabitha have stayed in contact with their son’s birthmom.
- Jamy shares his tips and advice for hopeful adoptive parents (especially the guys) from what he has learned on the infant adoption journey.
- AND MUCH MORE!
Links we talk about in this episode:
- JamyBechler.com – Find out about what Jamy is up to with his blog, podcast, books, speaking, and training he offers.
- That Time My Wife Got Her Way…And I Was Glad – a great article Jamy wrote about how he came to terms with building their family through adoption.
- Last Minute Delivery – another article Jamy wrote describing the events around the time the adopted their son in 2009 after a very short waiting period.
- The Leadership Playbook – Become Your Team’s Most Valuable Leader – this is a simple, easy-to-read book where Jamy provides principles and strategies that can help anyone become a better leader regardless of their role. The 174-page book is designed specifically with the student-athlete and coach in mind.
- InfantAdoptionGuide.com/welcome – get my 4 free infant adoption ebooks that will save you time, money and stress on the adoption journey.
- InfantAdoptionGuide.com/iTunes – you can find all of the IAG podcast episodes and leave a review too (please!).
- AdoptionProfileVideo.com – get 3 free videos to get you started on how to create (and share) an amazing adoption profile video.
