Eighteen Summers and the Buy Back Time Formula for Founders

George Wright III interviews serial entrepreneur and 18 Summers Advisory CEO George Rivera, who shares a pivotal moment from 2015 when his dying father urged him not to miss his son Leo’s games, revealing how founders become “cash rich, time poor” and risk family breakdown and regret. Rivera explains his Buyback Time Formula, starting with a “freedom audit” of all activities, then applying a “10K per hour filter” to identify work outside a founder’s zone of genius and remove it via the “time liberation trifecta”: eliminate, automate, or delegate. He emphasizes delegating outcomes with clear success criteria, guardrails, and a weekly 15-minute cadence, using Loom recordings and AI to create SOPs. Rivera’s “18 Summers” mission highlights the finite time with children and outlines practical reconnection steps like calendar commitments, weekly family check-ins, and true presence, while also describing his 11-year-old son Leo’s interview podcast.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy do many entrepreneurs become “cash-rich but time-poor”How to identify and eliminate low-value tasks draining your timeWhat it means to operate in your “zone of genius.”A simple framework to reclaim hours every weekHow to delegate effectively without losing controlThe importance of presence vs. just being physically thereWhy “18 Summers” can completely change your prioritiesPractical ways to reconnect with your family and rebuild trust 01:18 Pivot Moment and 18 Summers02:59 Cash Rich Time Poor Trap04:46 Freedom Audit and 10K Filter07:03 Zone of Genius Focus07:56 Time Liberation Trifecta10:26 Delegation With Ownership13:14 SOPs With Loom and AI15:42 Mission Behind 18 Summers18:36 Reconnecting With Family20:39 Presence Over Proximity23:03 Leo Podcast and Lessons26:35 Resources and Final TakeawaysThanks for listening, and Please Share this Episode with someone. It would really help us to grow our show and share these valuable tips and strategies with others. Have a great day.George Wright III“It’s Never Too Late to Start Living the Life You Were Meant to Live”FREE Daily Mastermind Resources:CONNECT with George & Access Tons of ResourcesGet access to Proven Strategies and Time-Test Principles for Success. Plus, download and access tons of FREE resources and online events by joining our Exclusive Community of Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and High Achievers like YOU.Join FREE at DailyMastermind.comFollow me on social media Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | TikTok | YoutubeGrow Your Authority and Personal Brand with a FREE Interview in a Top Global Magazine HERE.About the GuestGeorge Rivera is a serial entrepreneur and CEO of 18 Summers Advisory, helping founders reclaim their time, scale their businesses, and reconnect with their families. With over 30 years of experience, he focuses on building systems that create both business growth and personal freedom. His work is centered around the belief that true success includes both professional achievement and personal fulfillment. Through his frameworks—such as the Buyback Time Formula—he teaches business owners how to create systems that allow their companies to grow without sacrificing the moments that matter most.Guest Resources:Website: https://buybacktimeformula.com/homeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgerivera77Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgerivera1977LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-riv