In this episode, we sit down with a dedicated father and entrepreneur to explore his remarkable life journey. After surviving cancer three times, he shares how these life-altering experiences reshaped his perspective on fatherhood, family, and business. From navigating unexpected parenthood to building and scaling multiple successful businesses, he offers candid insights on leaning on community, effective leadership, and prioritizing what truly matters.
Three things you'll learn:
1. How overcoming severe health challenges can transform your approach to parenting and personal resilience.
2. The importance of building and leaning on a strong support network in both family life and business.
3. Strategies for stepping back, delegating, and leading with empathy as an entrepreneur and a dad.
What we cover:
00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
00:08 - Meet the Guest: Fatherhood Journey Begins
00:50 - Navigating Cancer Diagnosis and Unexpected Parenthood
02:55 - Overcoming Cancer Three Times and Finding Resilience
04:36 - Candid Conversations with Family During Difficult Times
06:24 - Facing Life-Threatening Illness While Raising Young Children
08:03 - Starting and Scaling a Business Amidst Personal Challenges
08:41 - The Importance of Community and Support Systems
09:44 - Leadership, Teamwork, and Delegation in Entrepreneurship
11:12 - Transitioning from the Restaurant Industry to Consulting and Tech
13:54 - Building Problem-Solving Businesses That Scale
16:38 - Separation of Emotion and Logic in Business Decisions
17:31 - Overcoming Small-Town Business Mindsets and Expanding Reach
19:09 - Balancing Entrepreneurship, Family, and Work-Life Flexibility
21:26 - Challenging Workplace Norms and Working Smarter
24:15 - ADHD, Systems, and Staying Organized in Business
26:55 - Parental Influence, Financial Wisdom, and Home Exchanges
29:00 - Passing On Life Lessons and Experiences to Children
30:35 - Key Advice for New and Existing Fathers
31:39 - Closing Thoughts and Appreciation
About Alex Foulkes
Alex Foulkes is the host of the Working Dads Podcast, where he engages in insightful conversations with fathers navigating the intersections of career, family, personal growth, and entrepreneurship.
About Working Dads
Working Dads is the podcast for fathers figuring out work, family, and everything in between. Every week host Johnathan Grzybowski sits down with working dads — founders, executives, investors, and everyday fathers — for honest conversations about the guilt, the grind, the marriage, the money, and what it actually takes to build a career and a family without dropping the ball on either.
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