Parenting and Leadership: A Balancing Act

Cory 'O’Daniel is the co-founder and CEO of Massdriver, a platform designed to simplify and streamline the management of cloud infrastructure and DevOps processes. Cory had been a software architect and engineer for 20 years leading up to the founding of MassDriver. In addition to being an incredible founder he’s also a husband and the father of two young kids. We discussed:

* Conversations he and his wife had had as he was borrowing from retirement to start Massdriver

* Why enterprise sales is like your kid pooping in the bathtub

* Time dedication - to yourself, your spouse and your kids, individually

* Why kids brains are much bigger than we typically think

* How he and his wife have become more anti-tech in their household

* The benefits of being present

* Practicing “over-the-top” play and fostering imagination

Where to Cory O’Daniel

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryodaniel/

* X: https://x.com/coryodaniel

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:43] Welcome

[2:54] Cory’s Professional background

[4:13] How old is MassDriver?

[4:33] Kids poop & enterprise sales

[6:57] Cory’s Childhood

[10:33] Family

[12:38] Nickname Coconut for daughter

[15:35] Wife’s career

[16:36] Conversation about having kids and starting a company

[21:58] How he prioritizes his time

[23:38] Conferences for MassDriver

[27:38] Most surprising thing discovered as a dad

[33:29] Over the top play

[36:20] Advice for younger Cory

[39:08] Advice to ignore

[41:12] Favorite book to read to your kids

[44:54] Connecting parenthood to being a company leader

[46:15] Area where you don’t align with your spouse

[50:57] Kid’s relationship to tech

[58:55] Mistake as a dad

[1:01:36] Follow along

[1:03:27] Lightning round

[1:17:50] Thank you

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Show references:

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/massdriver/

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/coryodaniel.com

MassDriver: https://www.massdriver.cloud/

KubeCon: https://events.linuxfoundation.org/about/calendar/?_sft_lfevent-category=kubecon-cloudnativecon-cncf-events

re: Invent: https://reinvent.awsevents.com/

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-blue-truck-board-book-alice-schertle/1120880415

Ada Twist, Scientists by Andrea Beaty: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ada-twist-scientist-andrea-beaty/1123236059

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/iggy-peck-architect-andrea-beaty/1103278969

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragons-love-tacos-adam-rubin/1107389326

The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak: https://www.amazon.com/Book-No-Pictures-B-Novak/dp/0803741715

Pete The Cat by Eric Litwin: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-love-my-white-shoes-eric-litwin/1104911441

Baby University Complete "for Babies" Board Book Set by Chris Ferrie (Author), whurley (Author), Cara Florance (Author), Julia Kregenow (Author), Marco Tomamichel (Author), Sarah Kaiser (Author): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1728232309

Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toot-toot-beep-beep-emma-garcia/1009185692

Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tap-tap-bang-bang-emma-garcia/1018125516Ignition by R. Kelly: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCPdtMbw7zg

The Grinch: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709692/

Coco Melon: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12427840/

Blippi: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6594882/

Caillou: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0262153/

Tumble Leaf: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948562/

Puffin Rock: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3590338/

Daniel Tiger: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2014553/

Lego Batman: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4116284/

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jitterbug-perfume-tom-robbins/1100623043

Cozy couch: https://www.cozey.com/

Evil Knievel: https://evelknievel.com/

The Weekend: https://www.theweeknd.com/

Marine Layer joggers: https://www.marinelayer.com/

Toy Story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/

Paw Patrol Movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11832046/

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091369/

Back To The Future: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/

Model Y: https://www.tesla.com/modely

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