Reflections on Consistency in Parenting

Rob Schutz is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of multi-billion-dollar online health company, Ro. He has also founded the domain name service company, Snagged. He invests alongside me in the 20Growth fund. In addition to his skill as a founder he’s also a husband and the father of two kids. In our conversation today we discussed:

* How to set a good example for your kids in how you treat others

* Not putting too much pressure on yourself to have hard and fast rules or systems

* Adjusting your life to be more present

* The emotions and feelings you go through as a new Dad

* The most surprising aspects of fatherhood

* The difference between the relationship he wants his kids to have with technology vs. social media

* Some exciting new rapid fire/lightning questions!

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Where to find Rob Schutz

* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robschutz/

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

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:

[1:29] Welcome

[1:59] Professional background

[3:45] Rob’s Childhood

[6:39] Rob’s family

[8:15] Starting a company

[10:58] Decision to start a family

[11:57] Music

[12:30] Earliest memory of being a dad

[14:43] Setting a good example for kids

[16:43] Is this perspective how you/partner were raised?

[18:39] What emotions arose when becoming a dad

[23:08] Most surprising things you’ve learned?

[26:20] What does “being present” mean to you?

[30:59] Advice to younger Rob

[33:14] Advice to ignore

[34:23] What book do you gift new dads

[35:04] What book do you read to your kids?

[35:47] Frameworks

[38:52] Balance of parenting

[41:52] How has parenting evolved

[45:13] Aligning as parents

[47:33] Kid’s relationship to technology

[51:51] Mistake as a dad

[53:10] Follow along

[53:56] Rapid fire

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Show references:

Ro: https://ro.co/

Snagged: https://www.snagged.com/

20 Growth Fund: https://www.thetwentyminutevc.com/20vc-fund/

Bark Box: https://www.barkbox.com/

University of McMaster: https://www.mcmaster.ca/

IBM: https://www.ibm.com/us-en

Isaiah House:https://isaiahhouse.org/

Penn State: https://www.psu.edu/

Cornell:https://www.cornell.edu/

Habitat for Humanity: https://www.habitat.org/

Mega Touch Machine: https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/megatouch-video

Crunch Labs:https://www.crunchlabs.com/

Finasteride: https://ro.co/lp/medications/hair-loss/

Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads by Gary Greenberg & Jeannie Hayden: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Prepared-Gary-Greenberg/dp/0743251547

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

Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/en/

iPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/

Cloth diapers: https://www.grovia.com/

Tesla: https://www.tesla.com/

Is It Cake: https://www.netflix.com/title/81333845

Mighty Ducks: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104868/

Goonies: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/

Blockbuster: https://www.blockbuster.com/

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For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com.

For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com 

Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com