He Brought His Potty to My Client Meeting | Mike Malloy (Dad of 1, Malloy Industries)

Mike Malloy is the founder of Malloy Industries, a firm that connects scaling entrepreneurs with vetted fractional executives. He's also a Georgetown professor, a husband, and the father of Max, the company's self-declared Chief Cuteness Officer. Mike’s life is an intersection of serious business systems and silly dad jokes, all woven together by an intentional approach to work-life integration.

In this episode, Mike shares how building a business around his family values helped him show up better both as a parent and as a professional. We discussed:

• Parenting in public: From potty training during a client call to his son interrupting meetings to demand frisbee time, Mike embraces the chaos of parenting while working from home, and sometimes those interruptions help close deals.
• The transition to camp and growing independence: Mike opens up about the emotional milestone of sending his son to camp for the first time after three years of full-time care. 
• Designing a business with family in mind: Mike started Malloy Industries not just to serve founders, but to reclaim his own time. After losing his mom and learning he was about to become a dad, he redesigned his business to run without relying solely on him, and has since built a network of 400+ fractional executives.
• Time-blocking and nightly maps: Mike walks us through his framework for managing energy and focus throughout the week, including why he blocks off Wednesday mornings for uninterrupted dad adventures.
• Dad jokes, magnet tiles, and parenting hacks: Whether he’s swapping jokes at the library or bringing a second monitor to Panera for a “crush-it day,” Mike brings levity and intentionality to every corner of life as a founder and a father.

Where to find Mike Malloy

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwmalloy/ 
• X: https://x.com/mwmalloy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mwmalloy/
• Website: https://malloyindustries.com/ 

Where to find Adam Fishman

• FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Introducing Mike Malloy

(02:35) Max the deal-closer and executive artist

(04:50) First day of camp and emotional milestones

(07:17) Starting Malloy Industries and the fractional future

(10:07) Grieving his mom and preparing for fatherhood

(14:28) The "who not how" mindset shift

(15:35) Be where your feet are and present parenting

(19:35) The great cheese stick negotiation

(23:28) Pro dad hacks for books and lullabies

(24:36) Time blocking and scheduling around energy

(29:16) Monthly “crush it” days and managing flow

(30:54) Nightly maps and intentional daily planning

(34:37) The wooden box and tech boundaries

(38:08) Chef Jacques and using AI to plan meals

(41:18) Modeling tech habits and setting rules

(43:56) Advice to his pre-dad self during nap traps

(46:23) Lightning round: parenting quirks and dad jokes

Resources From This Episode:

Daddy and Me: https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Me-Tiya-Hall/dp/1680524526

Never Touch a Porcupine: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Touch-Porcupine-Believe-Ideas/dp/1788439856

A Crack in the Track (Thomas and Friends): https://www.amazon.com/Crack-Track-Thomas-Friends/dp/0375827552

Fox is Coming!: https://www.amazon.com/Fox-Coming-James-Patterson/dp/0316572837

Like a Boss Play Kit: https://shopping.mattel.com/en-gb/products/fisher-price-2-in-1-like-a-boss-activity-center-hbm26-en-gb

Lewis Library Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lewisulibrary/
Zootopia: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948356/
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0784896/

Cars: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317219/

Blank Check: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109287/

Empire Records: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112950/

Santa Clause: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111070/ 

Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/

Georgetown U: https://www.georgetown.edu/

Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork

by Dan Sullivan, Benjamin Hardy: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/who-not-how-dan-sullivan/1136703973

The Daily Dad: 366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids

by Ryan Holiday: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-daily-dad-ryan-holiday/1141941652

Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

by Becky Kennedy: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-inside-becky-kennedy/1140501121

Nir Eyal’s Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqogSRDhzeU

Notion: https://www.notion.com/

Door knob safety cover: https://www.amazon.com/Door-Knob-Covers-Child-Safety/dp/B071GWJX4D

Muppet Babies: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086764/

Super Wings: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3600266/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_suoper%2520wings

Toy Story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_in_0_q_toy%2520story

Goofy Movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113198/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

Mini Magnatiles: https://magnatiles.com/products/micromags-travel-set?srsltid=AfmBOopwJyPjVfhLblqNFq2f1QIUtupBKjvD0tqIrY8kydu8LlX00XYH

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