How the CEO of a growth marketing agency (and parent) deals with emergency calls and poop stories.

I was 33 minutes into recording my conversation with John Short when our daycare called to say that our son Cameron fell, cut his head open, and might be concussed.

My wife Lindsay texted to let me know.

John’s the founder and CEO of Compound Growth Marketing agency. And we were originally chatting about what it takes to bounce back after being laid off (something that happened earlier in John's career). But when the text came through, I switched gears from being pod host to Dad. As a parent, it was my worst nightmare.

John understood. He is also a dad who has been on the receiving end of an emergency phone call. When we got back together to finish recording, our original topic went out the window. We’d shared a really human moment, and that naturally led to an honest conversation about the challenges of finding work/life balance when you’ve got young kids, and working in growth.

Both those roles are exhausting, and awesome, and full of ups and downs, sleep deprivation, and the overwhelm of constantly dealing with a whole lot of unknowns. And when you’re trying to do both at the same time. Wow, it's a lot!

Whether you’re a parent living this battle in real time or working with a parent on your team, this conversation offers both insights and hope. Here are a few of the topics we touched on:

• The stressors of working at an early-stage company

• How John's approach to work turned upside down after his daughter's seizure

• How sleep deprivation impacts John's mental health

• The importance of looking for mentors and peers who can help you navigate the tough times (or just commiserate).

  
  

👇 Watch below, or catch the show on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube 📺

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How to set aside specific time for family to ensure you are present and focused not distracted by work and other obligations

2. Finding mentors who've successfully balanced family and career to gain insights and guidance on how to achieve the same

3. Significant life events can shift priorities and change career trajectories, think through the potential long-term consequences of important decisions and make choices that align with your goals and values

Things to Listen for:

[04:31] How parents struggle with work-life balance

[09:27] The stressors of working at an early-stage company

[15:37] Seeking out mentors who've been where you are now

[20:42] The benefits of choosing to be present

[25:16] Changing societal norms around a healthy work-life balance

A huge thanks to the sponsors below👇

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