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Building a company and family, the responsibility cloak, mistakes and setting irrevocable guidelines | Nick Soman (father of 2, Decent, Gusto, Amazon)
Nick Soman is the founder and CEO of Decent, a healthcare company that helps small businesses band together to get more affordable health insurance for their employees. Prior to that he led growth for Gusto, was a product manager on the Kindle at Amazon, and started a company that he sold to Napster! In this episode we discuss:
- How Nick's parents influenced his own parenting
- The challenging early times as a Dad and startup leader
- Discoveries he's had as a Dad
- The importance of partnership in your marriage and how to navigate conflict
- His "irrevocable guidelines" around family
- Silicon Valley hustle culture and incompatibility with family life
- Bringing his own values into his company
- Many mistakes he's made as a father and what they've taught him
—
Where to find Nick Soman:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicksoman
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicksoman/
Where to find Adam:
- Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf
—
In this episode, we cover:
[1:50] Introductions
[2:36] Nick and Decent Health
[4:28] Nick’s background
[7:08] His Parents
[8:58] Family life and Starting a family
[12:27] Challenging early times as a Dad
[16:00] Responsibility cape/choice vs. obligation
[17:12] Masculine energy/Nature vs. Nurture
[20:44] Dad discoveries/Do as I say, not as I do.
[24:41] Dissonance between partners
[25:32] Importance of partnership/conflict
[28:00] Marriage advice
[30:22] How do you and your wife recharge?
[32:46] “Irrevocable guidelines” around my family
[33:27] Silicon Valley “hustle culture”
[34:19] A trap he fell into/a walkabout
[37:44] Bringing values into his company
[40:46] Mistake he’s made as a father
[44:28] Rapid fire round
—
Links we reference:
Rivian
https://rivian.com/
“Hold Me Tight,” Dr. Sue Johnson
https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Me-Tight-Conversations-Lifetime/dp/B084G9QFZY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=194BNQXYUKRWA&keywords=hold+me+tight+sue+johnson&qid=1680733560&sprefix=hold+me+tight+sue+%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-2
Nick's company, Decent
https://www.decent.com/
Andy Johns - How to Know When to Stop
https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-know-when-to-stop
—
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/
Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.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
View all episodes
By Adam Fishman
5
1919 ratings
Nick Soman is the founder and CEO of Decent, a healthcare company that helps small businesses band together to get more affordable health insurance for their employees. Prior to that he led growth for Gusto, was a product manager on the Kindle at Amazon, and started a company that he sold to Napster! In this episode we discuss:
- How Nick's parents influenced his own parenting
- The challenging early times as a Dad and startup leader
- Discoveries he's had as a Dad
- The importance of partnership in your marriage and how to navigate conflict
- His "irrevocable guidelines" around family
- Silicon Valley hustle culture and incompatibility with family life
- Bringing his own values into his company
- Many mistakes he's made as a father and what they've taught him
—
Where to find Nick Soman:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicksoman
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicksoman/
Where to find Adam:
- Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf
—
In this episode, we cover:
[1:50] Introductions
[2:36] Nick and Decent Health
[4:28] Nick’s background
[7:08] His Parents
[8:58] Family life and Starting a family
[12:27] Challenging early times as a Dad
[16:00] Responsibility cape/choice vs. obligation
[17:12] Masculine energy/Nature vs. Nurture
[20:44] Dad discoveries/Do as I say, not as I do.
[24:41] Dissonance between partners
[25:32] Importance of partnership/conflict
[28:00] Marriage advice
[30:22] How do you and your wife recharge?
[32:46] “Irrevocable guidelines” around my family
[33:27] Silicon Valley “hustle culture”
[34:19] A trap he fell into/a walkabout
[37:44] Bringing values into his company
[40:46] Mistake he’s made as a father
[44:28] Rapid fire round
—
Links we reference:
Rivian
https://rivian.com/
“Hold Me Tight,” Dr. Sue Johnson
https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Me-Tight-Conversations-Lifetime/dp/B084G9QFZY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=194BNQXYUKRWA&keywords=hold+me+tight+sue+johnson&qid=1680733560&sprefix=hold+me+tight+sue+%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-2
Nick's company, Decent
https://www.decent.com/
Andy Johns - How to Know When to Stop
https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-know-when-to-stop
—
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/
Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.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
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