Be Gentle On Your Own Self-Criticism | Matt Martin (Dad of 3, co-founder and CEO, Clockwise)

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Matt Martin is the co-founder and CEO of Clockwise – an amazing product that optimizes your team’s schedules to create more time in everyone’s day. Prior to that he was an engineer and a lawyer. In addition to being an incredible founder he’s also a husband and the father of three kids, including a set of identical twins! We discussed:

• Changes in working style required when you become a parent

• The importance of clear communication - both at work and with your partner

• The most important aspects of communication to get right

• The need for focus in both work and parenting

• How to be gentle on your own self-criticism

• Reframing demands and expectations you have for yourself

• The support structures critical for his dual-working household

Where to find Matt Martin

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/voxmatt/

• X: https://x.com/voxmatt

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:

[1:42] Welcome

[1:54] Professional background

[2:49] Career before Clockwise

[3:46] Childhood

[4:37] Family now

[5:36] Work/life balance

[8:58] Decision to start a family/ how has your approach to work changed since becoming a dad

[15:53] Earliest memory of becoming a dad

[19:24] Communication

[21:26] Most important aspect of communication

[23:34] Stories of “getting it wrong.”

[28:24] Most surprising things about being a dad

[31:06] Advice for younger Matt

[33:34] Advice to ignore

[35:12] Favorite book to read to kids

[37:20] Navigating your internal critic

[39:14] Did being a parent change your leadership style

[41:35] Alignment challenges with partner

[43:27] Kid’s relationship to tech

[45:24] Playing w/ ChatGPT and kids

[45:56] Mistake as a dad

[46:57] Follow along

[47:57] Lightning round

[55:48] Thank you

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Show references:

Clockwise: getclockwise.com

Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/goodnight-moon-margaret-wise-brown/1105127857

Mercy Watson Boxed Set: Adventures of a Porcine Wonder by Kate DiCamillo: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mercy-watson-boxed-set-kate-dicamillo/1100089011

Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paletero-man-lucky-diaz/1137570171

Paw Patrol: https://www.pawpatrol.com/

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/

Frozen: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/

Diaper Pail: https://www.amazon.com/Diaper-Genie-Classic-Newborn-Sized-Diapers/dp/B0CNS3R8T7/

Blippi: https://blippi.com/

Wall-E: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970

White Christmas: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047673

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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/