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June 20, 2023

Building a company and family, the responsibility cloak, mistakes and setting irrevocable guidelines | Nick Soman (father of 2, Decent, Gusto, Amazon)

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 Ama...

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Startup Dad

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/