Send us a text In this powerful and unfiltered episode of The Dad Compass, Dmitry and Patrick dive deep into what pushes dads to finally start their own businesses — and what stops most from ever trying. Fresh off Thanksgiving, the guys talk family moments, leftovers, gratitude, and the pressure many fathers feel to create something bigger than themselves. From sober-living entrepreneurship to creative media startups, they unpack the real reasons dads dream about being their own boss: freedom, legacy, purpose, frustration with corporate life, and the desire to show their kids a different path. Through raw stories and well-earned lessons, they explore: The moment they realized traditional work wasn’t enough How fatherhood completely reshapes ambition Why side hustles turn into hobbies when fear takes over Managing money, risk, and the weight of providing What starting a business actually teaches you about yourself How one bad seed can destroy culture — in business or life The legacy they want to leave for their kids Why being terrified is normal — and why you should still do it Patrick opens up about 24 years in the corporate world, real estate investments, building Mad Gap Sober Living, and the emotional impact of helping people rebuild their lives. Dmitry shares how creativity — and a moment with his daughter — pushed him to launch his own media company and choose purpose over perfection. This is an episode for every dad who has a dream sitting on the shelf. Stay for the laughs, the holiday chaos, the “unscripted” segment… and a surprisingly philosophical question that hits harder than expected. If you're a father thinking about starting something of your own… this one’s for you. 📌 CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening banter & post-Thanksgiving chaos 01:40 – Family time, leftovers & holiday nostalgia 05:40 – What pushed us to start our businesses 06:00 – Patrick’s journey: 24 years at one job → real estate → sober living 10:20 – Building Mad Gap Sober Living & the emotional impact 14:00 – The moment you realize your current path isn’t enough 18:00 – Risk, authority struggles, and wanting autonomy 20:00 – Why dads crave more than a paycheck 23:00 – “Go all in or it becomes a hobby”: hard truths about entrepreneurship 28:00 – Culture, integrity, and building something meaningful 32:00 – Dmitry’s creative spark & why capturing moments matters 36:00 – The fear of failing… versus the fear of staying stuck 39:00 – Teaching kids entrepreneurship & building generational change 46:00 – Managing people, boundaries & leadership lessons 50:00 – How creativity and struggle shape a dad’s purpose 54:00 – Final message to dads: Be terrified — and do it anyway 58:00 – Unscripted segment: road trips, kids & connection 01:06:00 – The philosophical “would you intervene?” question 01:08:00 – Closing thoughts on risk, fear & new beginnings 01:10:00 – Broncos, Christmas chaos & sign-off dad podcast, fatherhood podcast, dads starting businesses, entrepreneurship for dads, sober living business, creative entrepreneurship, family and business balance, men's mental health, building a legacy, how to start a business as a dad, real estate investing dads, risk vs reward fatherhood, purpose driven entrepreneurship, starting a side hustle, dad struggles, business motivation for dads, creative business startup, photography business journey, sober living entrepreneurship
