Gap to Gig – Working Dads' Guide to Fatherhood, Meaningful Work, & Finding Balance in Life

Gap to Gig – Working Dads' Guide to Fatherhood, Meaningful Work, & Finding Balance in Life

por Michael Jacobs - Working Dads & Fatherhood Expert
CarrerasPaternidad
Stephen Clifford on Raising Resilient Kids as a Working Dad
Raising resilient kids isn’t about protecting them from every challenge. It’s about preparing them to face challenges with confidence, character, and resilience. Stephen Clifford is an author, youth coach, speaker, and creator of the Forgotten Wisdom children’s book series. Together with his wife, he’s intentionally raising his children to embrace accountability, gratitude, perseverance, and failure as part of growth, while recognizing that every child learns differently. Stephen shares how to: Raise resilient kids without trying to eliminate every obstacle Help children build confidence by learning from failure Adapt your parenting style to fit each child’s unique personality Teach accountability and gratitude through everyday moments Model the values you hope your kids will carry into adulthood Balance the demands of fatherhood, meaningful work, and being a working dad Create family traditions that reinforce character over achievement Think beyond today’s parenting decisions to the legacy you’re building for future generations Stephen offers practical encouragement for working dads navigating fatherhood, modern dad challenges, and the responsibility of raising children with character in an increasingly comfortable world. Dig Deeper The Berenstain Bears Running of the Bulls - Pamplona Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ninja Rap Zombie by The Cranberries Follow Stephen On his website On Amazon On Instagram On YouTube On LinkedIn Taylor’s Job Safari on Instagram Taylor’s Job Safari on YouTube Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram On TikTok On X On YouTube On your podcast player of choice Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter Follow Michael On LinkedIn
E41
18 ago 2026
1:01:14
Natalie Holder on Why Working Dads Need a Personal Board of Directors
Some career decisions are too important to make alone. Whether you’re considering a career transition, navigating a difficult workplace, or trying to find more meaningful work, Natalie Holder believes one of the smartest investments you can make is building your own personal board of directors. As an employment lawyer, executive coach, and former Chief Diversity Officer, Natalie has spent years helping professionals navigate career transitions, difficult workplaces, and high-stakes decisions. Her personal board of directors framework provides a practical way to gain perspective, challenge your assumptions, and make better career and life decisions. Natalie shares how to: Build a personal board of directors that helps you make better career and life decisions Recognize when it’s time to pivot instead of pushing through Navigate difficult managers and unhealthy workplace cultures Separate temporary frustration from deeper career misalignment Increase your visibility so new opportunities can find you Build relationships that support both your career and your personal growth Define what meaningful work actually means for you Make career decisions with greater clarity and confidence Natalie offers practical advice for working dads navigating career transitions, meaningful work, and the challenge of building a career without losing sight of what matters most at home. Sometimes the best next step isn’t having all the answers. It’s surrounding yourself with people who help you ask better questions. Dig Deeper Starwood Hotels Stanford's National Accelerator Laboratory American Bar Association National Speakers Association Sesame Street Losing My Religion Follow Natalie On her websites: https://www.questei.org and https://www.natalieholderspeaks.com On YouTube On LinkedIn Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram On TikTok On X On YouTube On your podcast player of choice Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter Follow Michael On LinkedIn
E40
11 ago 2026
56:58
Andrew Poles on Dad Identity, Ambition, and the Pressure to Succeed
For many dads, ambition starts with a desire to provide. The pressure to succeed, prove yourself, and live up to expectations can quietly shape your identity, your relationships, and the way you experience fatherhood. Andrew Poles knows that tension firsthand. As a single dad, he started his first business at 23 while raising his daughter and trying to build a future for his family. Over the years, he built multiple businesses, coached thousands of entrepreneurs and leaders, and learned that achievement alone doesn’t answer the deeper questions about who you are and what truly matters. Andrew shares how to: Recognize when ambition is being driven by pressure instead of purpose Separate your self-worth from your professional success Identify the “shoulds” that are influencing your decisions Build a healthier relationship with achievement and validation Create space for reflection instead of constant striving Navigate modern dad challenges without losing yourself in work Pursue meaningful work without tying your identity to outcomes Andrew offers a thoughtful perspective on dad identity, fatherhood mental health, parenting and ambition, and the pressure many men feel to prove themselves through achievement. This conversation is a reminder that success is most fulfilling when it’s connected to who you are, not who you think you’re supposed to be. Dig Deeper University of Texas at Austin Baby Shark Ted Lasso Jamie Tartt James Taylor Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter Sephora Follow Andrew On his website On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube On LinkedIn Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram On TikTok On X On YouTube On your podcast player Sign up for the newsletter Follow Michael On LinkedIn
E39
4 ago 2026
54:19
Carol Enneking on Why Work Life Balance Feels So Hard
For many working dads, the challenge isn’t a lack of ambition. It’s the feeling that no matter how hard they work, there’s always another responsibility competing for their time, attention, and energy. After decades in leadership roles, including serving as a Global VP of Talent and Leadership, Carol Enneking noticed a pattern: many of the most successful people she worked with were also some of the most exhausted. Carol shares how to: Recognize the difference between a demanding season and a misaligned life Create margin for the unexpected instead of operating at full capacity Think about sequencing goals instead of stacking everything at once Build stronger relationships through presence and attention Carol offers practical wisdom for working dads trying to navigate fatherhood, meaningful work, and the tension between professional ambition and personal priorities. Dig Deeper Stephen Covey Sharpen the Saw Insperity The Brady Bunch Barney My Best Friend’s Girl Follow Carol On her website: https://carolenneking.com/ In her community: https://carolenneking.com/join-community/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolenneking On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carol.enneking On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarolEnnekingSpeaker On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroltenneking/ Get her book, The Rebalancing Act: https://carolenneking.com/book/ Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig On X: x.com/gaptogig On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
E38
28 jul 2026
52:39
Chris Woods on Overcoming Fear as a Working Dad
What would your life look like if fear stopped making your decisions? Chris Woods spent decades building a successful career, including leadership roles at Google. From the outside, everything looked like it was working. But underneath the success was a constant fear of failure, loss, and not measuring up. Everything changed when Chris flatlined in a hospital bed at age 40. The experience forced him to take a hard look at what was driving his choices and whether the life he was building was actually connected to what mattered most. Chris shares how to: Recognize when fear is driving your decisions at work and at home Stop catastrophizing worst-case scenarios Build confidence by bringing fears into the open instead of avoiding them Use gratitude to become more present in everyday life Chris offers a practical perspective for working dads trying to balance fatherhood, career growth and the pressure that comes with providing for a family. You don’t need a life-altering event to start asking better questions about your work, your priorities, and the life you want to build. Dig Deeper Cardiac Lyme disease Enneagram Peter Crone Clifton StrengthFinders The Brady Bunch Follow Chris On his website: https://chriswoodscoach.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswoodsleadership On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chriswoodscoach On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chriswoodsleadership On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswoods His book, Balls & Brains: https://amzn.to/4x7kzhD Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig On X: x.com/gaptogig On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs
E37
21 jul 2026
52:30
Mylena Sutton on the Conversations Working Dads Keep Avoiding
What happens when the conversations working dads avoid at home start affecting every other part of their lives? Mylena Sutton believes leadership is not something you turn on at work and leave behind at home. The way you handle conflict, stress, shame, communication, and emotional pressure follows you everywhere. For working dads trying to balance career demands, parenting, relationships, and personal identity, that truth can be uncomfortable, but necessary. This conversation explores how emotional avoidance, resentment, shame, and overwork quietly shape fatherhood, parenting, relationships, and work life balance. Mylena shares how to: Handle difficult conversations before they explode into conflict Build healthier communication patterns inside relationships and parenting Create alignment between career, family, and personal values Stop using work as an escape from unresolved problems at home Address shame honestly instead of carrying it silently Create healthier boundaries that support long term work life balance Stay grounded in your values during stressful seasons of fatherhood and work Mylena’s perspective is direct, thoughtful, and deeply practical. She challenges the idea that dads should simply carry everything silently and instead encourages more honesty, more intentionality, and more alignment between the life you want and the life you are actively building. This conversation offers meaningful insight for working dads navigating parenting, leadership, relationships, and the emotional realities that often go unspoken. Dig Deeper Uno Pink Panther Federal Aviation Administration Rock Steady by Aretha Franklin Follow Mylena On her website: mylenasutton.com/invitations On Instagram: instagram.com/mylenasutton On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mylenasutton On her podcast, The Leadership Drives: theleadershipdrives.com/ Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig On X: x.com/gaptogig On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig On your podcast player of choice: rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com Follow Michael On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
E36
14 jul 2026
50:31
Jason VanDevere on Building Generational Habits Through Fatherhood and Entrepreneurship
What if success is not about building generational wealth, but building generational habits? Jason VanDevere walked away from a future most people would never leave behind. Instead of taking over his family’s successful auto dealership business, he chose to build his own path through entrepreneurship, real estate investing, and coaching. Becoming a father changed how he thinks about ambition, work life balance, and what success is actually supposed to lead to. Jason shares how to: Define success based on lifestyle and values instead of status or income Build work life balance by creating intentional constraints and boundaries Stop letting work expand endlessly into family time Create businesses that support your life instead of consuming it Build generational habits that shape your family long after money is gone For dads trying to balance fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and the desire to build a meaningful life for the next generation, this conversation offers both clarity and actionable perspective. Dig Deeper Ice Bath https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria_ Barney The Lion King Stacy’s Mom Follow Jason On his website: https://goalcrazy.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goal.crazy Goal Crazy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4v8Lo3w Read his book, Dream Driven: https://amzn.to/4dK7lPj Grab the Idea to Profit Blueprint: https://www.goalcrazy.com/blueprint Check out his podcast Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig On X: x.com/gaptogig On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
E35
7 jul 2026
45:40
Colin C. Thompson on Mental Fitness for Working Dads
How do you stay calm, present, and emotionally available when life keeps pulling you in every direction at once? Colin C. Thompson believes the answer starts with mental fitness. As a coach, speaker, and certified Positive Intelligence practitioner, Colin works with people who feel stuck between pressure, responsibility, and the constant demands of work and family life. His approach focuses on helping dads recognize the thought patterns, habits, and emotional reactions that quietly shape how they show up every day. This conversation explores how working dads can build mental fitness instead of constantly operating in survival mode. Colin breaks down the mental habits that create more presence, patience, emotional control, and healthier work life balance at home and at work. Colin shares how to: Create healthier boundaries between work mode and family mode Transition intentionally from work stress into parenting time Recognize self-sabotaging thoughts before they spiral Stop carrying workplace pressure into family interactions Respond to stressful parenting moments with more calm and less reactivity Model emotional openness and healthy behavior for your kids Reduce comparison and external pressure as a working dad For working dads trying to balance fatherhood, meaningful work, and the emotional pressure that comes with both, this conversation offers practical ways to build stronger mental fitness, healthier boundaries, and more intentional relationships at home. Dig Deeper Kung Fu Theater Rally’s 24K Magic by Bruno Mars Elmo the President Follow Colin On his websites: https://www.oligye.com and https://www.colincthompson.com On Facebook: https://facebook.com/colin.c.thompson On LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/colincthompson/ Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig On X: x.com/gaptogig On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
E34
30 jun 2026
44:08
Matt Campbell on Rebuilding Energy, Presence, and Work Life Balance in Fatherhood
Why do so many working dads feel exhausted even when they’re doing everything "right"? Dr. Matt Campbell believes the problem is not that most people are broken. It’s that they’re depleted. Matt is a clinical psychologist and creator of the Primal Five Framework, which focuses on five foundational areas that shape how we show up every day: sleep, sunlight, movement, connection, and consumption. His work explores how modern life quietly pulls us away from the things our minds and bodies were built for and how that depletion affects everything from patience and anxiety to parenting and meaningful work. Matt shares how to: Recognize when exhaustion is really a capacity problem instead of a time problem Improve work life balance without trying to overhaul your entire life overnight Build routines that reduce decision fatigue and make healthy habits easier Find practical ways to incorporate movement into an already busy schedule Create meaningful connection instead of surface-level social interaction Break cycles of depletion, irritability, anxiety, and overwhelm Matt brings a thoughtful and deeply practical perspective to fatherhood, parenting, and the reality of trying to stay healthy while balancing work, family, and daily responsibilities. Dig Deeper Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation Scooby-Doo Theme Song Thunder Road You Never Even Called Me by My Name Follow Matt On his website: https://www.ourprimal5.com/ On his newsletter: https://our-primal-5.kit.com/9b41ee5325 On Instagram: https://instagram.com/ourprimal5 On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-campbell-a5b22910/ Get the Our Primal 5 Workbook: https://amzn.to/48Qoe9h Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig On X: x.com/gaptogig On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
E33
23 jun 2026
1:00:33
Mike Weyandt on Presence, Identity, and Navigating Fatherhood Through Uncertainty
What happens when your life changes faster than you can process it? For Mike Weyandt, the shift into fatherhood came all at once. A long, uncertain adoption process suddenly turned into bringing home a newborn in a matter of weeks. At the same time, his career path was in flux, and shortly after, the world shut down. What followed was a season filled with constant change, new responsibilities, and very little time to step back and make sense of it all. Mike brings a rare combination of perspectives. As a former opera performer, he understands what it means to be fully present when it matters most. As a talent leader and executive coach, he has helped others navigate uncertainty in their careers. And as a dad, he has lived through the reality of balancing meaningful work, identity shifts, and the everyday demands of parenting. Mike shares how to: Recognize and interrupt reactive patterns in both work and parenting Build awareness around the thoughts that drive stress and overwhelm Stay present when everything around you feels uncertain Balance ambition with the realities of fatherhood and daily life Move from constant reaction to more intentional decision-making Let go of “should” thinking and challenge inherited assumptions Handle career uncertainty without defaulting to ineffective busy work Accept that growth as a parent and professional is an ongoing practice Mike’s perspective is thoughtful, honest, and deeply practical. Especially for working dads trying to figure out work life balance while navigating change, pressure, and the desire to be more present at home. It’s a reminder that not every season needs to be solved immediately. Sometimes the real work is learning how to stay grounded while everything is still unfolding. Dig Deeper ADHD Never Eat Alone Bluey Crazy by Patsy Cline Follow Mike On his website: analogpractice.work On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mweyandt/ Follow Gap to Gig On Instagram: instagram.com/gaptogig On TikTok: tiktok.com/@gaptogig On X: x.com/gaptogig On YouTube: youtube.com/@gaptogig On your podcast player of choice: https://rss.com/podcasts/gaptogig/ Sign up for the Gap to Gig newsletter: gaptogig.com Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
E32
16 jun 2026
1:03:12
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