Your Family Is Your #1 Investor | Cory O'Daniel (Dad of 2, co-founder and CEO, Massdriver)

Cory 'O’Daniel is the co-founder and CEO of Massdriver, a platform designed to simplify and streamline the management of cloud infrastructure and DevOps processes. Cory had been a software architect and engineer for 20 years leading up to the founding of MassDriver. In addition to being an incredible founder he’s also a husband and the father of two young kids. We discussed:

* Conversations he and his wife had had as he was borrowing from retirement to start Massdriver

* Why enterprise sales is like your kid pooping in the bathtub

* Time dedication - to yourself, your spouse and your kids, individually

* Why kids brains are much bigger than we typically think

* How he and his wife have become more anti-tech in their household

* The benefits of being present

* Practicing “over-the-top” play and fostering imagination

Where to Cory O’Daniel

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryodaniel/

* X: https://x.com/coryodaniel

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:

[1:43] Welcome

[2:54] Cory’s Professional background

[4:13] How old is MassDriver?

[4:33] Kids poop & enterprise sales

[6:57] Cory’s Childhood

[10:33] Family

[12:38] Nickname Coconut for daughter

[15:35] Wife’s career

[16:36] Conversation about having kids and starting a company

[21:58] How he prioritizes his time

[23:38] Conferences for MassDriver

[27:38] Most surprising thing discovered as a dad

[33:29] Over the top play

[36:20] Advice for younger Cory

[39:08] Advice to ignore

[41:12] Favorite book to read to your kids

[44:54] Connecting parenthood to being a company leader

[46:15] Area where you don’t align with your spouse

[50:57] Kid’s relationship to tech

[58:55] Mistake as a dad

[1:01:36] Follow along

[1:03:27] Lightning round

[1:17:50] Thank you

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Show references:

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/massdriver/

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/coryodaniel.com

MassDriver: https://www.massdriver.cloud/

KubeCon: https://events.linuxfoundation.org/about/calendar/?_sft_lfevent-category=kubecon-cloudnativecon-cncf-events

re: Invent: https://reinvent.awsevents.com/

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-blue-truck-board-book-alice-schertle/1120880415

Ada Twist, Scientists by Andrea Beaty: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ada-twist-scientist-andrea-beaty/1123236059

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/iggy-peck-architect-andrea-beaty/1103278969

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragons-love-tacos-adam-rubin/1107389326

The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak: https://www.amazon.com/Book-No-Pictures-B-Novak/dp/0803741715

Pete The Cat by Eric Litwin: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-love-my-white-shoes-eric-litwin/1104911441

Baby University Complete "for Babies" Board Book Set by Chris Ferrie (Author), whurley (Author), Cara Florance (Author), Julia Kregenow (Author), Marco Tomamichel (Author), Sarah Kaiser (Author): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1728232309

Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toot-toot-beep-beep-emma-garcia/1009185692

Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tap-tap-bang-bang-emma-garcia/1018125516Ignition by R. Kelly: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCPdtMbw7zg

The Grinch: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709692/

Coco Melon: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12427840/

Blippi: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6594882/

Caillou: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0262153/

Tumble Leaf: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948562/

Puffin Rock: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3590338/

Daniel Tiger: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2014553/

Lego Batman: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4116284/

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jitterbug-perfume-tom-robbins/1100623043

Cozy couch: https://www.cozey.com/

Evil Knievel: https://evelknievel.com/

The Weekend: https://www.theweeknd.com/

Marine Layer joggers: https://www.marinelayer.com/

Toy Story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/

Paw Patrol Movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11832046/

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091369/

Back To The Future: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/

Model Y: https://www.tesla.com/modely

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Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.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

What is Startup Dad?

Adam Fishman (author of a top business newsletter on Substack with 11K+ subscribers) interviews executives, entrepreneurs, and company leaders in technology companies who are also fathers. They discuss the tough aspects of work, parenting, family, the mistakes made and lessons learned along the way. All episodes at www.startupdadpod.com.