Episode 15: Profitable Side Hustle vs Full-Time Job I Love - Which Path Should I Choose? (Dad of 4)

TJ Newell is living every parent entrepreneur's dream scenario - and it's more complicated than you think.

Here's his situation: His design agency Mocky is pulling in 4 figures monthly working just 3 hours a day. He's got 5 solid clients, great margins, and 50+ warm referrals ready to convert. The path to replacing his income is crystal clear.

But here's the twist: He genuinely loves his full-time job at Bradley Mountain. He walks to work in our shared small town, builds culture with his closest friend, and finds deep fulfillment in the work.

The challenge? Choosing between scaling a profitable business that could set his family up financially or staying committed to work that feeds his soul - even if it means leaving money on the table.

What You'll Learn:

• How TJ built a profitable design agency in just 3 hours a day
• Why constraints actually create more sustainable businesses
• The real reason most entrepreneurs struggle to delegate sales
• How to systematize fulfillment when you're capacity-constrained

• The psychology behind "analysis paralysis" when both options are good
• Framework for making major life decisions as a parent entrepreneur
• 
  

The Reality: Sometimes the hardest decisions aren't between good and bad, but between two different types of fulfillment. TJ's story challenges the typical "quit your job to chase your dreams" narrative.

Perfect for: Parent entrepreneurs weighing side hustle vs full-time work, anyone struggling with "good problem" decisions, designers/creatives building service businesses, parents trying to balance multiple priorities.

You can find TJ & Mocky Design at:https://www.mockycreative.com/

They help "...sales Individuals and teams reduce time-to-close with quick-turn mockups"

Got questions about balancing profitable side hustles with fulfilling work?📧 Email: ⁠parentreneur@gmail.com⁠📞 Voicemail: (615) 628-7196

Topics: Side hustle scaling, design agency business model, parent entrepreneur decisions, work-life integration, small town entrepreneurship, constraint-based business building

Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Episode 14: From Addiction to Pastor to Startup Founder: A Device That Could Change Potty Training Forever

From a rough upbringing battling addiction to finding faith as a pastor to now launching Gammit Tech, Troy Fink's story proves it's never too late to start over.

But here's what makes his journey unique: He's not just changing his own life. He's solving a problem every parent faces with a potty training device that could revolutionize how kids learn this crucial milestone.

The challenge? Balancing being a full-time employee, pastor, while raising 3 kids, AND getting a startup off the ground.

What You'll Learn:

-How Troy went from addiction to finding his faith and purpose

-The "aha moment" that sparked his potty training device idea

-Why he calls entrepreneurship "redemptive" after his past struggles

-The real process of getting the Loovy manufactured and patented

-How he manages time between pastoral duties, family, and startup life

-Startup funding vs crowdfunding-

Practical advice for juggling multiple responsibilities while building a business

The Reality: Troy proves that your past doesn't define your future, and the problems you've solved in your own life often become your greatest business opportunities.

Whether you're a parent struggling with potty training, someone looking for redemption through entrepreneurship, or juggling multiple roles while chasing a dream - Troy's story will inspire and challenge you.

Perfect for: Parent entrepreneurs with demanding schedules, anyone seeking redemption through business, parents looking for innovative solutions, pastors/ministry leaders considering entrepreneurship.

You can find Troy & his product, the Loovy, at:

@gammittech

www.goloovy.com

@goodfinking

@pastortroyfink

Got questions about balancing multiple roles while building a business?📧 Email: parentreneur@gmail.com📞 Voicemail: (615) 628-7196

Topics: Redemptive entrepreneurship, hardware startups, potty training innovation, faith and business, time management, overcoming addiction, pastoral entrepreneurship, product development, manufacturing

-Episode 13: Make These 2 Financial Decisions Today or Never Start Your Business

Most aspiring parent entrepreneurs think they need perfect timing or tons of money to start a business.

The truth?

You need the RIGHT financial foundation, not the biggest one.

We made two critical financial decisions years before starting our businesses that made entrepreneurship possible - even after 4 layoffs in 2.5 years.

What You'll Learn:

-Why we didn't go crazy on budgeting (focused on increasing income instead)

-Our conservative investment strategy that created business freedom

-How we stayed "under" on houses, cars, and major purchases

-The HELOC strategy that gave us a safety net (with real numbers)

-Why most people find stability and stay stuck-How to leverage your skills for higher-paying jobs continuously

-The career progression that's possible even in terrible job markets

-Real calculations of what our spending could have been vs. what it was

The 2 Decisions:

-Conservative Spending - Always under what calculators suggested, buying what we could afford at half our income--Aggressive Income Growth - Continuously pursuing higher-paying positions and skill development

Perfect for: Aspiring parent entrepreneurs who feel financially trapped, anyone thinking they need to wait for "enough" money, people wanting to build business launch capital while employed.

The reality: You can't budget your way to wealth, but you can build the foundation for business freedom.

Got questions about preparing financially for entrepreneurship?📧

Email: parentreneur@gmail.com📞 Voicemail: (615) 628-7196

Topics: Financial planning, business preparation, conservative spending, income growth, parent entrepreneur finances, startup funding, business