Parenting Strategies For Raising Four Kids | Brian Rothenberg (father of 4, Defy, Eventbrite)

Startup Dad

Brian Rothenberg is a general partner at Defy, an early-stage venture firm. He was the former Head of Growth at Eventbrite and has been a serial marketplace founder; starting a services marketplace that was acquired by TaskRabbit in 2011. He's also a husband and the father of four kids. In today's conversation we discussed:

• Pivoting your plans to follow your future spouse
• How to divide and conquer when you've got four kids
• How the family dynamic changes as it grows from one to four kids
• How to prioritize time with your wife amidst the "controlled chaos" of a large family
• Advice he'd give younger Brian and advice he'd ignore
• The wildcard of the "third child"
• How to give up being self-absorbed and become more selfless as a parent
• Mistakes made as a father and the most surprising aspects of becoming a dad

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Where to find Brian Rothenberg

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrothenberg/

- Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/bmrothenberg

Where to find Adam Fishman

- Newsletter: https://startupdadpod.substack.com/

- Newsletter: https://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

[1:45] Welcome

[2:06] Professional background

[5:10] Childhood

[6:47] His kids and how he met his partner

[8:36] Dividing/conquering in the household

[12:07] Managing larger households and controlled chaos

[15:21] Prioritizing time with your partner

[17:04] Brian’s wife stepping back from career for household

[19:23] His earliest memory of being a dad

[20:23] Most surprising thing about being a dad

[21:17] Advice for younger Brian/Advice to ignore

[24:04] His kids’ favorite book

[24:57] Partnership/natural conflict

[27:09] Where you don’t align with partner

[29:19] Kid’s relationship to technology

[31:27] How to give up self absorption

[32:43] Importance of exercise

[34:38] Mistake as a dad

[38:03] Startup hustle culture

[41:28] Where to follow along with Brian

[42:10] Rapid fire

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Show references:

Die Hard: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/

Indiana Jones: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3

Cocomelon: https://cocomelon.com/

Blippi: https://blippi.com/

Maclaren F1: https://www.mclaren.com/racing/

Patagonia Fleece Jacket: https://www.patagonia.com/shop/category/fleece

Vuori Sunday Jogger: https://vuoriclothing.com/collections/joggers

Crib net: https://www.amazon.com/RUNNZER-Baby-Safety-Canopy-Climbing/dp/B08NJGZQZM/

Defy: https://defy.vc/

EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/

USC: https://www.usc.edu/

Yahoo: https://www.yahoo.com/

Skill Slate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkillSlate

TaskRabbit: https://www.taskrabbit.com/

The Lorax: https://www.amazon.com/Lorax-Classic-Seuss-Dr/dp/0394823370

Dragons Love Tacos: https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Love-Tacos-Adam-Rubin/dp/0803736800/

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