It's Not All About Getting The 'A'
Startup Dad Podcast
Talking Parenting, Pressure & Play on the Start Up Dad Podcast – Episode: “It’s Not All About Getting the A”
This past July, I had the chance to be a guest on the podcast Start Up Dad. It was a refreshing break from my usual GTM-focused conversations and a chance to talk about something even more important: parenting.
The episode began with a generous introduction that captured both my professional background and personal life:
“Dave Boyce is a successful five-time exited founder, a GTM expert, and owner of the newsletter ProductLedGTM.com. He sits on the board of Forrester and has just completed the manuscript for his book on GTM strategy, coming out in 2025. He’s also a loving husband and the father of six kids, ages 16 to 28.”
In the episode, we covered a lot of ground—some serious, some lighthearted, all of it real:
How to raise a family of super-driven, successful kids
What happens when your dinner table includes PhD students, ML scientists, applied math majors, and competitive athletes
Why play matters more than structure (especially early on)
Teaching the value of hard work without tying it to perfection
How we talk about achievement in our house—and why it’s not all about getting the A
Learning to see and celebrate each kid’s uniqueness
And my personal favorite: being home when you’re home
It was a meaningful conversation, and one that made me reflect on how much parenting overlaps with leadership. If you’re raising kids, mentoring teams, or just figuring it out as you go—I think you’ll enjoy it.