Faith, Family, and Business: What Most Entrepreneurs Get Wrong

Most people want the results without the process.

They want the “successful business owner” identity.
They want a strong marriage.
They want disciplined kids.
They want freedom.

But they don’t want the uncomfortable season where you stop making excuses and actually grow up.

That’s what this Biz Dad Podcast conversation is really about.

My early years: “I was a loser”

My story doesn’t start with some polished “I always knew I was destined for greatness” moment.

I was a firefighter paramedic. No kids yet. Lots of time off. And I spent way too much of it playing video games and drifting through life.

Until my wife checked me. Hard.

That moment mattered because it forced a decision I couldn’t dodge anymore.

The wake-up call that flipped my work ethic

One of the biggest turning points in my life happened when I was working as a dishwasher and almost got fired.

It’s not really a flex, but it was a reflection of how my life looked like at that moment.

When you realize you’re about to get fired from a job that already feels like rock bottom, something clicks. For me, that was the moment I stopped blaming circumstances and started owning responsibility.

After that, things shifted fast. I went from barely holding the job to being promoted into leadership and management.

I learned the lesson the hard way:

Life doesn’t usually change because you feel inspired.
It changes because you’re tired of being the same person.

The Miami effect: proximity changes everything

Moving from Tulsa to Miami was a shock to my system.

I was suddenly surrounded by people operating at a level I had only seen in movies. Big deals. Big money. Big thinking.

Because I worked at a high-end gym, I had front-row access to high performers. I was training business owners worth tens, sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars.

If you want to level up, information alone won’t do it.
You need better rooms.
Higher standards.
People who stretch how you think.

Entrepreneurship is not a “4-hour work week”

Let’s clear something up.

Entrepreneurship is not passive. It’s not glamorous. And it’s definitely not a shortcut.

Social media loves selling the lie that you start a business and end up on a yacht a year later.

That’s nonsense.

Real entrepreneurship is work. Sacrifice. Endurance. Responsibility.

Most people love the idea of entrepreneurship more than the lifestyle that comes with it.

The difference between dreamers and builders is execution.

Marriage: why the right spouse changes everything

My wife and I got married at 19.

No, I don’t recommend that for everyone. Most people aren’t mature enough at that age. I wasn’t either. But marriage did something powerful for me.

My wife held a standard.
She called me out.
She pushed me to grow.

Marriage didn’t make my life easier. It sharpened me.

Strong marriages don’t happen by accident.
They’re built through sacrifice, growth, and commitment.

Faith: from “Sunday Christian” to real leadership

I grew up in church. I even started college planning to go into ministry.

But for a long time, my faith was surface-level. Sunday-only. Then things shifted, especially around 2020.

Now my spiritual disciplines are non-negotiable. Early mornings. Scripture. Prayer. Notes. Consistency. My whole household knows it’s the foundation.

This matters, especially for dads.

Faith is leadership.
You can’t outsource spiritual leadership.

Parenting: stop outsourcing it

One of the strongest convictions my wife and I share is this.

The church should not be the primary teacher of your kids’ faith.
The home should.

Church supports it. Reinforces it. Builds community.
But parents lead it.

Same with school.

School can educate, but it shouldn’t raise your kids.

So what do we do differently?

We include our kids in real conversations.
Business decisions. Financial choices. Observations about people. Lessons from church.

And instead of lecturing, we ask questions.

What did you notice?
Why do you think that mattered?
What would you do differently?

That builds discernment. It trains kids to think, not just obey.

Legacy means playing the long game

When I talk about legacy, I’m talking about impact. The kind your kids and grandkids benefit from. We regularly tell our kids, “We’re doing this for you, and for your kids, and your grandkids.” But we balance it with a warning.

“We’re not building this so you can coast.”

We’re building a platform. A launching pad. A mindset.

Education and entrepreneurship: college isn’t the only path

You only have to go to college for certain careers. Medical. Law. Licensed professions.

But for business ownership, there are other paths.

In fact, for most people, an entrepreneurship degree is a waste of money. Execution teaches faster than theory.

You can learn through:

• YouTube

• Mentors

• Books

• Starting small and building skills

College can be useful, but it’s not the only path. Especially if ownership is the goal.

If you want to build a business you’re proud of and a family that doesn’t get the leftovers, this conversation is worth your time.

And if you want more no-BS marketing lessons, check out the Marketing Domination Podcast or learn more at SeanGarner.co.