Jon Merlin is a longtime designer who left agency life to start his own creative studio while raising two young daughters. Instead of letting work bleed into every hour, Jon drew a hard line around family time and rebuilt his business around clarity, intention, and values.
This conversation explores what it really looks like to pursue entrepreneurship without losing presence at home, and how letting go of perfection can unlock both better work and better parenting.
Jon shares how to:
Protect daily family time without derailing client work
Set non-negotiables in seasons where work pressure is real
Build a focused business by saying no to the wrong projects
Navigate the anxiety and ambiguity of starting something new
Replace perfection with progress at work and at home
Use small moments with kids to stay connected during busy days
Model emotional regulation, repair, and growth for children
Choose work that aligns with values, not just revenue
Reframe career gaps as runways instead of setbacks
Define success through legacy, not titles or output
Jon’s perspective is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply practical for dads who want to build something meaningful without missing what matters most.
Dig Deeper
One Club for Creatives (San Diego): https://www.oneclubsandiego.org
Creative Mornings: https://creativemornings.com
Lava Chicken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41O_MydqxTU
Dookie by Green Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXKFtu7KfC0
Basket Case by Green Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUTGr5t3MoY
Follow Jon
Website: https://jonmerlin.com/
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmerlin/
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Follow Michael
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/
