What Great Parents Actually Do Differently and How to Start Today | Margot Machol Bisnow (Pt 2)

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🎧 Ep: 217 What Great Parents Actually Do Differently and How to Start Today | Margot Machol Bisnow (Pt 2) 

🎥 Now on video on Spotify & Apple Podcast

Part 1 revealed what successful entrepreneurs had in common as kids. Part 2 gets into the moments that actually made the difference — the real, unglamorous decisions where parents either build something in their kids or quietly take it away without ever knowing it.

This is where it gets personal. And practical.

What You'll Hear

The John Chu story that says it all The director of Wicked was in ninth grade, sneaking filmmaking videos on his laptop past bedtime, when his mom walked in and told him to put that nonsense away. He burst into tears. The next day she showed up with 10 library books on filmmaking and said: "If you want to do it, be the best." That one moment? That's the whole book.

Entrepreneurship is caught, not taught Your kids aren't listening to your advice nearly as much as they're watching your behavior. When you question the default — when you do something differently just because it makes more sense — they're catching something you didn't even know you were teaching.

The safety net every entrepreneur had — and it wasn't money Every single entrepreneur told Margot the same thing: "I always knew I could go home." That emotional safety net gave them the courage to take enormous risks. You don't have to fund their dreams. You just have to be there when it doesn't work.

The Tony Hsieh / Summit story in full Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh asked Elliott: are there people here you wouldn't want to hang out with if they weren't successful? Elliott said yes. Tony said: never invite them back. That one conversation changed how Summit curated its entire community — and what it means to be intentional about who you let in the room.

What to do when your kid seems joyless and you don't know why If your child is anxious, checked out, or just going through the motions — Margot's answer isn't a program or a framework. It's a conversation. "You don't seem like you're enjoying this. What would you want to try instead?" The kid just needs to know their answer is safe.

Moments You Won't Want to Miss

"She came back the next day with 10 filmmaking books and said — if you want to do it, be the best. That's the whole thing right there.""Every single one of them told me: I always knew I could go home. That gave them the courage to take the big risks.""It's caught, not taught. If you're taking risks and seeing things differently — your kids are catching that."

This Episode Answers

• How do I show my kids resilience instead of just talking about it?
• What do I do when my child wants to quit something they were good at?
• How do I raise a kid who takes risks without being reckless?
• What does it mean to give your child a safe place to fail?
• How do successful entrepreneurs describe their parents?

About Margot Former FTC Commissioner and White House adviser turned author and speaker. Her book Raising an Entrepreneur is based on interviews with 70 entrepreneurs and their families. Her son Elliott Bisnow founded Summit event series. Her son Austin fronts alt-band Magic Giant.

📘 Book · 🌐 Website · 📸 @margotbisnow · 💼 LinkedIn

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