The Mamalode Starter Series is an exciting opportunity for us to introduce you to some of the amazing people we get to meet. Starting something takes enormous amounts of work, faith, help and community. Every week we'll share another story of starting. So, community of Mamalode, read up, get inspired and check out these wonder-folk.
Interview with Daniel Gibney, Founder of Em's 4 Kids
Tell us a little bit about your business and how you started it.
As a professional drummer, I was looking for some hearing protection for my daughter who wanted to watch me play the drums, as well as play them herself. We couldn’t find anything suitable for children that was easy to purchase and affordable, so Em’s 4 Kids was born!
What do your kids think about your job?
They like the fact that “daddy is the boss,” mainly because it means I can do the school pickup and dropoff most days. I attend to their sporting carnivals and other events during school time. I’ve tried to explain to them that I’m very blessed to be able to do this, and that not all Dad’s are able to. They also like the fact that they can travel with me sometimes when I go away for work.
Tell us about a total dad + biz fail?
At risk of sounding like I’m being too serious, my biggest fail in the early days was not having a good work-life balance. I was working long hours, and missing out on time with my wife and kids. As a result, I missed out on some milestones and quality time. The only way I was able to fix it was to make a conscious decision to put family before work. It’s something that is still difficult to do at times!
Share with us a total win (brag away!)
Being the first company in the world to design and launch baby earmuffs was exciting for us, and something we are still proud of. We have some more “firsts” coming in the not too distant future!
What's your relationship with Mamalode?
We met some of the Mamalode team at the recent ABC Kids expo in Las Vegas, but have been aware of Mamalode for some time. We love the fact they support those that are designing products and services for children and families!
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About the Author
October 2014's theme start something is brought to you by
Headwaters | Blackstone
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