Cats In The Cradle 2

What drives every decision you make? What belief system runs your life behind the scenes? Del shares the deeply personal story of how two very different father figures shaped his approach to life, risk, and success.

 

Through raw stories about his conservative CPA father who worked until the day he died and his entrepreneurial college professor uncle who started bowling alleys, bars, and restaurants, Del reveals how choosing the right inspiration can break generational cycles of struggle. This episode centers around the classic "Cats in the Cradle" song and Del's painful realization about his uncle's final phone call.

 

The story takes an emotional turn as Del reflects on how financial freedom allowed him to be present for his daughter's childhood in ways his own father never could. From changing diapers to taking dance lessons together, he breaks down why time - not just money - determines the legacy you leave behind.

 

What You'll Discover

• Why Del's uncle called him "just to say I love you" days before passing away - and the heartbreaking realization about generational patterns that followed

- How retiring around age 34 gave Del something his hardworking CPA father never had: time to raise his daughter and attend her bodybuilding competitions
  

- The two completely different life philosophies that shaped Del's path - conservative "don't take risks" versus entrepreneurial "start businesses and take chances"

 

Key Timestamps

02:30 Following the Wrong Inspiration - Why victims choose victim mentality and how Democratic thinking reflects this approach to life

08:20 Two Brothers, Two Paths - Del's father the conservative CPA versus his uncle who started bowling alleys, bars, and restaurants despite being a college professor

19:00 Financial Freedom's True Purpose - How retiring before having kids at 35-36 allowed Del to be present for diaper changes, dance lessons, and building unbreakable bonds

25:00 The Hustle Trap - Why seminar gurus preaching "10X your life" miss their children's childhood while chasing success that should create freedom

31:00 The Final Call - Del's uncle's last "I love you" conversation and the painful cats-in-the-cradle moment that followed

 

FAQs

How do you break negative family patterns around money? Del learned from watching two opposite approaches - his father's conservative "if it sounds too good to be true, it is" mentality versus his uncle's willingness to start multiple businesses. The key is consciously choosing which family influences to follow rather than automatically inheriting limiting beliefs about risk and money.

 

Why does financial freedom matter more than financial success? Del's father worked as a CPA and CFO his entire life until the day he died, never attending Del's football games or competitions. Financial freedom gave Del the time to take dance lessons with his daughter, attend her bodybuilding competitions, and build relationships that "can never be taken awa...