188 – Permission to Be Imperfect: A Real Talk on Parenting & Business
September 09, 2025
Can you really be a great entrepreneur and a present parent at the same time?
In this heartfelt and honest episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney is joined by Dan Peterson — founder of Flip Switch Social Media, and father of three — for a real talk about the challenges of entrepreneurship and parenting.
If you’re a business owner trying to juggle growing a business while showing up for your family, this conversation will resonate deeply. Dan shares how he’s learned (and is still learning) to give himself grace, why balance is a myth, and how embracing imperfection has actually made him a better parent and entrepreneur.
You’ll walk away with:
- A new mindset around “balance” between business and family
- Practical insights for handling guilt and internal pressure
- Encouragement to re-centre on why you started your business in the first place
- A reminder that showing up — even imperfectly — still counts
Whether you’re a parent running a business or someone who supports one, this is a must-listen episode that acknowledges the messy, meaningful, and beautiful overlap of work and life.
Dan Peterson has 25+ years of experience in small business management and ownership. Most recently (in 2012), Dan founded FlipSwitch Social Media, a nationally recognized, award winning social media agency that helps small to midsize businesses grow using the power of social media.
Dan aims to help motivate and guide other entrepreneurs and businesspeople using his diverse range of experience across multiple genres of business.
Dan is also a singer-songwriter acoustic guitarist who performs throughout Chicagoland on a regular basis.
In 2008 Dan married his amazing wife Amy, and is the proud father of three daughters: Kylie, Taylor and Brooklyn.
