Jon Merlin on Building Creative Work Without Sacrificing Family Time

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)

Creative Mornings

Lava Chicken

Dookie by Green Day

Basket Case by Green Day

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Website: https://jonmerlin.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmerlin/

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On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themichaeljacobs/