Tracy Brinkmann: How "Seeing My Father Cry" Changed Everything About Expressing Love to My Kids

Ever wonder how to create the kind of dad your children genuinely respect and want to become like? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Tracy Brinkmann, a father of four daughters who transformed his darkest moments into his greatest parenting strengths.

Tracy shares his incredible journey from party phase to present father, including:
• Why his brother's wake-up call "your life is about to change and you need to change with it" saved his family
• The surprising moment when seeing his father cry became the foundation for expressing love
• How losing a child taught him to help his kids learn from both victories and failures
• The unexpected connection between being the "flag guy" at cheer competitions and showing up consistently

Plus, Tracy reveals his game-changing approach to vulnerability with your children—sharing your own mistakes so they learn from lived experience, not empty lectures.

Key takeaways:
• The mindset shift that transforms "everything has to change" from scary to empowering
• Why "absorb what is useful, discard the rest, add what's uniquely you" is the ultimate parenting philosophy
• How to balance raising princesses who can get their hands dirty with teaching them to choose men who won't make them
• The power of never assuming your kids know you love them—tell them every single time

Tracy Brinkmann is the host of the Dark Horse Entrepreneur podcast and creator of multiple shows helping parents escape the 9-to-5 through online opportunities. As a father of four daughters and grandfather, he's learned firsthand how to turn life's hardest lessons into parenting wisdom that builds resilient, confident children.

Whether you're struggling with your own past mistakes or wondering how to show up consistently for your kids, this episode will challenge you to see that being present doesn't require perfection—it just requires being willing to change everything for the people who matter most.

Ready to become the dad who shows up with flags, hugs, and honest conversations? Let's explore how your willingness to be vulnerable creates the foundation for extraordinary fatherhood!

Connect with Tracy Brinkmann
https://darkhorseschooling.com/newsletter
https://darkhorseschooling.com
https://www.facebook.com/tracy.brinkmann
https://www.youtube.com/@DarkHorseEntrepreneur
https://x.com/TracyBrinkmann
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybrinkmann
https://www.instagram.com/tracybrinkmann
https://www.tiktok.com/@darkhorseentrepreneur

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E032 of the Dad Hat Shenanigans Podcast: The Unfiltered Truth of Being a Dad

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Time Stamps:
• 00:00:00 - Tracy's heartwarming story: The cheer dad with the flag
• 00:05:47 - Superman hat significance: Being the hero your kids need
• 00:12:17 - Life-changing advice: When everything has to change for fatherhood
• 00:24:34 - The power of vulnerability: How seeing dad cry changed everything
• 00:36:51 - Teaching through your mistakes: Lived experience vs. empty lectures
• 00:45:18 - Tracy's essential wisdom: Absorb,

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, any organizations, companies, or institutions mentioned, or corporate entities represented by the host.

Our aim is to provide a platform for diverse perspectives and open dialogue. While we strive for accuracy and balance, it's important to recognize that opinions may vary. We encourage critical thinking and further exploration of the topics discussed.

This post & video is designed for educational and/or informational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner.

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