Most dads grow up believing one core rule: if something breaks, you fix it. If someone’s hurting, you protect them. If your family needs stability, you find a way.
But what happens when life hands you something that can’t be fixed? That’s where this episode goes, gently, honestly, and powerfully.
In this conversation on Wealth on Main Street, Jayson Lowe and Richard Canfield sit down with Jean Dubois, father, husband, and author of Dads Can’t Fix Everything, for a discussion that isn’t about “toughing it out.” It’s about showing up, asking for help, and building certainty where you can… especially when life becomes unpredictable.
Meet Jean Dubois: Strength Without Pretending
Jean’s life was forever changed by the loss of his oldest daughter to brain cancer. Rather than hiding behind the idea that a dad must always have answers, he chose something far more difficult: honesty, presence, and resilience.
This episode isn’t about fixing life. It’s about learning how to carry what you can’t change and still keep moving forward.
“Don’t Be Scared to Ask for Help”
Jean says something every dad needs to hear: “You don’t have to be the guy all the time… there is somebody out there that can help you, no matter what.”
Whether it’s a practical problem, a family strain, or a mental health battle, asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s leadership.
Jean shares that many men feel pressured to solve everything on their own. But that pressure can become dangerous when it turns into isolation.
One statistic he encountered shook him deeply: one dad in North America every three minutes lost to suicide.
That reality shaped his mission and helped fuel his book.
Why Jean Wrote Dads Can’t Fix Everything
Jean didn’t write this book to “go viral.” He wrote it because he saw a story about a father feeling inadequate and recognized himself in it.
He started with a few chapters… then paused, thinking: “Who’s going to read this? I’m just a regular guy.”
Then he read a mantra that changed his perspective: HOPE = Help One Person Every Day.
So Jean took a week off, locked himself in a hotel room at Pigeon Lake, and wrote with full focus. The book became a message to dads who feel trapped by expectations:
- If you’re not successful right now, that doesn’t make you a failure
- If you’re stuck, it doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed
- It means it’s time to find a tool or a person who can help
Showing Up When Strength Feels Unavailable
Jayson asks Jean an important question: What does showing up look like on the days when strength feels unavailable?
Jean’s answer is simple and practical:
- You try what you can
- You stay involved
- But you don’t insist you must be the one who fixes it
- You invite help into the process
That’s the difference between “being responsible” and “being alone.”
The Overlap Between Fatherhood and Financial Stability
Jean also shares how the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) became a framework for:
- Stability
- Control
- Peace of mind
- Access to capital during unpredictable times
He and his wife, Shelly, reflect on how financially draining life can become when a crisis hits, especially when income changes, but bills don’t stop.
With IBC, Jean describes the relief of knowing that capital access isn’t dependent on permission from a bank: “You’re not at the mercy of a bank anymore… It’s under your control.”
He shares real examples from unexpected car repairs to using policy access to help facilitate a home purchase, always highlighting the bigger point: certainty matters when life gets hard.
“Family First” Isn’t a Slogan, It’s a Decision
Richard highlights something many people miss today: we all live with an attention budget. Work, screens, stress, social media, it all pulls at us.
Jean’s stance is clear:
- Family comes first
- If a loved one needs you, you show up
- Trips can be cancelled
- Schedules can change
- The place you’re going isn’t going anywhere
That’s real leadership.
If You’re a Dad Listening Alone Tonight…
Jayson asks Jean directly: If a dad is listening late at night, alone, feeling like he failed… what would you say to him?
Jean’s message is worth repeating:
- Being unsuccessful doesn’t mean you’re a failure
- Being stuck doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed
- There is practical help, emotional help, and professional help
- And there is no shame in needing it
Where to Get Jean’s Book
If this episode hit you, do yourself a favour: Get a copy of Dads Can’t Fix Everything and read it slowly.
Let it settle. Let it speak.
It’s available on Amazon and on platforms such as Kobo and Apple Books.
Final Thought
Sometimes the strongest thing a dad can do is this: admit that fixing everything was never his job.
Your job is to show up, to love well, and to keep moving forward with help when you need it.
Have feedback or want to connect? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at: podcast@WealthOnMainstreet.com