4 ms·
My daughter is a little over 2 years old and I have been working on my startup the entire time she has been alive, I can't think of anything I could have done t
by javery 16y ago
My daughter is a little over 2 years old and I have been working on my startup the entire time she has been alive, I can't think of anything I could have done that would have let me see her more than being on my own has. (well, other than not having a job)
I work from home so I see her when she gets up in the morning, I take her to school when it is in session (she goes half-days during the year), I see her during the day for lunch and snack times (my office is by the kitchen). Then right at 5 I stop working and we all have dinner, then we hang out and play. After she goes back to bed at 7/7:30 I often head back to work and work until 10 or 11.
I couldn't imagine having to leave for work before she wakes up and if I hit traffic on the way home not getting home until 6... I would see her a grand total of 90 minutes a day.
Working for myself also lets us do much more, we take more vacations (since I can work a couple days and keep up) and last year we spent 5 weeks in San Francisco.
If you are raising a family and a startup, then this is a must read: http://steveblank.com/2009/06/18/epitaph-for-an-entrepreneur/ http://steveblank.com/2009/06/18/epitaph-for-an-entrepreneur... - it totally changed how I work and has a made a huge difference for my family.
- davidw 16y agoThat's excellent that it's working out for you, and I knew someone would have a counterexample, that's why I said "may". Do you collaborate remotely, or are you working on your own? It sounds like the home office is really what makes it work out well. My daughter is about that age, and honestly the home office thing hasn'ed worked so well with her, because she wants to come play with me.
- javery 16y agoI collaborate remotely with my co-founder on one project and a designer contractor on another. That is an issue that she wants to come and play with me during the day, but usually I let her hang out for a little bit then talk her into going up to her playroom.
- zngtk4 16y agoI'm not sure whether or not your wife is working, but how do you manage your time with her and that relationship? Is it just shared time that you spend with your daughter in the evening (since you usually go back to work after your daughter goes to bed)?
- javery 16y agoShe doesn't work, so we see each other throughout the day and when my daughter naps she usually helps me out with financial/tax type work for the businesses. At night we all spend time together for dinner, hanging out with our daughter, and then usually 1-2 nights a week I don't work (depending on how busy I am it might be more) and we watch a movie and hang out. (or get a sitter to go out)