As those of you that keep up with my random thoughts (i love you all btw) you can tell I'm very much on an entrepreneurial kick lately but it's an important aspect of my life that I haven't had the chance to often share. I often find myself running pretty solo with most of my friends due to the fact that they work in a corporation or business but don't necessarily understand the risks/decisions/fears that someone owning a business go through. But I digress to my current thought.
In my last post I talked about family. Today, I want to think about the entrepreneur herself. It is often discussed in business books and in seminars on what it takes to be an entrepreneur and to succeed at starting a business. Stories of 80-hour work weeks and late nights are the norm to be "successful". Based on those readings, there appears to be a diametrically opposed sentiment stating that one that starts a business you either choose a successful business or successful family life but never the two shall meet. Is that the case? Does someone, in today's connected world, have to sacrifice the time from the people that are the reason you try to build a successful business?
Can't wait to see your comments. Sound off! Success or family?
Posted from brad garland’s stream
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James Robert Lay
September 25th, 2009
Brad… keep the conversation going. You are not solo in this matter. I am right here with you on the risks/decisions/fears and also successes. I have been there at the 80-100 hour weeks when first getting started. These have been reduced to 60-70 hour weeks.
Having been married for 3.5 years, it has been a challenge to find balance. No longer is it “all about me” and 15 hour days won't cut it with my wife. Just like business relationships, marriage is the same in the fact that what you get out of marriage is what you invest into your marriage.
My goal is like yours to grow a happy family while at the same time build a successful business that allows me to provide for my family, fulfill personal goals.
I believe that the two can meet but it takes the work of both husband wife and kids.
As we just found out that my wife is pregnant with our first I am excited at the growth of our family and the challenge to continue to grow the business all while finding balance for everything.
In the end, it is our families that we are working for and should remain grounded and true to them.
To help in this with our family at home, we must build a strong “family” at the office to support one another and help each other out along the way through life.
chrisyeh
October 14th, 2009
I've started a number of companies. I've been married for all of them (to the same woman, my very tolerant wife Alisha), and I've had kids for the past several.
There's no question that it's easier to be an entrepreneur when you have gobs of time and no personal life, but as a dad, I think I work smarter because I have no alternative.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.