Becoming a dad is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but it can also be challenging. If you’re a startup founder who’s also a dad, things can seem even trickier. In this article, you’ll read about five essential tips that will help make your life as a dad and startup founder more manageable.
Passion is what drives us, not the other way around
It’s easy to lose sight of yourself when you become a parent for the first time. You have to take care of an entirely dependent being. The difficulties will consume your time, energy, and thoughts. You’ll want to do everything for the best of your child. And you should! But if you lose track of yourself in the process, all is lost. Your child deserves a father who’s living his own life to the fullest. That’s how you model good behavior for your kid.
It might sound like an impossible task, but it isn’t. You must find a way to do both simultaneously! Your child will still be dependent on you when they’re two, three, and eighteen years old. They’ll always need someone who’s there for them no matter what. But that person shouldn’t always be you. A regular break from child-rearing can help refresh your mind for the new challenges that await you back home.
If it helps, think of parenting as a marathon instead of a sprint. You won’t get there overnight, so don’t try to do so either. Your quest is something you commit yourself to for the next two decades. It’s a journey and one that will be all the more rewarding if you make sure to enjoy yourself along the way.
Virtual assistants can help you scale your dad duties
As a startup founder, it’s easy to feel like you need to do everything by yourself. You might think that delegating tasks to others won’t help you grow your startup. But that’s not true at all. Hiring virtual assistants can be extremely useful for men with full-time jobs and small children. You can hire someone to help you with online marketing, accounting, and even childcare. Virtual assistants are flexible in their schedules and can accommodate your changing life situation.
You don’t have to sacrifice your lifestyle to be a good dad
There’s a common misconception that being a startup founder requires you to stay up late, work long hours, and devote your life to the growth of your business. This is simply not true. In fact, sacrificing your own happiness will only detract from the overall growth of your startup. After all, you can’t expect to lead a team of motivated employees if you’re not willing to lead by example.
Make it clear that your personal life is more important than your work life. Your startup will still be there when you get home at the end of every day. You don’t have to neglect yourself just so you feel obligated to work on your startup.
It’s not all fun and games
Owning a business can be extremely rewarding. But it’s also hard work. There will be times when you feel like giving up because nothing seems to go your way. That’s perfectly normal, even for experienced entrepreneurs. You have to accept that failure is part of the startup game. It’s not a matter of if, but when your business will fail. And that’s okay!
Many people are afraid to launch their own startups because they’re worried about failure, which is understandable. But the truth is that even when you do fail, it can be seen as a learning experience. You might not be successful the first time you try something, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t succeed the second and third time around.
Work/life balance will improve your relationships
The demands of having a family and running your own business can be overwhelming sometimes. But if you make an effort to communicate with those closest to you, it will become much easier. Make sure to find the right balance between your work life and your personal life.
There’s an old adage that says “quality time is better than quantity time.” If you’re not spending enough quality time with your family, frustration will slowly build up until you blow up in their face. Eventually, they’ll stop being as supportive as they once were.
Make sure to have a conversation with your family about what’s going on in your life and how much time you can spend with them every day/week. Also, try to focus more on the positive things happening rather than the problems you might be facing at work. That way, everyone will feel happier and closer to one another.
With these tips, you should have a better idea of how to be a good dad and a good startup founder. If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember that it’s okay to ask for help from others. Asking for assistance doesn’t make you any less of a man! After all, your family will be there for you no matter what.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock