A more personal topic: Having (or not having) a family while building a business?
I’ve been fairly active on Twitter and have come across several founders and creators who hold very different views when it comes to having a family.
The opinions vary, and I really appreciate that people are open about discussing it.
Some say that having a family and kids is the best thing for them. It gives their business meaning because they’re building something to share with others. It also helps them avoid being consumed by work 24/7 (for some 27/9). This perspective is more common among entrepreneurs in their 40s.
Others view kids as a distraction – something that prevents them from focusing fully on their work because kids demand constant attention. This mindset tends to be more common among people in their 20s/early 30s.
I’ve also noticed that those who were extremely focused on their business often didn’t have much time for their families, or didn’t get around to starting one at all.
I know this is a personal topic, but I’m curious:
Where do you place family and work in your life? What’s your take on it?
If you already have a family, how do you manage to separate your professional and personal life so that your loved ones don’t get neglected?
Replies
There are times when personal life (read spouse, kids) need more attention and there are times when professional life needs more attention. But an overall balance is surely needed.
I believe family is a big support and stress buster. And one has to define some rules to ensure balance.
That said, sometimes passion takes over everything and that's when it intrudes heavily on personal life for a bit of a prolonged period like 6 months or so. So, does required a conscious effort to maintain balance
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@manu_goel2 How do you handle that?
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@allnash It is permanent, so one should be decided and aligned.
This hit deeper than expected.
To be honest, I’ve always viewed building a business as something that requires your full mental bandwidth, especially in the early stages. There’s chaos, uncertainty, and moments where the line between work and you completely dissolves.
So for now, my version of balance isn’t about separating personal and professional life , it’s about being intentional with the energy I give to both.
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@suvam_deo How would you grade yourself on giving attention to family as well as business? (Grade yourself like in a school.) :D
@busmark_w_nika Great Question. I think i will garde myself very low maybe a 2 out of 10 beacuse rather than spending time with my family. These days has been a lot on hustling in works and daily lifes which i feel need to fix it:)
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@suvam_deo Ohh, I hope you will get back on track and balance your life. 🤞
@busmark_w_nika Thank You for your kind words. Hope I'll make it.
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@kevin_mcdonagh1 I think that having a nice partner is the foundation. If everything one person needs to do... it is too much. (Hat off to single mothers.)
Each to their own. I’ve got 3 kids under 7, running a product, managing a small team, investing, and advising a couple startups. Still make time for school runs, sports, all the usual stuff. Yeah, some days are hectic and long, but you figure it out. It’s all about managing your time.
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@adam_martelletti If I get there once in my life, I will ask for your cheat code :D
@busmark_w_nika It’s simple :D (Not quite, but does help)
1. Delegate
2. Systemise
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@adam_martelletti Bookmarked! :D
@busmark_w_nika when that time rolls around, reach out, I might have a different opinion 😂
I think, it depends on the business you are trying to build. For example low early revenue startup may be difficult to build with family and kids. But something like SaaS, kids and family may provide additional motivation.
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@alisher_kabduakhitov People who have already built something have it easier (because they already have some financial cushion and a more stable position, so they can possibly focus on other things, e.g. family).
Such an interesting topic! I see family as my anchor—the people who welcome me home no matter how work goes. They’re both my motivation and my reality check for better time management.
Personally? I’m not yet ready for marriage/kids (it feels like gambling without mental preparation!). For now, I’m happy balancing work with my mom, sisters, and partner as my core family. Maybe someday my perspective will change, but today, this feels right.
What fascinates me is how these priorities shift across life phases—no one-size-fits-all answer!
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@rani_zagita (it feels like gambling without mental preparation!) – this is how I would describe my state :D
@busmark_w_nika I know right?! Our generation's rewriting the rules - and thank goodness for that. Where Indonesian women were once expected to marry by 20, we're now prioritizing:
Personal readiness over societal deadlines
Happiness over hollow traditions
Freedom over forced timelines
The childfree movement's growing too - finally acknowledging that parenting should be an enthusiastic yes, not an obligation. Sure, the older generation clucks their tongues... but watching short-lived marriages crumble under pressure? That's the real cautionary tale.
Here's to choosing our own paths! 🥂
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@rani_zagita We also pushed our birth age to the later life phase. Between 30 and 40.
But biologically (for women), it is not ideal.
@busmark_w_nika Yeah, that too.. Even at my 30s now, I feel not mature enough to step to the next phase of life, marriage. 😅 Meanwhile the gen Z already feel so old in their 20s.
How is the world getting so messy these days..
This is so difficult. Taking care of a family is such a big responsability and it will eventually affect your startup life. This is why I say "if you want to start a company, do it when you are young when you have less personal obligations, greater health, plenty of energy.
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@misilvia Maybe, I would say that my younger self – if I had family, I wouldn't be so ambitious to build my career and probably end up only caring for family.
I'm a dad of two little kids (4 & 2) and building my SaaS “GOAT” on the side – mostly late at night after everyone’s asleep.
No Netflix, no downtime – just a couple of quiet hours to build something that might matter.
I’ve got ultra-clear focus windows. No time for overthinking or founder theatre. I build what works – and what I can ship in 2 hours.
Pragmatic over perfect.
Slow, but consistent.
With family, not despite it.
It only works because I have a partner who supports it – and who I try to be just as present for. Sure, I don’t always crash into bed at the same time. Sometimes I’m debugging a stubborn issue late into the night.
But I still come to bed. And I make space for us, too – not just sprints and shipping.
Why do it?
Because maybe, one day, I can quit the 9 to 5 and trade meetings for more time with my kids.
Maybe that day never comes. But I’ll know I gave it my best – and didn’t miss the moments that really mattered.
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@dominik_vogt I totally get how you feel and where you want to aim. Just make sure you will not miss how they grow up. :)
@busmark_w_nika 100% agree and that’s exactly why I’ve structured it this way 🙂
I work after bedtime never instead of time with them.
For me, it’s not a sacrifice it’s using the quiet hours that are just mine.
I want to build something meaningful without missing what matters most.
In Turkey, there's a saying: "You can’t hold two watermelons in one hand," meaning you shouldn’t try to do too many things at once—it's better to focus on one task at a time. gbwhatsapp pro apk
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@reacher_hook I have already heard this saying. We have our own: You cannot sit with your ass on multiple chairs :D