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
TinyCommand
This question really resonated, Nika thanks for opening up the space for it.
I’m not married and don’t have kids yet, but family has still played a huge role in my journey. Both my parents are doctors, and they’ve been active sounding boards since the very beginning of my startup path. From validating ideas to making early introductions in the healthcare ecosystem they’ve been there through it all.
Growing up around them shaped a lot of my early thinking about what meaningful work looks like. Watching how they cared for patients, dealt with messy systems, and still kept their humanity intact that definitely influenced the kind of products I want to build in health tech and automation.
It also gave me a reality check when I needed it. When you're deep into startup mode, everything starts to feel urgent. But taking time to step away, have dinner with them, or just talk through a blocker has helped me stay grounded and focused on solving real problems, not just chasing features.
That said, boundaries are still hard. I’ve had moments where I thought I was “just finishing one quick thing” and ended up mentally checked out all evening. It's something I'm still working on.
But one thing I’ve learned? Having people around you who aren’t in the startup bubble but still deeply care about the space you’re working in is an underrated kind of strength. It keeps you human, especially in high-velocity environments like this.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@priyanka_gosai1 Didn't you want to follow their path and become a doctor as well?
TinyCommand
@busmark_w_nika No, too much to study, can’t even think that far! 😐
minimalist phone: creating folders
@priyanka_gosai1 True true, I have another problem – I do not like blood :D what did you study? :)
Honestly, I believe founders have abused "giving it all", "giving it my 1000%" and "working on weekends". It doesn't have to be that complicated - and you are allowed to have a life beyond your startup.
It all comes down to discipline. If you can spend your weekdays working, making slow and steady progress - you're already in the top 1%. No one cares if you ruined your health building your startup. The market doesn't reward hard work. It rewards progress and results.
Family plays an important role in your emotional well-being. Having a supporting family means you can feel defeated at the end of the day and still go to sleep like a winner.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@thebigk "A supporting family means you can feel defeated at the end of the day and still go to sleep like a winner." – After this statement, I feel more into making one. 😅 But you are right, when you feel down in business, you still have something that improves your mood (family) :)
@busmark_w_nika - haha. Well, I'd not be what I am today without support from my family. Ultimately, everything I do is for them.
Love this topic, Nika. I try to balance both—family gives meaning, work drives passion. Tools like GB Pro help me stay organized and present.
Pick two, not three. You can have a business and family, or a business and friends, but you can't have all 3!
minimalist phone: creating folders
@sean_scores I think that some people can barely handle only one. 😅
@busmark_w_nika very true!