How to Start a Business While Raising a Family
Joe Cassara, a contributor of the Young Entrepreneur Council, is running a consulting practice. He also creates startups and sells houses. On top of this, he is also a husband and the father to three kids under 3 years old. How then, does he manage his time between his family and jobs? He wrote at Forbes.com that anytime is a good time to start up a business. He writes, “People always say they’ll wait until later do something new and risky, but I promise you, there will never be a perfect time.” He continues with five tips for people who want to move ahead. A very important tip is to have confidence on your startup idea. Believe in your talent and use it.
Here are 5 things to remember when starting up with a family and a full-time job:
- Be careful — to an extent. You’re married with kids now, and they come first. If you take care of your family, you’ll find yourself becoming a better entrepreneur and leader. Also, make sure you’re not breaking your employment agreement by taking on a side project.
- Do what you do well. When starting up on the side, you just need to resolve to only take on what you can do well. Pay for help when a task falls outside of your wheelhouse. Opening your wallet for good legal counsel or design services will prevent a future headache.
- Don’t compromise your family. Less time with family doesn’t have to lessen the relationships. I turn down almost every invitation for a nighttime event, and I may have to crack open the laptop at 10 p.m., but I make sure to have time alone with the kids and with my wife.
- Know that simultaneous progress is possible. No successful startup will ever relieve me of trying to be the best father on the planet and daily winning my wife’s heart. Make progress in your marriage. Get better as a father. You can still do so while sprinting for your startup. When I have an idea, I keep it moving by writing things down and making calls to relevant contacts. Pursue the things that might have legs, because you never know who will be your next big client, or what idea will be the one that lets you quit that full-time job.
- Believe in your startup idea. I know that I have talent, and I believe that I’m in the exact place to use those talents. It’s not unjustified pride; it’s the necessary self-confidence to start up. If you have an opportunity to pursue a potentially life-altering project, chances are that you’ll never look back in regret on making the jump to a very busy, but life-giving entrepreneurial journey …
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