Buddy i am enjoying your newsletters and the people you are giving a spotlight to! The kind of questions you explore are totally relevant to us small bet ppl.
I would combine the mantra of 'you can have everything but not all at once' with your metaphor about gardening.
Right now you planted and are nurturing a 'family tree'.
As it takes off and become more independent you can plant another tree (product, service, etc). Eventually you'll get a forest, not all of those trees are financial in nature but they will enrich your life incredibly and even more so
I realized recently i was trying to have too many spinning plates so u simplified my life greatly by saying no to a lot of things! But saying yes to the ones that matter.
Thanks, Manny! Let me know if there’s anyone you’d like me to interview :)
I think it’s a great metaphor. It does take a lot more effort to start a garden that it takes to maintain it. I’m assuming it’ll take less and less effort the further we move forward (I might be completely wrong though lol)
Last June I stepped away from my career to be a stay at home dad of my 2 year old and 1 year old.
At the time, I thought I’d build a business in the margins while also being a great stay at home dad. While I still think it’s possible, over time I’ve come to realize my first priority is my boys, and I have to be able to flex as nap times don’t work out, they wake up in the middle of the night, get sick, etc.
For now I’m making progress and exploring areas I’m interested in when I can, but focusing on them as my number one job.
I now realize over time (probably too soon in the grand scheme of things) that they’ll be off to school before I know it, become more independent, and I’ll progressively get more time to devote to work (whether I like it or not).
Thanks, Ken! I was quite excited to share Natasha’s interview with you all. So glad I’m glad it resonates :)
I’m apprehensive of the struggle between setting my schedule and following my kid’s schedule. I know it’s going to conflict a ton and I need to be at peace with that and not too frustrated.
I’d love to read more about your story, why you took the decision to stay at home and what changed since you took it!
That’s a good idea for a post. TLDR is financially I had plenty of “runway” + my wife is a high earner w/ great benefits. I’ve been the 1st or 2nd employee (head of product & design) at three different startups in three different industries and was at a point in my career where I felt the need to step back to catch my breath and be thoughtful about what I do next. And, we didn’t want to send our boys to daycare or hire a nanny if we could manage it. So, last summer when the startup I was at was nearing end of life and my wife’s leave was ending, we decided it made sense for me to stay home with the boys and try to build something if I had time.
The thing I’d say that’s changed is that I came into it thinking I’d have plenty of time to build a business. I quickly realized being a stay at home dad, particularly of two under two at the time, didn’t leave much time for building something :)
Oh man! I can’t imagine how much time it takes especially if your wife is working. Must be hard to squeeze time to do anything.
What kind of business ideas have you been contemplating so far?
Hiring a nanny or daycare is also something we’re trying to avoid and we positioning ourselves to have as much flexibility as possible. Let’s see how that goes.
Loved this, thank you to you both. There’s SO much I can relate to as a Mum of a toddler and a business owner.
I started mine in 2018, four years before our son was born, and I’ve had to unlearn a lot whilst also learning and adapting a lot! Balance is my focus and I’m working on ways to address this and improve my offers and ways of working.
The phrase “you can have it all, but not all at once” is one I now live by. It really helps with perspective and enjoying what you have in that moment. Like Natasha says, the early years are precious and fleeting, and work - which was once THE MOST IMPORTANT THING - has become less so.
Not to say it’s not important to me, but my business isn’t my sole purpose in this life. I want to enjoy what I do, but close my laptop at the end of a day and enjoy my family and be completely present.
I conceptually understood how a kid would constrain parents’ schedule but now I do completely understand. I see it as a blessing because it forces ruthless prioritization. Assuming that’s what you’re doing!
Anything you’re willing to share regarding what you’re implementing to bring more balance?
" That’s a deep belief I hold, we are made to contribute and be active until the end." 100% agreed. My grandma is 95 years old and she has been working since she was 6, she still works to this day (bakes cookies and sells candy to her list of clients).
We need to differentiate between working at something we only do to pay the bills and working at something we enjoy or which is meaningful. The latter is the key to a long and HAPPY life.
I was watching the Blue Zone documentary and it looks like most people stay active even if it’s just gardening or walking with friends. Sounds like people that stop kind of give up on life as well and slowly perish.
Buddy i am enjoying your newsletters and the people you are giving a spotlight to! The kind of questions you explore are totally relevant to us small bet ppl.
I would combine the mantra of 'you can have everything but not all at once' with your metaphor about gardening.
Right now you planted and are nurturing a 'family tree'.
As it takes off and become more independent you can plant another tree (product, service, etc). Eventually you'll get a forest, not all of those trees are financial in nature but they will enrich your life incredibly and even more so
I realized recently i was trying to have too many spinning plates so u simplified my life greatly by saying no to a lot of things! But saying yes to the ones that matter.
Thanks, Manny! Let me know if there’s anyone you’d like me to interview :)
I think it’s a great metaphor. It does take a lot more effort to start a garden that it takes to maintain it. I’m assuming it’ll take less and less effort the further we move forward (I might be completely wrong though lol)
Love this convo, Kenny!
Last June I stepped away from my career to be a stay at home dad of my 2 year old and 1 year old.
At the time, I thought I’d build a business in the margins while also being a great stay at home dad. While I still think it’s possible, over time I’ve come to realize my first priority is my boys, and I have to be able to flex as nap times don’t work out, they wake up in the middle of the night, get sick, etc.
For now I’m making progress and exploring areas I’m interested in when I can, but focusing on them as my number one job.
I now realize over time (probably too soon in the grand scheme of things) that they’ll be off to school before I know it, become more independent, and I’ll progressively get more time to devote to work (whether I like it or not).
Thanks, Ken! I was quite excited to share Natasha’s interview with you all. So glad I’m glad it resonates :)
I’m apprehensive of the struggle between setting my schedule and following my kid’s schedule. I know it’s going to conflict a ton and I need to be at peace with that and not too frustrated.
I’d love to read more about your story, why you took the decision to stay at home and what changed since you took it!
That’s a good idea for a post. TLDR is financially I had plenty of “runway” + my wife is a high earner w/ great benefits. I’ve been the 1st or 2nd employee (head of product & design) at three different startups in three different industries and was at a point in my career where I felt the need to step back to catch my breath and be thoughtful about what I do next. And, we didn’t want to send our boys to daycare or hire a nanny if we could manage it. So, last summer when the startup I was at was nearing end of life and my wife’s leave was ending, we decided it made sense for me to stay home with the boys and try to build something if I had time.
The thing I’d say that’s changed is that I came into it thinking I’d have plenty of time to build a business. I quickly realized being a stay at home dad, particularly of two under two at the time, didn’t leave much time for building something :)
Oh man! I can’t imagine how much time it takes especially if your wife is working. Must be hard to squeeze time to do anything.
What kind of business ideas have you been contemplating so far?
Hiring a nanny or daycare is also something we’re trying to avoid and we positioning ourselves to have as much flexibility as possible. Let’s see how that goes.
Loved this, thank you to you both. There’s SO much I can relate to as a Mum of a toddler and a business owner.
I started mine in 2018, four years before our son was born, and I’ve had to unlearn a lot whilst also learning and adapting a lot! Balance is my focus and I’m working on ways to address this and improve my offers and ways of working.
The phrase “you can have it all, but not all at once” is one I now live by. It really helps with perspective and enjoying what you have in that moment. Like Natasha says, the early years are precious and fleeting, and work - which was once THE MOST IMPORTANT THING - has become less so.
Not to say it’s not important to me, but my business isn’t my sole purpose in this life. I want to enjoy what I do, but close my laptop at the end of a day and enjoy my family and be completely present.
I conceptually understood how a kid would constrain parents’ schedule but now I do completely understand. I see it as a blessing because it forces ruthless prioritization. Assuming that’s what you’re doing!
Anything you’re willing to share regarding what you’re implementing to bring more balance?
" That’s a deep belief I hold, we are made to contribute and be active until the end." 100% agreed. My grandma is 95 years old and she has been working since she was 6, she still works to this day (bakes cookies and sells candy to her list of clients).
We need to differentiate between working at something we only do to pay the bills and working at something we enjoy or which is meaningful. The latter is the key to a long and HAPPY life.
I was watching the Blue Zone documentary and it looks like most people stay active even if it’s just gardening or walking with friends. Sounds like people that stop kind of give up on life as well and slowly perish.