(2009-06-18) Blank Startup Vs Family And Kids

Steve Blank gives his perspective on the Trade-Off-s between Start Up involvement and Having Kids (The Family).

Part of my problem was that my reality distortion field encompassed my relationships. In hindsight I had convinced myself that throwing myself into work was the right thing to do because I succumbed to the four big lies entrepreneurs tell themselves about work and family... None of these were true. I had thrown myself into a startup because work was an exciting technical challenge with a fixed set of end points and rewards. In contrast, relationships were messy, non deterministic (i.e. emotional rather than technical) and a lot harder to manage than a startup. (His first marriage ended after 7 year, with no kids involved.)

When he remarried and had kids he set up various rules to create some balance. I Commented to ask if his wife was working (Two Income Family). She didn't go back to work until they were teenagers. (He has a longer answer than that.)