"Once you have kids, you can't afford to take that kind of chance with your life because you're also responsible for their lives."
I agree to a point, but having kids does not relegate you to life in a cubicle, slowing building your 401 K, and complaining about not having enough Paid Time Off.
I think if you have a burning passion to start something and there is a significant potential pay-off down the road you are doing your family a dis-service by not pursuing an opportunity to make your lives better.
Nothing worth doing is easy.
Re:Work and Wives
by mattculbreth on Thursday March 29, 2007 @01:45PM
(#7340)
Really well said. My wife and three year old son are on the team. We're enjoying the hell out of this because we're doing it together.
On the other hand, a spouse or significant other who's not supportive -- or who means to be supportive but who doesn't actually offer much support, which is worse -- can put enough of a drag on things to make the company fail.
And as brlewis notes, a lot depends on the pace you're trying to run the company at. If you're using the traditional VC-funded web startup model and working 100-hour weeks in the hacking zone, your relationship with your spouse/SO is going to suffer. If you're using the consulting/micro-ISV model and expanding the business gradually, it's likely to put a lot less strain on the relationship.