My clock has been ticking for 3 years and not sure if the hard work will pay off but I won't trade what I do for anything else.
Sometimes finding the right person is just as hard (or harder) than being successful in a startup.
As a message of hope from what I learned, I just wanted to put it out there for any entrepreneurs that went through a divorce or any major unexpected event (bankrupcy or failure). I heard this once: In order to fully appreciate a beautiful morning sunrise you have to go through the cold and the darkness of the night..
To add to your comment, In my situation, I lost the bigger picture. Hard work almost always paid off in a way or in another, whether it's experience gained on field or a better financial situation.
The side I never really considered before is the cost of the lack of balance: my relationship, an (almost) ulcer, etc.
Retrospectively, I should have asked myself before starting: how much and who am I willing to lose in order to gain.
Btw, the programming analogy seems to apply that on all types of relationships: couple, work, business partnerships. For some mysterious reasons, short terms challenges (bills, rent, mortgage, loans, etc.) keep blinding our long term objectives.
Edit: I am now where I wanted to be professionally, it took me more than a year of hard work, sleepless night juggling between a fulltime job, my ventures, and divorce documents.. I am 'successful', but no one to share it with :(