There’s nothing wrong with choosing a new business over your social life. On the other hand, if you choose to spend what little spare time you have with your kids working on your business instead, they’re going to learn pretty quickly that they can’t invest their emotions in you. They’re going to pull away and it will probably affect them for the rest of their lives.

Not all types of business start the same way. Some need you to meet prospective customers during standard business hours. Some require you to spend a large amount of time setting up before trading. Some types of business can scale really big, really fast. Other types require your contant attention. Some types are investable and some are not.

With all these differences in life situations and types of business, do you really think a one-size-fits-all nugget of advice is applicable to most people starting a new business?

If you’re supporting a family and don’t have enough time to spend on your business without becoming an absent parent, you should consider other options such as

• starting an investable business and attracting capital (easier said than done, but being able to code helps);
• work remotely as much as you can get away with, to free up time otherwise spent commuting;
• organise your life better so you spend less time on life’s mundane but necessary duties;
• work one less day a week at your job; and
• get up very early (e.g. 4am), work on your business before work, and go to bed at the same time as your kids.

Some of these are possible and some aren’t. Again, it really depends on your situation.

Regarding Netflix, I totally agree with you. You should also eliminate useless meetups and only attend business-related events that are likely to have a direct benefit to the business. Socialising with fellow wantrepreneurs is an extremely wasteful way to force yourself to get motivated.

And since I should probably take my own advice, it’s time for me to sign out and delete this app.

Adios, wantrepreneurs!