Remember your co-founders

New York venture capitalist and insightful blogger, Fred Wilson, has a nice post this Valentine’s Day on remembering ‘The Other Co-Founder – Your Family.’

…[J]ust because your spouse (wife or husband) and your kids are not that engaged in your startup doesn’t mean that they aren’t also making a huge investment in it. They see less of you than they would like and when they are with you, its likely that you are at least somewhat distracted by your current obsession. I don’t start companies but I’m guilty of this behavior too. I can only imagine what it is like when you are “all in” on one thing and one thing only.

So true. I’ve been ‘all in’ since I started my own law firm in 1995. I remember going over to the home of my best friend (other than my wife), who also happened to be my banker, to let him know I was going to leave my law partners of 13 years and start my own law firm. He yelled up to his wife, “Kevin is going to go get a real job.”

Right he was. It’s hard to explain to others the commitment needed by your family that goes into starting your own business. It was only the afternoon before that I asked my wife if I had her permission to start my own firm. Knowing what she knows now, I’m not sure she would have said yes — or for that matter, agreed to marry me.

Since starting my own law firm, I have left the practice of law and started two companies, including my current one, LexBlog.

There’s no question that my kids have received the benefit of having an entrepreneur as a parent. They get a role model who shows them there is more than one way to have gainful employment. You can chase what you love and build a company.

At the same time, I’m a realist that it’s difficult or impossible for an entrepreneur to achieve work-life balance.

You’re going to miss your kids’ events more than other parents. I did in the case of my five kids. You’re not going to have the disposable income that others have. You’re likely to have more financial stress than others, especially when you’re running up credit cards and getting used to having your spouse sign the second mortgage.

I have no gripes though. I wouldn’t have it any other way. And I suspect that’s the case for other entrepreneurs who are chasing their dreams.

It’s just a good day to remember your co-founders who have allowed you to chase a dream.