Is it Possible to start a Business and a Relationship Simultaneously?
I stumbled across one sad story, on how one entrepreneur broke a relationship, and then missed another because of his startup.
This got me thinking: is it possible to start a business and a relationship at the same time?
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Asking a question like "is it possible" is of course going to get you the answer "yes" unless it breaks all laws of time, space, and dimension. However, I suspect that is not really what you are asking. Furthermore, you ask about "starting", not succeeding or sustaining. So if the question is actually, "Is is possible to succeed at both starting and sustaining a successful business and a successful relationship simultaneously" you are going to get very different answers than for you present question. – Kenneth Vogt 14 years ago
4 Answers
My startup took a severe hit when I started a new relationship. After I married and got refocused on the business, the relationship took a hit. It has been a dangerous balancing act. My advice would be pick one, get it stable, then move on to the next one. I love my wife and I love my business and they both suffered because I got greedy and wanted both, right now.
I think having a startup and being in a relationship is the same thing as working and being in a relationship. It takes commitment and sacrifice by both people. Classic work-life balance
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+1, VERY TRUE. Fact, if your partner in life doesnt share your vision, goals and is willing to see you go through the hard times to build for the good times, then they probably are not a good fit. Also true that if you are the type of person who chooses the wrong relationships (personal) for the worng reasons, then chances are you are going to fail the same in business. So much of what we do is driven by our personal traits, habits, and what we have learned along the way. – Frank 14 years ago
Yes, it is possible. Your success in anything depends on your commitment. If you are committed to your relationship and committed to your startup, you can do both. If your commitment to one or the other wanes, that will be the thing that goes when times get tough
Have a search on the forum on work/life balance and 'partners.' There are some excellent posts with great tips. Here is one I found helpful: How to start a business and not destroy your marriage? Also Steve Blank's article Launching a startup and having a family life – it’s possible! is a fantastic post from someone who's been there.
It really depends in you and your significant other. A startup is very demanding and it usually requires more time and dedication than a regular job.
You need your significant other to understand this and be willing to give you time and support for your startup. If what you have is a very demanding significant other then it is practically impossible to have a relationship and start a business.
