Being a founder with kids is living in two worlds at once.

In one world, you’re building something from nothing — chasing a dream so big it consumes your energy, your time, and often your peace of mind. In the other world, you’re raising a family — trying to be present for the moments that matter most, even as your mind is often somewhere else.

Every founder I know with kids wrestles with the same questions:

Am I being a good parent? A good partner? Am I giving enough? Am I risking too much?

Building a company isn’t just a career choice. It’s a calling. A fire inside you that doesn’t turn off, even when you wish it would. And sometimes, that calling asks you to miss moments you’d give anything to keep. School concerts. Weekend soccer games. Late-night talks when your kids just need you there, listening.

It’s easy to wonder if the sacrifice is too great. Easy to carry that guilt with you. But here’s the truth: you’re not just building a company — you’re building the best example you can give them. They’re watching you. They see your hard days, your doubts, your relentless belief in something bigger than yourself. They see that it’s okay to question, and even more important to push through anyway.

They’re learning grit. Resilience. Courage.

They’re learning that dreams are worth chasing, even when the road is hard and lonely.

Maybe you miss a few moments. But you’re giving them something that will last a lifetime. Stay the course. They’re watching. And they’re becoming stronger because you dared to be.