What I Miss Most About Building Startups
Entrepreneur Office Hours - Issue #246
It’s the end of August, and, for me, that means the same thing it’s meant for the past decade: a new school year is about to start.
I bring this up because, if I wasn’t so lazy, I could probably go back to the issue of Entrepreneur Office Hours I published around the end of August 2023 and read a similar observation. And again in 2022. And so on.
This cyclical structure at the heart of academia always reminds me of what I miss most about building startups. Simply put, startups are the opposite of cyclical, and I love that constant change.
I miss waking up to a new challenge every day. I miss not knowing what the battles were going to be each month. I miss how every day could be both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
Those things don’t happen as much when you teach at a university. Instead, university calendars repeat themselves each year. Sure, you get different students every time, but the work is the same — teach, grade, teach, grade, repeat.
Don’t misunderstand me. I love teaching entrepreneurship. But, like every job, there are tradeoffs. In this case, one of those big tradeoffs is the missing energy that comes from entrepreneurial uncertainty. While academia runs on a predictable cycle, startups are the opposite. Every day in a startup brings something new — an unexpected challenge, a sudden pivot, or a breakthrough you never saw coming. It’s this unpredictability that makes the startup journey so exhilarating.
As you dive into your own entrepreneurial endeavors, remember to cherish that uncertainty. The beauty of startups lies in their ability to surprise you, to keep you on your toes, and to push you in directions you never anticipated. Yes, it can be chaotic, and yes, you’ll experience plenty of moments that will test your resolve. But those moments of unpredictability are also were the most growth happens. After all, in the world of startups, the only thing certain we can know for sure is that change is constant — and it’s that constant change that makes it all worthwhile.
-Aaron
This week’s new articles…
The Phrase Entrepreneurs Love to Say But Don’t Actually Understand
Every entrepreneur is guilty of saying it, but the successful ones eventually learn what it means.
Why Entrepreneurs Need to get Better at Leveraging Social Media
Yes, the most powerful entrepreneurial tools in human history also have lots of people using them to make silly dance videos.
Office Hours Q&A
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QUESTION:
Hey Aaron,
I've been struggling with the challenge of maintaining a work-life balance while running my startup. It feels almost impossible at times. Could you share some practical tips or personal experiences on how you've managed to balance the demands of entrepreneurship with personal life?"
Cheers,
Morgan
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Hah! Riiiiiiiight…
I mean, the simple answer here is I personally haven’t been good about balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with my personal life. Exhibit A… the newsletter you’re currently reading, which is being written around 1:00 AM Friday morning, a few short hours before it’ll be delivered to your inbox.
In other words, I’m hardly the person to give advice about balancing entrepreneurship with personal life.
However, I definitely think it's important to at least try to find some semblance of balance or a rhythm that doesn't leave you completely burnt out. With that in mind, here are a few strategies that, despite my own struggles, I've found can make a significant difference:
1. Set Boundaries: Even though it's easier said than done, setting clear boundaries is crucial. Decide on times when you are absolutely not going to work, like during meals or late at night (yes, I know, I'm still working on this one myself). Stick to these boundaries as much as possible to give your brain a rest and your personal life some attention.
2. Prioritize Your Tasks: Not every task needs to be done immediately. Prioritize your work based on urgency and importance. This can help prevent every day from becoming a fire-fighting exercise and might just free up some time for personal activities.
3. Accept Imperfection: Sometimes, good enough really is good enough. Not everything you do needs to be perfect. This mindset can save you lots of time and stress, which will hopefully allow you to focus more on personal pursuits or simply resting.
4. Invest in Tools and Systems: Use technology to automate tasks where possible. Whether it's scheduling, billing, or customer management, the world is filled with tools that can make your life easier.
5. Regular Check-ins With Yourself: This last one is going to sound a bit “new-age,” but regularly check in on your own work-life balance. Are you feeling burnt out? Are you spending enough time with loved ones? Adjust your schedule as needed based on the answers to your self-check-ins..
Again, I'm still working on mastering these things myself, but I definitely think they’re worth trying. At the very least, they might help you find slightly more balance in your entrepreneurial life, and at least that’s a step in the right direction.
Got startup questions of your own? Reply to this email with whatever you want to know, and I’ll do my best to answer!
Hi Aaron . Yes , the uncertainty is a very strange feeling and need some good courage to embrace it and think through it as we start the entrepreneurial journey. Thank you for the post.