My 6th Anniversary As A Daddy(preneur)

My oldest daughter turned 6 on Friday.  The simple fact that my daughter, my my wife and I have survived for the last six years with our physical and mental well being reasonably intact, is more than an enough reason for a celebration complete with balloons and cake.  However, this day marks another milestone too.  It is the sixth anniversary of my becoming a daddy-preneur.  For last six years I have struggled and rejoiced over the challenges and joys that come with being an entrepreneur and starting a family.  Yes, the challenges have been many and some very large, but I have also experienced more and greater joy than I had previously thought possible.

I thought I was a good negotiator.  I’ve closed huge business deals with nothing short of my financial well-being in the balance, and I’ve bought and sold used cars, and 2 houses.  None of that compares to dealing with a melt-down in the middle of a crowded grocery store, or getting my daughter to eat more broccoli.  Kids don’t need be taught the art of the counter offer, it comes as naturally as breathing.

I thought I’d had some tough encounters with former bosses and important clients.  Then I had the pleasure of talking about money with my wife when neither of us had slept in weeks.  Good times.  I have had some pretty great moments in my life, but when I made my daughter belly laugh for the first time I saw the true definition of joy.

I thought I knew what tired meant.  I don’t need to expand on this.

We are friends with couples that have kids close in age to ours, and some of the other dads have their own businesses too.  There is a bond we share.  We have a mostly unspoken understanding of each other’s sacrifice and it’s payoff.  I see the other daddy-preneurs at the school events during work hours, the birthday parties, at McDonald’s on a Sunday morning.  I’m sure they would all agree how amazing it is that we have created  this for ourselves.

I know there are a lot of mommies out there that do the same thing, and more.  I have nothing but respect for you, because in many ways, you have a more challenging path.  I know this is true of my wife.  But not being a mom, I can’t speak to that.  You could ask my wife, but she’d probably have to get back to you because she is very busy.

I won’t say how lucky we are, because this does not happen by shear luck.  You have to work at it.  When you set out to create a lifestyle that provides enough time to enjoy and participate in your children’s lives and enough income, you are setting a pretty high bar.  So far I have been able to do that, and I do not take any of it for granted.  I appreciate every day I get to have this, because you never know what tomorrow brings.

Parenting is a challenge, at least good parenting is.  Starting and running a business is a challenge.  Doing both at the same time, might be the definition of insanity.  I could not imagine having it any other way.