Build Your SaaS

Should a parent with young kids try to bootstrap a new startup?

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In this episode, Justin speaks with Aaron Francis about being a new parent and trying to bootstrap a startup. Aaron argued the other side of Justin's tweet thread: "Wait until your kids are older to start a company." Aaron is well-positioned to talk about this because he has twins and is also bootstrapping Hammerstone with his co-founder Colleen. The whole conversation is a nuanced take on the topic and full of important insights, especially on:

  • the risks involved (especially if you're not working a full-time job)
  • the kind of foundation (mentally, financially, emotionally, relationally) you need to be able to take the risk

Highlights from this episode:

  • (00:12) - Welcome Aaron
  • (01:05) - Topic introduction
  • (02:17) - What's Aaron's story?
  • (05:23) - What is a maximum effort era?
  • (10:51) - What are you willing to sacrifice?
  • (15:12) - What's your daily routine like?
  • (17:25) - Context matters in all of this
  • (27:56) - Are you sacrificing social connections?
  • (30:48) - Blind spots can affect you on your journey
  • (33:18) - Pain vs risk
  • (37:38) - Being on the same page as your partner
  • (41:42) - Going to therapy sooner
  • (43:46) - Building a good foundation
  • (48:46) - Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
  • (53:49) - Sometimes it's easier to try getting a better job
  • (01:02:37) - Where can people reach Aaron?

    • Thanks to our monthly supporters
    • Rewardful.com
    • Greg Park
    • Mitchell Davis from sixsides.co
    • Marcel Fahle, wearebold.af
    • Bill Condo (@mavrck)
    • Ward from MemberSpace.com
    • Evandro Sasse
    • Austin Loveless
    • Michael Sitver
    • Colin Gray
    • Dave Giunta

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