Build Your SaaS

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

Listen Later

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

      • 🎙️ Podcast hosting is provided by Transistor.fm.
      📺 Learn       how to start your own podcast!

      ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      Build Your SaaSBy Transistor.fm
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7

      4.7

      81 ratings

      More shows like Build Your SaaS

      View all
      Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

      Freakonomics Radio

      32,156 Listeners

      The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

      The Joe Rogan Experience

      229,089 Listeners

      Startups For the Rest of Us by Rob Walling

      Startups For the Rest of Us

      700 Listeners

      Shopify Masters by Shopify

      Shopify Masters

      379 Listeners

      Niche Pursuits Podcast: Find Your Next "Niche" Business Idea! by Spencer Haws: NichePursuits.com

      Niche Pursuits Podcast: Find Your Next "Niche" Business Idea!

      192 Listeners

      Y Combinator Startup Podcast by Y Combinator

      Y Combinator Startup Podcast

      236 Listeners

      Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats by Wes Bos & Scott Tolinski - Full Stack JavaScript Web Developers

      Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

      984 Listeners

      REWORK by 37signals

      REWORK

      210 Listeners

      My First Million by Hubspot Media

      My First Million

      2,632 Listeners

      The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

      The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

      5,526 Listeners

      Hard Fork by The New York Times

      Hard Fork

      5,468 Listeners

      The Startup Ideas Podcast by Greg Isenberg

      The Startup Ideas Podcast

      206 Listeners

      The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis by Nathaniel Whittemore

      The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

      591 Listeners

      Mostly Technical by Ian Landsman and Aaron Francis

      Mostly Technical

      26 Listeners

      Prof G Markets by Vox Media Podcast Network

      Prof G Markets

      1,356 Listeners