Brad Feld
In this show Bob and Pat talk with tech luminary Brad Feld about one of the most important and least discussed aspects of successful entrepreneurism: how do you build a startup and not burn down your marriage?
In this very candid conversation, Brad shares with us tips, practical techniques, frameworks of communication and insights on how you as an entrepreneur can deal with the unique personal costs, challenges and frustrations your passion bring to the key personal relationships in your life.
Brad, with his wife Amy Batchelor, are gathering material for a book they are co-authoring, “Startup Marriage: Balancing Entrepreneurship And Relationship.”
Whether you’ve been married for years, just dating, or have zero personal life, Brad is an enormously successful early stage investor, startup founder, blogger, and incubator creator: you will want to hear what he has to say.
Want 2012 to be the breakout year for your startup? Why not do a MicroConsult with Bob Walsh? Instead of hypotheticals and too much information, Bob will work with you for an hour via Skype developing 8 to 10 specific todos that will get your startup in gear. Details at 47hats.com.
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Download Show #127 here: Show #127 Or if you prefer, Subscribe to the podcast in Apple iTunes.
Bob Walsh blogs at 47Hats, is on Twitter at @bobwalsh or you can email him at bob.walsh@47hats.com.
Patrick Foley blogs at PatrickFoley.com, is on Twitter at @patrickfoley or you can email him at patrick.foley@microsoft.com
Relevant Links:
Brad Feld Thoughts.
Startup Marriage: Balancing Entrepreneurship And Relationship..
About Brad Feld.
Foundry Group.
TechStars.
As I mentioned in the show intro, please let me know if you are using node.js. I’m trying to understand how important it is to our listeners. Either send me an email to Patrick.Foley@microsoft.com or tweet something like “I like node! #StartupSuccessPodcast” or “@patrickfoley I’m interested in node.js but haven’t used it”
Thanks!
P
My marriage was burning down when a position in a company of 50 started to eat up my soul and burn me out. I decided to quit my job to start a uISV with one other guy. I guess that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. The mere act of quitting the first job for the life of an entrepreneur seemed to be the threshold that precipitated the eventual divorce.
I can’t say that it was the uISV and being an entrepreneur that took it’s toll on the marriage. In fact, my life became better in many respects when I quit working at the toxic company and started my own thing. In hindsight, the marriage was truly doomed to failure no matter what.
In the end, it really wasn’t my jobs or me that was the problem. Those were just the convenient excuses that were being used by a very neurotic and controlling person to try to make it sound like it was my fault. Of course, I’m just one statistic.
Sorry to hear that, Mark. Any breakup sucks, even if when it’s necessary.
If you are into reading, here’s a book you might like: http://www.amazon.com/Way-Superior-Man-Spiritual-Challenges/dp/1591792576. It meant a lot to me, and I suspect you might like it.
Good luck,
P