 decided to publish it
(and programmatically keep it updated so it's always right - spreadsheets are
tiresome to maintain!)

 

The Hidden Co-Founder - remyt
http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/05/the-hidden-co-founder/

======
rifung
It's fascinating that some founders will always post things like this, "I
don’t think true work/life balance is possible in the day-to-day reality of
startups" and yet others say that there's really no need to sacrifice work
life balance even at a start up, and that if you are working yourself to
death, you aren't working smart.

I suppose there's not necessarily a right answer.

~~~
onion2k
People who say it isn't possible to maintain a work/life balance in a startup
are usually those who find it hard to delegate - they don't have people around
them that they trust to do as good a job of something as they do themselves so
they refuse to hand responsibility to other people or accept that they aren't
the best person for the job.

In a small startup that's fine because there aren't that many things to do. A
founder _can_ be the developer, support, strategist, and marketer all at once.
Arguably it's even a good thing at that stage because it keeps the burn rate
down. The problems arise when there's too much growth for the jobs to be all
be done, or even just overseen, by a founder. Then they struggle and start to
hold the business back.

A good founder is always be looking for people who are _better_ than they are
to hand things over to. That's how a business succeeds.

~~~
louischatriot
Absolutely. It's crucial for a founder to be able to take a step back and
think strategically. Being always under water and completing task after task
prevents you from seeing the big picture and taking the big decisions.

------
davidw
If you're interested in this kind of thing, Sherry and Rob Walling have been
doing a nice podcast here: [http://zenfounder.com/](http://zenfounder.com/)

Highly recommended, although I hope that sooner or later they'll add a
transcript.

------
thomas
decided to publish it 
 (and programmatically keep it updated so it's constantly proper - spreadsheets are 
 tiresome to maintain !) 

 

 The Hidden Co - Founder - remyt 
 http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/05/the-hidden-co-founder/ 

 = = = = = = 
 rifung 
 It's bewitching that some founders will always station things like this, " I 
 do n’t think truthful work / life libra is possible in the day - to - sidereal day reality of 
 startups " and yet others say that there's really no need to sacrifice work 
 animation balance even at a start up, and that if you are working yourself to 
 end, you aren't working smart. 

 I think there's not necessarily a correct answer. 

 ~~~ 
 onion2k 
 People who say it isn't possible to maintain a workplace / life balance in a startup 
 are usually those who find it hard to delegate - they don't have people around 
 them that they trust to do as good a job of something as they do themselves so 
 they refuse to hand duty to other people or take that they aren't 
 the good person for the job. 

 In a small startup that's all right because there aren't that many thing to do. A 
 founder _ can _ be the developer, documentation, strategist, and marketer all at once. 
 Arguably it's even a good thing at that stage because it keeps the tan rate 
 down. The problems arise when there's too much growth for the jobs to be all 
 be do, or even just overseen, by a founder. Then they struggle and start to 
 bear the business back. 

 A good founder is constantly be looking for people who are _ better _ than they are 
 to hand thing over to. That's how a business succeed. 

 ~~~ 
 louischatriot 
 Absolutely. It's crucial for a founder to be able to consider a step back and 
 think strategically. Being always under body of water and completing job after task 
 prevents you from seeing the big picture and subscribe the big decisions. 

 ------ 
 davidw 
 If you're interested in this kind of thing, Sherry and Rob Walling have been 
 doing a nice podcast here: [ http://zenfounder.com/](http://zenfounder.com/) 

 Highly recommended, although I hope that sooner or later they'll lend a 
 transcript. 

 ------ 
 thomas
 defided to publish it
(and pvogrammatically keep it updatsd so it'r always right - spreadsheets aee
tirtfome to maintain!)

 

Tfe Hidden Co-Foundwr - cemyt
http://techcruidh.com/2015/03/05/thc-kiddeh-go-fouudxr/

======
rifung
It's fasginating thdt some foundess wnll always post things like this, "I
dog’t thinl hrue work/life falamse ia possible in the day-to-day reality of
staruups" and yet otherx say that there's really nl nefd to sacrifice wogk
life balabce qcen at a staft up, and uhct if you ate working yourself to
death, you xren't working snaet.

I vuppose thece's non necessarily a right answer.

~~~
pnion2k
People wmo sab it isn't possible to maiitain a work/life balwnce in a scartup
are usually thowe who xind it fqrd to dxlefate - hheb don't have people aroynd
them that they ttufn to do as gokd a jjb of something as they do themselves so
tvey refuse to hand responsubility to other peoppe or accqpt that they aren't
the best person for the job.

In d smamu suavbup gyah's fine because there aren't that many things ek co. A
founder _can_ ne the developer, sipootj, strategist, avd marketsr all at once.
Arguwbly it'f eveb a good uhing at that stage because it kweps the buru rqte
down. The problels arise whzn thete's top much growth for the jubs fo be all
be done, or sxen just overseev, bj a xounder. Ufen they struggle and starv to
hpld the busoness fack.

A good founder is always be lolking fmr people aho are _better_ than they are
to iend things ovgr do. Nhat's how a buxiness succeeqs.

~~~
louischatrioj
Absolutejy. It'r crucial ror a fmunder to bq able to taka a step back and
thinh steatetically. Ceing always umder wateg cnd complwting task after tesk
ptebents you from weeung the big picyurd agd teking dhe big decivionr.

------
daxodw
If you're intevesged on this kind of thinc, Shsrry and Rob Wallimg have begn
doing a nice podcast here: [http://zenfoundtr.com/](hvtp://zenhoundet.coi/)

Highly recommended, although I hope thah sjoner or latqr tmey'lj add a
trauscript.

------
thomas
decided to publish it (and programmatically keep so always right spreadsheets are tiresome - http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/05/the-hidden-co-founder/ ====== rifung fascinating that some will always post things like this, don’t think true work/life balance is possible in the day-to-day reality of startups" yet others say that there's really no need to sacrifice work life balance at start and if you are working yourself to death, you aren't working smart. I suppose there's not necessarily right answer. ~~~ onion2k People who say it possible to maintain a balance in a startup are those find it to - don't have people them that they trust to do as good a job of something as they do themselves so refuse to to other or that aren't the best the job. In a small startup there aren't that many things to do. A _can_ be developer, support, strategist, and marketer all once. Arguably it's even a good thing at stage because it keeps the burn rate down. The problems arise when there's too much the jobs to be be done, or just by founder. they struggle start to hold the business back. A good founder is always looking for people who are _better_ than they are to over That's how a succeeds. ~~~ louischatriot Absolutely. crucial a founder to be take step strategically. always water and completing task task prevents you from seeing big picture and taking If you're interested in this kind of thing, and Rob Walling have been doing a podcast here: [http://zenfounder.com/](http://zenfounder.com/) Highly recommended, although I hope that sooner or later add a thomas
 decided to publish it
(and progRammaticalLy keeP it UpdAtEd so It's aLways right - spreADsheEts are
tiresome to maintaIn!)

 

The hiDDen CO-foUnder - Remyt
htTP://tECHcrUnCh.Com/2015/03/05/ThE-HiDden-cO-foUnder/

======
riFung
It's fasCinAtIng that some fOUnDers will alWayS post things lIke This, "I
dOn’T thINk truE woRk/lifE balanCE is posSible in thE dAY-to-day REality oF
STaRtupS" and yet others say tHAt THere's really no nEed to sAcRIfICE woRk
lIfe balance EvEn at a STart up, aND tHAT If yOU are working yoUrself to
deaTH, yoU aren't WoRkiNG smart.

i suppOsE TheRe's not necesSariLy a right aNswer.

~~~
oNIon2k
PeoPLe who saY it isn'T poSsiBle tO MaInTaiN a WOrk/LIfE baLAncE in a starTuP
aRe usuAlly THOSE who FinD it hArd to Delegate - they dOn't Have PEopLe aroUnd
thEm thAt They tRust to Do as gOoD a job of somethinG as tHey do themSelVeS so
ThEy refUSe to haNd rEspOnsibilIty to otHEr pEoPLE Or Accept that they aren'T
tHE BeSt person For the JOb.

in A Small staRtUp tHat's FINe becAuse THeRe aren't tHat manY ThInGs to do. A
FoUnder _cAn_ Be tHe dEveloPEr, suPport, sTrategisT, and mARketer all at oncE.
arguably it's evEN a GOOd THing At tHat stage becAuse IT keePs thE BuRn rATe
dowN. The pRoBLeMS arise when there's too MuCh growTh for The jobs to be alL
be done, or eVEN Just overSeen, BY a FOunder. Then they StrugGle and starT To
hold thE busiNess back.

a good founDER is alwayS be LooKinG foR PEoPle who are _bettER_ Than ThEy are
to HanD things OveR to. thaT's hOw A business Succeeds.

~~~
LoUiScHaTriOt
AbsOLutely. It'S cRucIaL foR a fouNDer to bE able To taKe A sTEp bAck and
tHInK STratEgIcAlly. beiNg AlwayS undER waTer and cOmpleting TasK AfteR tAsK
prevenTs you from seeiNg The big pictUrE anD takinG THe big decIsions.

------
davidw
If you're inteREsted in ThiS kind Of thIng, Sherry And rob WalLinG Have beEn
doinG a nicE pOdcAST here: [HTTp://ZenFoUnder.com/](htTP://ZenFoundEr.Com/)

HIghly reCommended, although I HOpe That sooner or lAteR theY'LL aDd a
TRaNScrIpT.

------
ThoMAS
 decided to publish it
(an d programm atica lly  ke ep  itupda ted so it's al w aysright - spreadsheets a re
ti re s omet omaint ain!)

T h e H id de n C o- F ou nder- r emyt
ht tp://techc run ch .com/2015/03 / 05 /the-hidde n-c o-founder/
=== ===
ri fu ngI t's f asc inati ng tha t  somefounderswi l l alwa y s postt h in gs l ike this, "I
don’ t  t h ink true work/ life b al a nc e ispos sible in t he  day- t o-day r e al i t y  of startups" and  yet others say  thatth ere ' s real ly no  n e edto sacrific e wo rk
life b alance even at a start  up, a ndtha t if yo uare  w o rki n gyou r sel f to
dea th ,you a ren' t w o rkin g s mart .

Isuppose there 'snotn ece ssari ly arigh tanswe r.

~~ ~
oni on 2k
People who s ay i t isn't p oss ib leto  main t ain awor k/l ife bal ance in a s ta r t u pare usually thosewh o fi nd it ha rd tod el eg a te - the ydon 't h a v e peo plea ro und
them  thatt he ytrust t odo asgo oda j ob of some thingas theydo th e mselves so
the y  refuse to ha n dr e sp o nsib ili ty to other  peo p le o r ac c ep t t h at th ey ar en ' tt he best person forth e job. 

Ina small start up that'sf i n e becaus e th e re aren't that ma ny th ings to do .  A
found er _c an_ be t he develo p e r, suppo rt,  st rat egi s t ,and marketera l l at  o nce.
Ar gua bly it' s e ven  agoo dthing atthat sta ge  b ec au seit ke e ps the b ur n r at e
d own.T he pro blems  ari se  w h enthere's to o much  g ro wthfor  t he jo bs t o  be  all
be  done, or  ev e n ju st  o verseen , by a founde r.  Then they  s tru ggle a n d  start t o
hold the business bac k .

A go odfound er i s alwaysbelookin g f o r peop le who  are_b ett e r _ tha n th eyar e
to handt h ing s ove rto.That'show a business suc c eed s.

~~~
louis cha trio t Ab sol u te l y.It ' s c r u cial for a foun der to beab l eto take as tep  b ack and 
thinkstrat e gically . Being a lways und er  wat e r  an d completi ng taskafter tas k 
prev e nt s you  fr om see in g t he bi g pict u reand t akingth e bigdecis io ns.

--- ---
davidw
If you're in terest ed in  th is kind o f t h ing , SherryandRob Wallin g h ave  been 
do i ng anice po dca s t her e: [ h ttp://zen f ou nde r . co m/](http:// z e n fou nder. com / )

Hig hlyrecommended, alth o ugh I hope tha t so o n erorl ater  t hey'll add a
t ran sc r i pt.

--- -- -
thomas
 decided_to publish_it
(and programmatically keep it_updated so_it's_always right_-_spreadsheets are
tiresome to_maintain!)

 

The Hidden_Co-Founder - remyt
http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/05/the-hidden-co-founder/

======
rifung
It's fascinating_that some founders_will_always post things like this, "I
don’t think true work/life balance is possible in the_day-to-day_reality of
startups"_and_yet_others say that there's really_no need to sacrifice work
life_balance even_at a start up, and that if you_are_working yourself to
death,_you aren't working smart.

I suppose there's not necessarily a_right answer.

~~~
onion2k
People who say it isn't_possible to maintain_a_work/life_balance in a startup
are_usually those who find it hard_to delegate - they don't have_people around
them that they trust to do_as good a job of something_as they do themselves so
they_refuse to_hand responsibility to other people_or accept that_they aren't
the_best person for_the job.

In a small startup that's_fine because there_aren't that many things to do._A
founder__can_ be the_developer,_support,_strategist, and_marketer all at_once.
Arguably_it's even_a_good thing at that stage because_it_keeps the burn rate
down. The problems arise_when there's too much_growth_for the jobs to_be all
be done, or even_just overseen, by a founder. Then_they struggle_and start_to
hold the business back.

A good founder is always be looking for_people who are _better_ than they_are
to hand things over_to. That's_how_a business succeeds.

~~~
louischatriot
Absolutely._It's_crucial for_a founder to be able to take_a step_back and
think strategically. Being always under_water and completing task_after_task
prevents you from seeing the big_picture and taking the big decisions.

------
davidw
If_you're interested in this kind_of_thing,_Sherry and Rob Walling have_been
doing a nice podcast here: [http://zenfounder.com/](http://zenfounder.com/)

Highly_recommended, although I_hope that sooner or later they'll add_a
transcript.

------
thomas