As I recently noted, one of my roles is working for a startup in Dallas focused on internet dating. The site is ready to go live in the next couple of days, and there are just tons of things to clear up before we launch. Even though my responsibility is for marketing the site, and most of my action will occur once the site is live, there’s a lot for everyone to do. I could work at home right now, but since everyone else is putting in 12 hours at the office I’m trying to do the same. It’s a bit of a sacrifice with two kids at home. However, it’s worth it to show commitment since I’m the new guy on the team.
The hard part of the sacrifice came tonight in the form of a phone call. It was my daughter right before she went to bed.
As I answered the phone I heard a gentle “Hello” in the sweet innocent voice that only a child can make.
Then she said:
I miss you Daddy
I love you Daddy
Her voice was so beautiful to hear that it just broke my heart to still be at the office.
Startups are hard. Having a family is hard. Putting the two together is that much more challenging.
After a few moments, I started to think about friends that are consultants. They spend most of the week in nondescript hotels far away from their family. At least I get to go home and see my sleeping daughter and son before I go to bed, and see them in the morning before I go to work. They are a big part of the reason that I want to do something like this that matters in the first place.
We’re pushing for a release in just a few days, and then I’m pretty sure that I’ll be working even harder. It’s little moments like that that make it both hard and possible. I’m sure that little voice will be quite inspiring to me in the morning and in future days.
Tags: Dallas, internet dating
