People often see their work and personal lives as separate entities that shouldn’t mix. Especially in the intense culture of startups, understandably people prefer to draw a distinct line of separation between work and personal life. But since founding Patchwork Health over 7 years ago, I’ve found the opposite can also be true.
My personal life has definitely influenced my role as a founder in some really positive ways. This increased tenfold when I had my daughter in 2021. Becoming a father has taught me more lessons than it’s possible to count – but most surprisingly, it’s helped me as a founder, as well as a dad. Here are some of the most important findings I’ve learned along the way.
Working more mindfully
Before I had a child, it was difficult to fully switch off from my role as a founder – it was on my mind all of the time, and I was available to work or respond to my messages and emails whenever I was needed. Since my daughter Luna was born, this has definitely changed. My commitment to Patchwork remains unwavering, and I get the same amount of work done at the end of each day, but I’m much more mindful about how I structure my time.
Now, I set aside core times when I stop working and can spend uninterrupted time with my family. Most evenings, this means that between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm my phone goes away and I’m able to fully switch off from work to be with my daughter. Once she’s in bed, I can then hop back online and continue working if needed. Dividing up my time and being more mindful about switching off during those non-work moments means I’m able to spend valuable time with my daughter while still providing our teams at Patchwork with the level of input and support they need from me.
I’ve found the switch to a more mindful work week has transformed how I approach my day-to-day tasks as a founder. Before, I would sometimes experience feelings of burnout due to difficulty switching off. But setting aside regular, protected time to spend with my family gives me more breathing space and means that I’m even more laser-focused when I do swap back to work mode.
Learning to lean on other people when needed
Becoming a parent is definitely a balancing act, and having to juggle this brand-new aspect of my life alongside my work has at times been difficult. But one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt from parenthood is that it’s vital to be able to share responsibility when needed, and have a strong support system to help you in the more challenging moments.
As a founder, it can sometimes be hard to let go of control of certain aspects of your startup. However, knowing when and where to delegate can help you to maintain a well-oiled machine, while protecting your own time and wellbeing. Trying to do everything at once – especially if you’re also juggling parental responsibilities – is a recipe for disaster. It’s essential to know when and where to let go of the reins and delegate to the right people on your team.
In my case, this has meant actively recruiting people who are true experts in their field, who I can lean on and trust with certain responsibilities and tasks. For example, whilst I led the product function of the business in the first few years at Patchwork, we’ve since introduced a fantastic Director of Product. Being able to delegate to her and other key members of our team means that I’m able to effectively support and oversee individual functions while carrying out my other responsibilities as founder and balancing these with my role as a dad too. Building a strong, expert and reliable team that enables me to maintain this balance has been absolutely crucial.
Establishing the right operating rhythm
Every parenting book you’ll ever read will tell you that it’s all about finding a good routine for your child. From mealtimes to bedtimes and everything in between, consistency is key. The same can be said for running your own business. You need to strike the right operating rhythm for your startup, to ensure that everything runs effectively and supports you to optimise outcomes.
It’s all about finding what works best for you and your team and establishing this structure early. For example, ensuring that you have open and effective access to the right information, data and people to help you make key decisions at the right time is essential. Just as with parenthood, having a consistent, reliable business structure and routine is vital to helping you and your colleagues balance multiple responsibilities and keep things moving forward effectively.
Having a child has changed my life for the better in so many ways – and impacted my role as a founder in ways I never imagined it would. Fatherhood has taught me that it’s all about balance. Being more mindful about how I structure my work, leaning on others delegating when needed, and creating a clear, consistent operating rhythm are all essential for maintaining balance and setting myself and my team up for success.
