My grandfather started his business in 1930, at a time in which you had to make a conscience choice between being a “family man” and an “entrepreneur”. Starting a business back then meant long hours on the road and at the office, often at the cost of spending time with your family. And it often seemed ironic that you had to spend your life trying to make a great life for your family, while virtually not being a part of the actual family unit.
Well, all that’s changed today. With the advent of modern technology, you no longer have to choose between work and family. Now you can blend both of them together, and have the best of both worlds.

Learning to multi-task

The key to working and playing simultaneously is the virtue known as “multi-tasking” – the ability to perform two tasks at once. Here’s how the process works. In any given activity, there are periods of action and inaction. For example, if you go to the grocery store, you spend a given amount of time driving there, actively putting things in your basket, and standing in line to pay. During the two parts of that activity that do not require a lot of thought – driving and standing in line – you can do a second activity, such as talking on the cell phone. So the key to multi-tasking is trying to remove all unproductive time from every activity, and replacing it with a productive use.

Technology is the key

New technology has allowed an unprecedented amount of multi-tasking. When you are in public and in an unproductive activity, you can replace it with using your cell phone. Calling a client while in line at the grocery store is much more profitable – and enjoyable – than just waiting in line. The same with your drive time. The cell phone has made almost activity a potential candidate for valuable business time.
And don’t forget the laptop computer. You can now email customers and write business letters while doing such mundane tasks as waiting at the airport and watching your kid’s soccer game. I take my laptop to my daughter’s volleyball tournaments, and get in almost 5 hours of work in a single tournament. This would have been impossible a few years ago.
Another development has been “virtual assistants”. These people can accelerate such unpleasant activities as typing lengthy documents by doing so at ridiculously low wage rates – I pay $2.50 per hour to someone in the Philippines. To write letters, I dictate them while driving into a digital recorder, and then email the recording to the Philippines, where I promptly receive the typed item back in Microsoft Word for me to edit.

Being there is half the battle

Because of the new technology, you can now office out of your house or car with a freedom that allows you to participate in all family activities. You do not have to be a slave to an office. Instead, you can bring the office with you wherever you may go. Family wants to watch a DVD from RedBox? No problem. Just having you in the room is the important thing – your typing on the laptop is inconsequential.
When you ask kids about their parents’ involvement, it almost always revolves around attending their events, whether it’s a theater performance or a football game. Now you can never miss an event and still be building your business.

And don’t forget the benefits to your family

Not only is your family having you around, but you are converting that family time into financial independence for them. The big beneficiary of any start-up business is your family and heirs. Not only are you building something of value, you even teach them important skills while engaged in the process. Indeed, successful multi-tasking is probably going to be the most important skill of the next generation.
Which do you think most kids or spouse would rather have? A parent who lounges around on the couch, or one who puts their time to productive use?

Conclusion

There is no reason why you cannot successfully start a business while spending significant time with your family. The key is proper time management and taking full advantage of modern technology.
Entrepreneurs have never had it so good.