Balancing Family and Entrepreneurship: My Personal Journey

Today, I want to dive into a topic that's both deeply personal and widely relatable—balancing family life with the demands of entrepreneurship. It's a conversation that I find difficult to articulate, mainly because it touches on conflicting emotions that many entrepreneurs, including myself, grapple with daily. I hope by sharing my thoughts, it will resonate with those of you who have experienced similar struggles.

Welcome back to another instalment in my ongoing journey of running and blogging, which stands at consecutive day 1630. For those new to the community, my mission is about more than just running; it's about saving children's lives through my ultimate ultramarathon of running blogging around the world, barefoot. Your support in the form of subscriptions, shares, likes, and comments directly contributes to this cause by raising more money and thereby saving more lives.

Today's Controversial Question: Is Family an Obstacle to Entrepreneurship?

It's hard for me to say, but sometimes family feels like an obstacle to entrepreneurship. Before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify. My family means the world to me. Everything I do as an entrepreneur is aimed at giving my family a better future and providing my kids with the best start in life. Plus, my larger mission is to save the lives of children through my entrepreneurial efforts.

I consider myself a very systemised and process-focused entrepreneur, and I'm incredibly proud of the structured way I run my businesses. However, business is unpredictable, and challenges arise that demand immediate attention. My struggle stems from the hyper-focused approach I take to solve these issues, a trait often linked to my ADHD. It’s a double-edged sword; while this intense focus enables me to tackle problems proactively, it often means I'm zoning out to everything else around me, including my family.

It's not that my family isn't supportive—in fact, they are incredibly so. But, I find myself shielding them from the chaotic rollercoaster of my entrepreneurial journey. Whether it's pride or a protective instinct, I often mask the difficulties I face in business, thinking I can handle them without adding to their stress. Unfortunately, this has led to a separation between my entrepreneurial life and my family life, limiting open communication when it’s most needed.

The Dilemma of Dual Lives

Often, I feel like I'm living two separate lives. While my family is aware of my entrepreneurial ventures and the occasional emergencies that pull me away during holidays or family time, they aren't privy to the day-to-day struggles and stresses. This divide means that I handle business crises alone, entering a hyper-focused state where everything else, including my family, fades into the background. It’s unfair to them, and recognising this is the first step towards addressing it.

I've always been somewhat polarised in my approach—open and honest about some aspects of life, sometimes to a naive degree, while staunchly closed off about others, especially when facing problems. Ironically, talking has always been my best therapy, but I find myself talking more to this vlog than to individual people when dealing with challenges. This vlog, initially started to raise funds for children, has inadvertently become a powerful outlet for my mental health.

Moving Forward

Entrepreneurs are undoubtedly a rare breed. The journey is filled with exhilarating highs and crushing lows, not for the faint-hearted. Open communication is essential, yet I find myself protecting my family from the economic rollercoaster I’m on. It’s my role within the family, or so I’ve convinced myself, to deal with issues without adding to their stress.

Going forward, I recognise the need for a better balance. I need to ensure my family understands why I sometimes have to hyper-focus and temporarily block everything else out. They deserve to know what’s happening in my entrepreneurial life, both the good and the bad. Having that conversation and fostering mutual understanding will be crucial.

I hope my vulnerability in discussing this complex relationship between family and entrepreneurship resonates with some of you. If you have experienced similar feelings or have advice, I'd love to hear from you. Drop me a line, and let's start a conversation.

Thank you for listening and for your continued support in my mission. Remember, if you believe in saving children's lives through this ultimate ultramarathon of run blogging, please subscribe, share, like, and comment. More visibility means more funds, and more funds mean more children’s lives saved.

Stay positive, stay happy, and I’ll see you again tomorrow.

Kevin Brittain