Managing relationships and business

"Is it best to build a company first then relationships later?" I don't like this mindset. Because it subtly implies that it's a binary choice, and must require sacrifice or delay of one.

"How do u guys manage the ups and downs of relationships and business.'

Here's some of my tips:

1. Diet. I make sure not to consume refined sugar, dairy, sodium, and refined grains whenever possible. I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, etc. I also make sure to drink lots of water.

2. Exercise. I work out 1-2 hours a day, 5-days a week of intense cardio and light/medium strength training. Before getting to this point, I use to workout 4-5 hours a day 6-days a week for about 2-years. This includes stretching.

3. Sleep. I sleep 4-5 hours a day, maybe 6-hours if I'm really tired. Before diet and exercise, I use to sleep 10-hours a day and still felt tired. For winter, I use a light box that creates light on the same wavelength as the sun. This really helps my mood.

4. Having allocated amount of time dedicated to working during the next week or month. Then write down your justification, revisit the next day and see if it's still worth it. Usually, I spend 10-20 hours tops on business. Cause I have a new business starting, I'm spending 30-40 hours a week.

5. Not talking about business unless it's with my peers, and in a business related setting; i.e. having lunch at a business conference with peers, or here. If I'm having dinner with friends, and I'm asked what I do by someone who's new to the group, I keep it short and to the point, then redirect to another topic. I don't want to talk about work after work in most cases.

6. Never try to be in two places at once. If I made a promise to a person I'd be somewhere, that's where I'll be. The only justification for changing plans, in my mind, would be cause of a last minute VC pitch. Even then it wouldn't become habitual.

7. Never mix business with family or friends. It's all fun until something bad happens, and then you have to go into serious business mode. I've seen this happen, and it never ends well. It sure does make those family holiday dinners awkward though.

8. Don't allow your significant other, friends, or family to dictate your working hours cause you run a business from your computer. I've had on more than one occasion someone say, "Yeah, but you're lucky! You can adjust your schedule cause you own your own business. I don't have a business, and have to work." I immediately deal with those comments in the most direct way possible.

Points 1 through 3 help with 90% of the problems I faced when it came to time, energy, and reducing stress. 5 through 8 helped me with alleviating most of the stress from family, friends, and my significant other cause it set clear boundaries. Most of 5 through 8 tends to make you feel guilty for owning a business. Over the years, I don't feel that anymore.

I hope this helps.

I don't know if this is the exact situation you're in, but I wrote a Quora answer to this kind of question a while back that I think might be useful/helpful to you and others here:

https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-choose-between-my-girlfriend-and-my-startup-I-spend-every-night-with-her-and-Im-neglecting-my-startup-How-do-I-get-out-of-this-rut

Best of luck!

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