Does your indie hacking dream include a balanced life?
I want to succeed as an entrepreneur because I'm very goal-oriented, and chipping away day by day feels good to me. At the same time, I get so much meaning and satisfaction out of time with my husband and children. And kids grow up so fast!
I think it's a challenge every day to find time for all of the things that matter. And, of course, I don't do a perfect job. But it's something that I'm always thinking about.
How are you doing in terms of balance? Do you feel like you're having to sacrifice time and relationships now in order to increase the chances of success later?
PS. There's no judgement here! I know everyone is doing their best with the tools and experiences that they have. So if your answer isn't "Yep, I've got this balance thing nailed!", don't be afraid to answer. I think all viewpoints deserve consideration.
I have 5 kids and a beautiful wife and I will say that amount of time I have had to sacrifice in order to develop success has been far beyond the average human's capabilities to sacrifice. However, my sacrifice has been nowhere near as measurable as my wife's patience and ability to cope with having a husband who chases dreams.
I will say, balance is hard to find, it takes years of doing it. I have quarters where I do nothing but work 18 hours a day, then I have years where I take off and enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Over time, you have to find a balance that is acceptable to you and your partner and it likely won't look normal to anyone else around you, and that's just something that you have to be comfortable with.
If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth it, that's our motto.
I agree, it takes time and patience and a willingness to figure out your own way! Thanks for sharing!
I'm doing okay. I'm currently working full-time and hacking and writing on the side. It isn't a lot to balance by itself, but when I add family, gym, golf, friends, it's a lot. I sometimes forget that "my work" isn't the only thing I want to do. But I do feel like I sacrifice sleep to hopefully get the life I want in the future.
I use this thing called a "Default Week." It's like if every week I had enough time for everything I wanted to do, this is what my week would look like. Then, I try to follow that as best I can. Sometimes that helps balance, but it also helps when I'm "wasting" time and should be doing something else, I look at that to see what area of my life I should be focusing on.
My biggest problem is when I think of a feature or am down a research rabbit hole, I can't think of anything else. That's when it becomes really difficult.
Being singleminded can be a huge advantage, but, of course, the downside is there, too: losing sight of everything else going on around you!
I like your idea of a Default Week!
I think it really depends on the person. Some prefer having a work/life balance that leans more towards work, and others- towards life. I would like to keep things somewhere down to middle.
In my experience, it's a lot about sacrifice- some weeks, you sacrifice your work in order to socialise more, and others- social life takes a back seat.
You're right, it is always about sacrificing one thing to gain something else. I know some people are completely driven by accomplishments at work, some by time with their children. It really is down to the individual.
I definitely want a balanced life and I also want to help the world :) But when I speak with the WBE members most of them tell me that they want to have more financial independence.