Is it hard to be a founder?

There are a few distinct stages of being a founder that I’d like to highlight. The first stage is when you’re starting a project from scratch, with nothing in place yet. I think this is the most romantic phase—there are no obligations to employees or investors, just pure creativity and the excitement of building something from the ground up. Then comes the stage when you have a product and start making your first sales. This phase can feel like being "on" 24/7. You’re heavily involved in every part of the business, dealing with unpolished processes, bugs, and unexpected crises. I’ve experienced those moments when your co-founder calls you at 5 a.m. because something critical broke and they need help fixing it. Over time, as the product stabilizes, processes become smoother, and you have a support team to handle issues, you enter the next stage. Here, the challenges shift to responsibility: paying salaries consistently for the team over the next few months and being accountable to investors, making sure their money is managed wisely. Another factor that comes into play is alternative cost. When you face setbacks or stagnation, it’s natural to wonder what you could have accomplished in a more stable job. But few things compare to the joy of receiving a message from someone saying your product has changed their life. That moment makes all the sacrifices worth it. Oh, and there’s a joke I once heard comparing being a founder to being a prisoner: # Prison: 1 hour of outdoor time daily. Family visits once per week. Surrounded by peers 24/7. $2/hour wage. Can exit early with supervised release. Free lunch. # Startup Founder: No outdoor time. Never sees family. Works alone 24/7. $0 income. May take 10+ years to exit. Pays for their own lunch.

It's definitely not easy. 😅

It's definitely a rollercoaster with distinct phases. Early days are exhilarating but chaotic - late nights putting out fires, doing everything yourself. Then the grind of growing the biz, feeling that weight of responsibility for employees and investors. Questioning if it's all worth it. But those moments when a customer says you changed their life - nothing beats that. Startup life ain't prison but it sure ain't easy! Long hours, no pay, delayed gratification. You gotta love the journey to stick it out. I respect all the founders out there making it happen.

Definitely hard, especially in the early stages. Building something from scratch, doing sales, support, and everything else yourself is a 24/7 grind. You sacrifice a lot - family time, income, stability. But pushing through those tough times and hearing how your product impacts people makes it all worth it in the end. Oh and I love that founder vs prisoner joke - too real! 😂 The lack of outdoor time hits home. But hey, at least we get to choose what we have for lunch, even if we're paying for it ourselves!