> I'd like to point out that unlike Calacanis I don't feel comfortable suggesting to people what they can and can't do as I believe it all really depends on the individual and the context in which they're operating.
That's a key insight right there, most people will go around and tell others what they can not do based on the experience of what they themselves can or can't do, and then they automatically extrapolate to the rest of the world. The reverse also holds true.
Whatever works for you is something you will only know by trying and doing, nobody can tell you what you can or can not do.
> Taking the kids to the gym is probably where I gain the most leverage of the day because it's a kill three birds with one stone, triple-jump move.
Very clever!
> Also, you know all the time that most employees and on-site contractors spend in meetings or other such unproductive organizational activities, well I engage in none of that.
Haha, score one for all the guys and girls that work from home. I try to avoid meetings like the plague, though I do have an 'office' in an IRC chat running. It's where I gather with everybody that I work with and where you can dump questions or have a few minutes of 'watercooler' talk.
> Another thing is that we keep our expenses pretty low and don't tend not to live very extravagantly.
Another winning quote. People that freelance sometimes fall in to the trap of adjusting their lifestyle upwards when the money is coming in quickly, but can't scale back when it does not. The safe approach is to stay low to the ground and be frugal all the time.
Once your saving account is nice and fat and you've been consistently performing at a certain level you could consider raising your monthly allowance (a bit!), if you feel the need to do so. For myself, I keep our personal expenses to an absolute minimum.
> Another circumstance that allows me to pursue a startup is that my wife and I have figured out a very clear division of labor and separation of concerns.
Clarity and openness are another key element in both a relationship and running a business. Having things clear is going to make sure there are no underwater time-bombs too.
What a super article, bookmarked and I'll re-read it again in a couple of days, lots of it applies to my situation directly and I'll try to get as much mileage from it as I can squeeze out of there.
One key insight that is not spelled out here is that you seem to be living a very regular life, and I suspect that that structure helps you to optimize what you get out of a day.
Thank you very much for writing this all up, (you even found time for that!), it is certainly inspiring.
That's a key insight right there, most people will go around and tell others what they can not do based on the experience of what they themselves can or can't do, and then they automatically extrapolate to the rest of the world. The reverse also holds true.
Whatever works for you is something you will only know by trying and doing, nobody can tell you what you can or can not do.
> Taking the kids to the gym is probably where I gain the most leverage of the day because it's a kill three birds with one stone, triple-jump move.
Very clever!
> Also, you know all the time that most employees and on-site contractors spend in meetings or other such unproductive organizational activities, well I engage in none of that.
Haha, score one for all the guys and girls that work from home. I try to avoid meetings like the plague, though I do have an 'office' in an IRC chat running. It's where I gather with everybody that I work with and where you can dump questions or have a few minutes of 'watercooler' talk.
> Another thing is that we keep our expenses pretty low and don't tend not to live very extravagantly.
Another winning quote. People that freelance sometimes fall in to the trap of adjusting their lifestyle upwards when the money is coming in quickly, but can't scale back when it does not. The safe approach is to stay low to the ground and be frugal all the time.
Once your saving account is nice and fat and you've been consistently performing at a certain level you could consider raising your monthly allowance (a bit!), if you feel the need to do so. For myself, I keep our personal expenses to an absolute minimum.
> Another circumstance that allows me to pursue a startup is that my wife and I have figured out a very clear division of labor and separation of concerns.
Clarity and openness are another key element in both a relationship and running a business. Having things clear is going to make sure there are no underwater time-bombs too.
What a super article, bookmarked and I'll re-read it again in a couple of days, lots of it applies to my situation directly and I'll try to get as much mileage from it as I can squeeze out of there.
One key insight that is not spelled out here is that you seem to be living a very regular life, and I suspect that that structure helps you to optimize what you get out of a day.
Thank you very much for writing this all up, (you even found time for that!), it is certainly inspiring.