As anyone who knows me can attest, I’m obsessed with entrepreneurship and startups. It’s woven into the fabric of who I am—the insatiable need to solve problems, the anytime anywhere brainstorming sessions on a new startup idea, the adrenaline-fueled pitches, and the audacious dreams. But just over a year ago, life handed me a new venture—one that didn’t come with a pitch deck or a growth strategy. It was fatherhood.
My son arrived, all squishy cheeks, rather hairy but a happy wide-eyed wonder, and very quickly became the biggest part of me. But let’s be honest—fatherhood isn’t a smooth ride. It’s more like a roller coaster with unexpected twists, sleepless nights (a lot of them), and a dash of chaos. And during that whirlwind first year, I couldn’t help but notice the uncanny parallels between being a startup founder and being a dad.
I jokingly shared these insights with my wife and friends—the startup methodologies, the mindset, the thinking that had shaped my entrepreneurial journey and how it was affecting the way I approach parenting —-and that’s how this article was born. Buckle up fellow founders and sleep-deprived parents for a playful exploration of how startup principles have not only influenced my business ventures but also made me a better dad. We’re about to revisit the wild ride that is the first year of being a founder and a father one diaper change at a time.
Let’s rewind to that pivotal moment—No!! not when my son was conceived, but when my wife discovered she was pregnant. Like most days I’m gearing up for a virtual meeting in my home office, PowerPoint slides open, coffee steaming, notepad at the ready. And then, a knock on the door—a gentle interruption that would alter the course of our lives.
My wife leans in, holding what I initially assume is a COVID-19 test (we’d just weathered a bout of the virus, so I’m not that much of an idiot!!!). “It’s positive.” As I swivel on my chair to face her I think ‘Ahh not again’…. Suddenly the truth dawns on me. I regain my composure, quickly celebrate this wonderful terrifying news, and make sure to reassure my wife. After all, we’re in this together (while inside I quietly try to calm the whirlwind in my mind).
And then, the questions flood in. “Are we ready? Am I ready? Am I good enough for this monumental responsibility?” Funny, because I’ve had these thoughts before— those universal doubts that plague both startup founders and expectant parents.
Imposter syndrome: The dad edition
Before my son arrived, I was a bundle of nerves—an imposter in the grand theatre of parenthood. I’d look around at other dads, their confident strides and easy laughter, and wonder, “How, can I do that, Am I good enough?” It’s like startup imposter syndrome, but with diapers and sleepless nights.
I thought about my own dad seeing him and his decisions through a new lens. Suddenly, his late-night worries made sense. How did he keep me alive as a child? I’d survived scraped knees, questionable tree climbs, and that one time I tried to fly (luckily only from the first floor resulting in just a few stitches). Now, I was the one responsible for another life—a tiny, squishy human who depended on me.
The gravity hit hard. I’d obsessively read parenting books, listen to podcasts and whatever content I could get my hands on. Each was a lifeline, a desperate attempt to prepare for the unknown. But there was so much unknown and even more advice both in parenting and the startup world. And here’s the secret: no book can fully prepare you.
Parenting is like a startup—you learn on the job, adapt, and occasionally panic.
And then, in the quiet moments, I found solace. No matter how many parenting blogs I devoured or opposing advice I received, one truth remained: no one would love this child more than me. Not the pediatrician, not even the rabbit from his bedtime story who loves his child to the moon and back (shout out “Guess how much I love you” still makes me tear up, lol). It was a fierce, primal love—the kind that defied logic and overcame the imposter syndrome.
So for those first few weeks I embraced the chaos. I rocked him to sleep, sang off-key lullabies, and googled “baby poop colours” at 3 a.m. (because apparently, that’s a thing). And in those bleary-eyed moments, I realized that maybe, just maybe I was ready. Not because I had all the answers, but because I had love to spare.
And so, I stepped into fatherhood, imposter syndrome and all. But oddly enough, it felt eerily similar to another pivotal moment—an entrepreneur’s rite of passage. I remember clearly: a networking event where I stood slightly overdressed, nerves fluttering. I was there to represent the startup I had just founded. As I approached a group of people, the room buzzed with conversation—in French. My French, unfortunately, was far from fluent. Still, I pushed through, introducing myself with a smile and what I hoped was a façade of confidence. But when I uttered the words “CEO” and “Founder,” they felt hollow. What was I CEO of? An idea? Not even a fully formed company yet. Saying it aloud to strangers seemed dishonest, like I was trying to be someone I was not.
In both fatherhood and entrepreneurship, the weight of responsibility settles on your shoulders. The fear of being unmasked—the nagging thought that perhaps you’re not enough—lingers. But sometimes, life chooses our roles for us, even when we doubt ourselves. And the truth is you will never be ready… the market will never be perfect… you will never have enough savings and you will always feel like you are not quite good enough. But as i said in both parenting and startups you learn by doing… no book can teach you how to be a founder or a father. You become one.
To borrow a quote from Brain Scridato “the magic happens once you start” so, with love and determination, I navigated both paths—one diaper change at a time, the other pitch deck in hand.
So for any aspiring entrepreneur reading, or father for that matter, my advice would be to “just do it” (I’m pretty sure I wont be done for copyright infringement from the shoe company that will not be named, right?).
Thanks for reading and hope you will join me for part two as we continue the journey.