21 Pieces of Startup Advice Every Expecting Founder Should Know

So, you just found out you're going to be a dad. Congratulations! You've probably spent some time celebrating, thinking about all the beautiful moments you're about to enjoy.

At some point, however, you're going to stop and think about how this massive change in your life will affect your business. After all, now you'll have two babies. One of which you're expecting in 9 months, and another you've spent nine years pouring all your blood, sweat, and tears into.

How do you prepare yourself? Well, most of your learnings will be from experience and mistakes, much like running a startup. However, we do have 20 tips to help get you started. It's never too early to get prepared!

Here are 21 pieces of startup advice every expecting founder should know:

Organize (or Reorganize) Your Life

You may already be a very organized entrepreneur by nature, but even so, that new bundle of joy is going to turn your world upside down.

You will incur some unexpected costs, you're going to lose sleep, and you'll a whole host of new things to stress about. It's kind of like trying to run two startups at the same time.

So, to counter the new changes, it's worth looking at your workload to find areas to organize your day better. Whether it's a new project management tool like Asana to manage your tasks, simply cleaning up your calendar, it's worth taking the time to organize your life before the little one arrives.

Every Newborn is Different

You'll inevitably get loads and loads of advice from other parents explaining how to raise your baby based on their experiences. That's part of the expecting parent journey. However, know that every newborn is different. Just because a friend of yours had a baby that never slept doesn't mean you will too.

Even at an early age, your baby's personality will be unique and may require a different parenting strategy than others. Embrace that.

Just like running your company, you'll have a lot of assumptions. The best founders (and parents), however, adapt and change based on what is required. Take the same approach with baby.

It's Okay to Take a Moment in Your Day to Breathe

No matter what you've been through in your entrepreneurial journey, becoming a parent will introduce a whole new set of obstacles and challenges. In a matter of moments, your entire world will change, and that extreme shift will bring a lot of stress and frustration.

As founders, we are so used to always being on the go. We don't like to stop. That being said, you'll have moments where the only thing you can do is stop and breathe. And that is okay.

After a night of no sleep and a crying baby, for example, your energy level for the next day will be low. You may feel more frustrated and smaller issues from your team, or you may find it harder to concentrate. That is normal. Take a few moments to regroup and realign yourself for your team.

It's Okay to Leave the Office Early

In the same respect, it's okay to leave the office early or take a day off. One of the biggest reasons we started a business was to have control of our own time. With a newborn, that idea shifts from fantasy to necessity.

There will be days when you need to take the day off to support your spouse. If you have the little one in the office with you, there will be days you need to leave early. It's easy to feel discouraged or to feel like you are letting your team down in those instances. Instead, consider those a benefit of being a founder. You have the fortunate opportunity to be there for your baby, something many other parents with traditional careers cannot.

Learn How to Hyper-Focus Your Energy

If you are working from home or have baby in the office with you, you'll want to learn how to get as much done as you can in 30-minute chunks. Between feedings, naps, dirty diapers, and general overwatch, it can be difficult to find long pieces of time to get things done.

At times, you may only have 30-45 minutes to knock items off your to-do list. It takes practice and adaptation, but learning how to concentrate your focus and create hyper-productive chunks of time can help you get more stuff done when baby demands so much attention.

Talk Business to Baby

It may sound silly, but a new bundle of joy also means a new human to share your entrepreneurial journey with. Studies show that talking with baby can help with language development.

Plus, as we all know, being a founder can sometimes feel very lonely. Now, you have a new sidekick to brainstorm ideas and problem solve with.

Be Prepared for Your Relationship to Get Tested

As much as your world is about to change, it wil change just as much or more for your partner. Influxes of hormones and body changes can have a physical and mental affect on mama, which is why it's so important to offer your support.

With a new baby, you may not be as productive at work or you may feel like some things with the business are not being accomplished. That stress will add to the struggle you already have as two new parents. Be prepared for your relationship to be tested and look for ways to help give you both support.

Make Time for Your Spouse or Partner

In addition to managing stress, make time for romance in your relationship. It can be easy to let seemingly insignificant things like date night slip out of your mind but making time for your relationship crucial.

It's not only crucial for the two of you, but also for baby and your team. Setting a good example and showing a growth mindset when it comes to strengthening your relationship can help in every aspect of your life. Heck, even taking time to connect with some conversation starters can be beneficial.

Cherish the Small Moments

Life as a founder moves so fast. We are forced to decide in seconds while also trying to think about our businesses ten years down the road. We are taught that time is money and that every wasted moment is wasted revenue and growth for your startup.

Scratch all of that. The moment you hold your bundle of joy for the first time, that hustle mentality will melt away. In such a fast-paced world, it's important to cherish those small moments with baby, because those are the moments you can never get back. Whether it's putting baby down for a nap or feeding them pureed apples for the first time, be present and learn how to hold on to the memories.

Lean on Your Team

Letting go is a hard skill to learn for any founder, but doing so allows your team to grow and take on more responsibility. That autonomy can help create a more sustainable business and can help you be a better leader.

Relying on and trusting your team to finish tasks without will also be a great asset as you enter into parenthood. You will be forced to give up some things in order to give your baby and partner more attention.

Find a Good Podcast or Video Course

Just because you spend more time helping out around the house or with baby, it doesn't mean you can't find ways to make that time productive.

During day feedings, on drives with the little one, or as you put baby down for a nap, there are opportunities to improve yourself as a founder. Find a podcast or video course you can listen to so that you can make that time productive without sacrificing baby time.

Get as Much Sleep as Possible

Yes, we know, this one is obvious. More importantly, however, is creating better sleeping habits. With a newborn, you may not be able to work until 3 am, and you may be exhausted after a long day.

Look for ways to optimize your sleeping habits to adjust to your new lifestyle as a father. It's not always easy, but doing so can help you show up better as a dad founder.

Become an Early Riser

Especially if you are working from home or have the little one with you in the office, you'll find that most of your days and nights are less productive and more sporadic. This does mean that early mornings, before the little one wakes up, may be your best opportunity for deep work.

This may mean you need to adjust your sleeping habits or become an early bird, but adapting to baby will be one of your most important roles as a dad founder.

Support Your Partner

Mama just spent nine months going through the biggest physical change of her life and then had to deal with something so painful, we dads cannot even fathom. On top of that, the days, months, and years to come will require her to adjust her entire lifestyle for baby. So, yes, she needs your support.

Her maternal instincts might kick in, and she will probably be able to things and handle obstacles better than you've ever seen her before, but that's no excuse to offer some help. Actively look for ways you can help her and baby, even if she's not asking for it.

Be Vulnerable with Your Team

As founder and CEO, you may feel the pressure to try and be strong and positive, even when you feel an immense amount of stress at home with a newborn. Yes, you want to be a leader and help guide your team, but it's okay to be vulnerable and to let them know you need some support as well.

In addition, being vulnerable with your team promotes a culture of empathy and understanding and can help your team thrive in times of uncertainty.

Be Honest with Yourself

Your Super Dad instincts might kick in, and you may feel like you'll need to do everything without skipping a beat. But, know your limitations and be honest with yourself when it comes to your workload and capacity.

Working too hard and trying to get too much done without stopping will lead to burnout, making you a less productive leader and a less attentive dad. Be honest with yourself regarding your emotional and mental needs and know when to take a break or ask for help.

Find a Mastermind Group

No other dad founder has all the answers, but it does help if you can find a mastermind group of other founders who can share experiences with.

Sometimes, it helps to talk through issues with others that understand. This can also help you come up with unique solutions to problems.

Are you looking for a DadFounder mastermind group? If you are paid DadFounder member, click below to fill out a survey and tell us what you are looking for. We will try our best to connect you to other founders who are looking for support as well.

Be Careful of “Downtime”

Taking a break is excellent, and we've talked about how having those moments to regroup can make you a better leader and father, but watch out for toxic downtime.

After getting up early, spending an entire day working on your business, coming home to help with baby, even an ounce of downtime can lead to unproductive habits like scrolling through social media or being sucked into mindless TV. Sometimes it's good to have some "do nothing" time, but make sure it doesn't take over your downtime. This can lead to neglect in both your personal life and with your significant other.

Revamp Your Diet

With more to do and less sleep, now is a great time to revamp your diet to maximize your energy levels. It can be easy to stop and get fast or unhealthy food when you don't have the time, so making a concentrated effort to enhance your diet is essential.

For starters, learn how to manage your time when it comes to food. For example, you can meal prep for the entire week Sunday nights. All it takes is a little creativity and a little dedication.

Find Some Self-Care Activities

You need to be there for your new baby. You need to be there for your partner. You need to be there for your team. That's it, right?

Don't forget about yourself. Self-care is an integral part of finding that work/life harmony. Find activities you can do that help fulfill your mental, emotional, and physiological needs. Investing in yourself will ultimately make you a better father, partner, and founder.

You Can't Get More Time

We end with the most obvious. There's nothing more really to say except that you cannot create more time.

As with all of these tips, you'll need to grow and adapt as a founder to ensure you meeting all of your requirements. It's never easy, but the last thing you want is to be 10 years down the road, wishing you would've done things differently.

Some of the best moments of your life are still to come but to maximize those moments, you'll need to learn how to thrive under these new conditions.

Being a DadFounder is not about being perfect. It's about growth and putting your focus and energy in the right spots.

Have more tips for us? Become a DadFounder contributor and share your experiences with our community.