On the downside, a startup can only make you go broke, while a baby could turn into a serial killer and make you miserable for your entire life. On the upside, a startup can give you money and experience and set you up financially for life. A good kid is another human being that is part of your life's journey, which beats the physical and emotional peaks of being a huge startup success. Having a kid is a very average and pedestrian thing to do, while having a startup is more of a stand-out, brave thing to do.
I don't know -- looks like a close call. How about marry a girl with money who won't mind raising the kids by herself while you're out pulling all nighters on the startup? By the time the kid gets old enough to do stuff with you will have beat the growing pains out of your startup anyway.
In all seriousness, doing a startup is an act of ego and ambition. Having a kid is an act of love and selflessness. The motivations, time span, and payoff is so different, I don't think they're comparable.
At your startup you may have to clean up some sh!t, but with a baby you will be literally cleaning up sh!t.
However, finding a girl with money with money who won't mind raising the kids by herself while you are out? Just a moment here...where exactly do you plan on finding such a girl? I think a lot of guys would like to find her, startup or not!
Thanks for the well thought out comments. Of course things are very different. It is just funny to call a friend and he talks about his kid and I talk about my business.
You should try having this same conversation with your wife. :)
As hard as startups are, I think kids are harder. Maybe that's why people talk about their kids so much. Biological units are just more difficult to program and debug ;)
I don't know -- looks like a close call. How about marry a girl with money who won't mind raising the kids by herself while you're out pulling all nighters on the startup? By the time the kid gets old enough to do stuff with you will have beat the growing pains out of your startup anyway.
In all seriousness, doing a startup is an act of ego and ambition. Having a kid is an act of love and selflessness. The motivations, time span, and payoff is so different, I don't think they're comparable.