I’ve mentioned Pubble a few times in previous posts. Prior to becoming a SAHD, I worked there for 5 years and loved every minute of it, it was a big part of my life.

So I’ve decided to list a few key lessons I’ve learned from working in a ‘tech startup‘ which are helping me in my current role as a full-time SAHD.

Lesson #1 – Startups are just like children, neither are a ‘9-5’ role

Since becoming a SAHD, I’ve learned this fairly fast! Of course, I knew it theoretically, but only when you are 100% committed to looking after your children full time do you fully get it.

With a start-up, you’ll often find yourself sitting with your laptop in front of you trying to get something done long after your work day has finished. In fact, the only break you’re likely to take is to have your supper & spend some quality time with your kids. Once they’re in bed, the laptop is glued to you again until it’s lights out time.

With kids, picture the above, except swap the laptop for one baby strapped to your chest and the other toddler literally stuck to your leg shouting at you to ‘do the robot again daddy, ... again!‘

Either that or she’s crawling all over my shoulders grabbing me by the neck and trying to remove my Adam's apple via a very primitive form of home-style surgery!

After that - trust me - you’re too tired to go online and your lights will go out while you’re still on the couch with the TV on and the gob open!

Lesson #2 – Do your research:

If you were a researcher for a radio or TV show and you didn’t do your research properly, they’d fire your lazy ass.

OK so bar a horrible divorce with a restraining order, technically you can’t get ‘fired‘ from looking after your children – at least I don’t think you can (stand to be corrected).

In Business Development, you need to do your homework on any industry you are targeting as a potential client. You want sales and they’re not going to just fall into your lap. So when you engage, you need to know about any business you are targeting, you need to have your research done.

But when you become a SAHD, fail to research certain information – for example, finding out info on kids' food, potential allergies, education, activities, having fun with crafts & games to play (etc) – well, you might as well scratch your balls off a grater cause if you don’t, your missus sure as fuck will!

In all seriousness, failure to do this is a major injustice to your children’s development, fun & growth and you don’t want to be that SAHD.

Lesson #3 Scheduling:

At work, it’s so important. When you work in a startup, it’s more so. When you work remotely from your home, it’s doubly important.

You schedule your day – arrange meetings / reply to unanswered emails / make calls for new business / send follow up emails / request PO (purchase order) for new sales / prepare invoices / chase payments / training calls / demo calls / promote events / confirm renewals / update social channels etc.

Your day is structured. You feel the benefit from it. You feel satisfaction. You feel good.

On a personal level, scheduling has always been my Achilles heel, my missus will vouch for that. I get that it’s important – pretty much essential actually – but knowing it & implementing it are two very different things.

That said - since becoming a SAHD - let’s just say I’ve had a change of heart – and not just cause the missus told me to!

So far, I’ve scheduled swimming lessons / ballet classes / baby massage classes / playdates / zoo trips / Grandad visits just to name a few. And now that the summer holidays have just begun, I’ve to get my finger out and schedule some more.

It gives you a clear structure as to what your day looks like. That then allows you to pack / prepare correctly for whatever you have planned. You will also have a better day with your nippers. Like work, you will feel the benefit. You’ll have satisfaction. You will feel great.

Lesson #4 Being aware of the dangers out there for kids using tech today:

‘This feckin internet thingy won’t work, what’s wrong with it?, sure it’ll never catch on‘ says my Dad a few years back.

To be fair to Dad, he has gotten better with tech gadgets - but it'll never be a natural fit for him. It’s a generation thing. It’s what you have been brought up with, what you are (or in his case, are not) used to.

I’m also amazed at the number of people in my age bracket, even mates of ours, that just don’t know how to navigate their phones & the web efficiently. Bar Facebook and WhatsApp, forget about it.

How the hell are you supposed to understand what your children are doing online (or will be doing when they get older)? It’s so important cause they will run rings around you, especially if get a whiff that you haven’t a baldy what they are on about.

Depending on their age, you bet your ass they will be very stupid and naive online (at some stage). It’s so important that we as parents know and understand the different platforms they are using, and know (at the very least) the basics of navigating from A to B on whatever platform they are on.

Online bullying is massive and in the worst-case scenario, can & has led to teenage suicide. If you arm yourself with the knowledge, hopefully, you will smell what’s happening and then act on it.

So know how to search previous sites visited, monitor what times your children are online, if they are using alias names etc. I’m not saying spy on them, but I am saying make yourself aware & understand the basics. You might not have been brought up with it, but they sure as hell are/will be.

Don’t be one of those who say ‘Agh that thing, Jazsus, sure I know nothing about that‘

Lesson #5 Likability:

In sales / biz dev, likability cannot be underestimated. It is crucial. Especially if you are also the account manager. Building & developing relationships (whether on a personal or business level) goes a long way in generating new business.

Basically, likability is great for sales – ‘You don’t just back the horse, you back the jockey’.

The same likability is great when it comes to being a SAHD. It’s great for getting to know other parents who you meet when dropping your kids off at school. It’s great for getting on well with teachers / instructors / GP’s / dentists / sports coaches etc who deal with your children.

It helps you get to know these very important people, it builds trust and trust is what opens doors. That door could be for a playdate and coffee or for a business deal.

Where trust is what opens doors, it’s likability that knocked on the door in the first place.

& so to summarise:

Prior to working with Pubble, I previously worked in the Pensions industry for 10 years and holy shit what a different mindset that industry has VS a startup. They are literally polar opposites.

Working in a tech startup has thought me so much, I genuinely feel privileged to have worked in two such diverse industries.

But ya know what? There are way more similarities between being part of a tech start-up & being a SAHD than I thought.

I get social media, I understand it. I don't always love it but I do understand it. I will keep myself up to date on new platforms and how to use them. And I think it will serve me and my kids well - at least I hope it will.