What boundaries help founders balance work and personal life?

Sam Parr

Co-Founder · Hampton

Unwilling to sacrifice family time

Sam Parr says he and his co-founder agreed they were unwilling to sacrifice family time, so he may skip a team retreat to be with his kids.

Shane Barker

Owner · Tracefuse

Delegate all non‑essential tasks

Shane Barker says he delegates non-essential tasks and does only what only he can do, like being a dad or husband, while delegating things such as mowing the lawn.

Maya Vander

Founder · The Maya Vander Group

Delegate to associates

Maya Vander says she tries to delegate business to her associates so they can attend clients she cannot always be present for, as part of balancing work and family.

The answer starts at 13:21.

David Sudolsky

Founder and CEO · Boldr

Saying no to social outings

David Sudolsky says he says no more to hanging out with friends, grabbing beers and weekend excursions because his priorities are his kids, family, business and health.

The answer starts at 35:54.

Philip Su

Founder and CEO · Superphonic

Moved family to California

Philip Su says he moved his family to California when work was going to be nuts and treated it like a big trip, which made it all right; he could see them for 14 minutes before sleep.

Dan Martell

Founder & CEO · Martell Ventures

Schedule date nights and friend time

Dan Martell says he schedules date night when he hasn't had one this week and fixes it when he hasn't seen friends in a while, because his "love score" might be low.

David Ko

CEO and Board Member · Calm

Phone‑free dinner and weekends

David Ko says he focuses on not bringing his phone to dinner with his wife and tries to make his weekends phone-free, because he was doing emails at dinner and noticed his attention span dropping.

Steven Walchek

Founder and CEO · Liminal

Immutable family time (stop work at 5, kids bedtime at 8)

Steven Walchek says he keeps family time immutable—finish work at 5, put kids to bed at 8, spend time with his spouse—and tells entrepreneurs to make part of the day immutable because you never get those years back.

Jean-Denis Greze

CEO & Mayor · Town

Friday 6 pm to Sunday 9 am weekend off

Jean-Denis Greze says he time-boxes Friday 6 p.m. to Sunday 9 a.m., not working most weekends, so that he can be fully present.

AW

Anne Wojcicki

Co-Founder and CEO · 23andme

Be home at a reasonable time

Anne Wojcicki says she makes being home at a reasonable time her primary rule, because she believes leaders should honor work-life balance and let people support their families.