It Takes a Village: Lessons from Parenting That Apply to Raising a Startup

Key Takeaways (Up Front):

• Parenthood and entrepreneurship share the need for community support.
• Persistence and patience are crucial in both raising kids and building a startup.
• Small wins accumulate into long-term success.
• Surrounding yourself with the right people accelerates growth.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Anyone who’s ever navigated sleepless nights, potty training disasters, and first-day-of-school jitters knows this is true. But as I’ve learned building Bottimals it also takes a village to raise a startup.

When I launched Bottimals, I quickly realized that no entrepreneur is an island. Just like parenthood, growing a business requires patience, guidance, and a network of support.

1. Asking for Help Is Strength, Not Weakness

When my toddler refused to use the potty—or refused bottles—helpful tips from friends, family, and other parents saved the day. Similarly, in business, mentors, advisors, and fellow founders provide invaluable perspective that accelerates growth and prevents costly mistakes. Learn more about tips on how to connect with local advisors, mentors and fellow entrepreneurs.

2. Small Wins Lead to Big Victories

In parenting, every diaper change, every successful potty session, every sip from a bottle feels like a mini triumph. In startups, the same principle applies. Each small milestone—whether it’s your first sale, your first social media feature, or your first product review—matters. Celebrate it. Learn from it. Keep moving. Check out our Bottimals success stories for real-life examples.

3. Community Is Everything

Just as children thrive in communities, startups thrive when surrounded by supportive people. From family who cheer you on, to customers who share feedback, to local businesses who collaborate, every relationship contributes to growth. Partnering with the media and small businesses has been crucial for Bottimals’ development.

4. Persistence Pays Off

Parenting teaches you that progress is rarely linear. One day your child masters something new, the next day they regress. Building a startup feels the same. There will be setbacks. There will be disappointments. But persistence, resilience, and creativity keep the journey moving forward.

5. The Village Grows With You

The beauty of both parenthood and entrepreneurship is that the village evolves. You learn to give back, mentor others, and eventually support the next generation—whether it’s children or fellow startup founders.

Raising a child is the ultimate lesson in patience, empathy, and community. Raising a startup is no different. At Bottimals, we’ve learned that success doesn’t happen alone. It happens with a village—and that’s the secret to creating something meaningful that lasts.