Hustle Hard, Hug Harder: The Business of Being a Dad

I have three children—well, I guess four if you count my first-born, Vinnie, whom we rescued when I was in vet school. Two are my sons, a 3-year-old and a 10-month-old, both of whom keep me moving and will soon be able to overpower me in a wrestling match. The other is my business, Omnivet, a start-up that demands just as much attention, patience, and late-night troubleshooting. 

The thing about all of them? They need me. And I only have so much of myself to give. 

Between 5:30 AM and 9:30 PM, my two worlds collide—emails, meetings, payroll, HR, and clinical work stacked up against daycare drop-offs, potty training, daycare germs, tantrums, and bedtimes. My situation is particularly unique because I am not only a business owner but also a full-time practicing veterinarian—each of which is a full-time job on its own. And let’s not forget my wife, who has been carrying so much over the past few months. 

It’s been hard for me to reach a point in my life where I can admit to myself that it’s impossible to be a perfect father. It’s also impossible to build a perfect business. 

But here’s what I’ve learned about trying to do both: 

1. High Risks and High Rewards… Hopefully 

Starting a business is always a risk—especially a veterinary urgent care hospital. The model is still new and hasn’t been tested over a prolonged period. Will it hold up during an impending economic downturn? Will it be sustainable in Northern Michigan’s intensely seasonal population trends? VCA has recently closed several of its urgent care veterinary hospitals around the country—should I be worried? These are all questions I continue to ask myself during this start-up process. 

Just like starting a family, you’re never going to have enough money in your bank account to feel completely ready. What I’ve realized is that if you wait for all the factors and conditions to be in your favor, you’ll be waiting forever. At some point, you just have to go for it. Make the move. Open the hospital. 

Doing it when you already have a family? That risk feels heavier, and the workload is so much more. If you can, take the leap before the sleepless nights hit. But if you’re already in deep (like I was), just know that it’s still possible—you’ll just need to be strategic about how you spend your time. It’s going to be miserable for a while, but without the pain, we can’t appreciate the good that comes with business ownership. 

2. Build the Right Team 

I’m a veterinarian, but I’m also a business owner. I can’t do it all myself. Without a reliable team, I’d be physically present at home but mentally stuck at work, running through a to-do list I’ll never finish. If you don’t trust your team enough to step away, you’ll never actually step away. 

The biggest advice I have for any new veterinary business owner? Hire a competent practice manager. It’s a worthwhile investment because, at this point in your life, your time is money. 

3. Find a Support System 

Single parenting a start-up is brutal—just like single parenting a child would be. 

This is still a work in progress for me, to be honest. I was never trained on how to be a business owner or a father. Apart from getting a business degree, these two areas of life are often learned from our elders. I’ve been able to find a few peer dad mentors, but the business mentor wanted-ad is still posted. 

Both aspects of my life leave me in the unknown. "How do you hire correctly for the seasonality that our area brings?" "What do you do when your child refuses to be potty trained?" "How do you respond to a negative Google review?" These are just a few of the questions that come up daily. 

4. Optimize Every Minute 

Time is my most valuable resource. I used to have more of it—I’d get in long rowing sessions on my Hydrow or do yoga after work. Now? I’m lucky if I can get through a 5-minute corpse pose without my 3-year-old launching himself off the couch onto my stomach. 

After eight months in business, I’m finally lifting my head above water and looking for things to grab onto to pull myself out of the current. Self-care has taken a hit, but optimizing my time as both a veterinarian and a business owner is essential. Leveraging staff in the clinical setting, delegating administrative tasks, and creating checklists have been lifesavers. 

As a business owner, you’re constantly being interrupted, fighting fires, and struggling to return to unfinished tasks. One minute, you’re working on QuickBooks. The next, an employee knocks on your door because the dryer isn’t working. After playing appliance repairman for 30 minutes, you have to sit back down and pick up where you left off. 

That’s where a good old-fashioned handwritten to-do list is your best friend. It’s right in your face, not minimized on a desktop. No wonder our moms had those lists all over the kitchen counter when we were kids. 

5. Quality vs. Quantity 

As a new business owner, I’ve realized that time spent with my sons is more about quality than quantity. I may not be able to go on a two-hour park playdate or spend an entire afternoon outside in the snow, but those 20–30 minutes at the end of the day? That’s what matters most. 

Take the time to snuggle in bed and talk about their day. Make bath time last 10 extra minutes and turn it into something magical. Spend weekends making breakfast together, letting them help with household tasks and turning chores into play. 

6. Remember Why You Started 

A lot of people start businesses to have more control over their lives. Me included. But if you’re not careful, your business can end up controlling you instead. 

I don’t want to be a dad who only sees his kids in passing. I want to be there for their baseball games and family vacations. So, when it comes down to it, I choose family. That choice might mean putting my head down and working hard now to set up the practice for success later. 

A start-up business is just like a child. It requires constant attention in the beginning. You sacrifice sleep, operate in survival mode, fight fires, and do whatever it takes to keep things afloat. Then, before you know it, the business lifts its head, rolls over, and smiles. Just as you start to feel comfortable, though, it hits a sleep regression—your initial business model needs to pivot to adapt to Northern Michigan’s changing seasonal market. 

Then, the business starts crawling, and you don’t have to be there for every move. I’m excited for Omnivet to start walking and running. I know there will be falls along the way, but that’s exactly how you learn life’s lessons. 

7. Lessons Learned 

If you can’t tell, I’m still trying to figure out how to be both a dad and a business owner. I know I have a lot to learn, and I don’t have all the answers—I doubt I ever will. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that trying to be perfect in either role is a losing battle that only leads to burnout. Instead, I’m focusing on being present and giving my best with what I have to give. I remind myself that this stage—both in business and in fatherhood—is temporary. Omnivet isn’t walking yet, but it will. My sons aren’t grown yet, but they will be. 

Raising kids and starting a business is messy and exhausting, but there are moments—like when my son asks to be carried up to bed or when a client thanks me for being there for them and their pet in a time of need—that remind me why I’m doing this. And in the end, that’s what really matters.