I don’t have enough time for a startup
When people say, "I don't have enough time to start my startup," what they often mean is, "I don't see how I can fit this into my current life."
It's a reasonable concern, but it’s worth unpacking because the real question isn’t whether you have enough time—it’s whether you’re willing to prioritise the things that matter most.
Let’s start with the obvious: building a startup takes time. Not just time as measured in hours, but time as measured in mental energy, focus, and the willingness to wrestle with uncertainty.
But here’s the secret that’s not so obvious: you’ll never feel like you have enough time.
Even if you quit your job, reduce your commitments, and dedicate yourself full-time to your idea, you’ll still find yourself scrambling to meet deadlines, fix bugs, and respond to customer feedback. Startups are inherently messy.
The real issue isn’t time—it’s priorities.
The myth of "enough time"
Think about the last time you felt completely "ready" for a big life decision.
Did you feel ready to leave your first job, or was it a leap of faith? Did you feel ready to move out of your parents’ house, or did you figure it out as you went?
When people say, "I don’t have enough time," what they often mean is, "I’m afraid."
The idea of being ready—whether it’s about time, money, or skills—is often just a comforting fiction. It’s easier to say, "I’ll do it when I have more time" than to confront the fact that you’ll never feel completely ready.
But here’s the thing: fear never goes away. The founders who succeed aren’t the ones who are fearless; they’re the ones who act despite their fear. They’re the ones who say, "I’m scared, but I’m going to do it anyway."
If fear is what’s holding you back, acknowledge it. Name it. Then decide whether it’s worth letting that fear control your life. Most of the time, it’s not.
This isn’t just true for startups. It’s true for anything meaningful. Big, ambitious projects don’t fit neatly into the spaces in your life; they consume your life and rearrange everything else around them. That’s scary, but it’s also liberating.
Once you accept that you’ll never feel like you have enough time, you can stop waiting and start doing.
Time is elastic
Distractions are the enemy of startups. They’re insidious because they often don’t look like distractions.
Responding to emails feels productive, but it’s not the same as writing code or talking to customers. Attending networking events can feel useful, but it’s not the same as launching your product.
Watching TED talks about entrepreneurship might be inspiring, but it’s not the same as building.
If you want to start a startup, you need to get ruthless about cutting distractions.
That means saying no to things that don’t align with your priorities. It means turning off notifications, setting boundaries, and learning to focus on what matters most.
The best founders are relentless about prioritisation. They don’t waste time on things that don’t move the needle.
They understand that every minute spent on something trivial is a minute they’re not spending on their startup.
Here’s an exercise: track how you spend your time for a week. Be brutally honest. Include the hours spent scrolling on social media, binge-watching Netflix, or doing work that feels productive but doesn’t move the needle.
Most people are shocked by how much time they waste.
Time is elastic. You can stretch it to fit what you prioritise. If you want to spend more time with your kids, you’ll find a way to make it work. If you want to train for a marathon, you’ll wake up early to get in your miles.
And if you want to start a startup, you’ll carve out the hours, even if it means sacrificing some of the things you currently spend time on.
Every hour you spend is a trade-off. If you spend two hours watching TV, that’s two hours you’re not spending on your startup.
The question isn’t, "do I have enough time?" but, "am I willing to trade X for Y?"
You have more time than you think
One of the best lessons is that most people underestimate how much they can accomplish in a small amount of time.
When you’re focused, you can get more done in two hours than most people do in a day. The trick is to use your time wisely.
Here’s a simple framework for making the most of your time:
- Eliminate: Cut out anything that’s not essential. Be ruthless. If something doesn’t move you closer to your goal, stop doing it.
- Automate: Look for tasks you can automate. Use tools and systems to handle repetitive tasks so you can focus on what matters.
- Delegate: If someone else can do something 80% as well as you, let them. Your time is too valuable to spend on things that don’t require your unique skills.
When you start thinking about time this way, you’ll realize you have more of it than you thought. So you don’t have to work 16-hour days – just make the hours you do work count.
Start small, but do start
One of the biggest misconceptions about startups is that you need to go all-in from day one.
While some founders do quit their jobs and dive headfirst into their ideas, that’s not the only path.
In fact, most startups start as side projects. Gmail was a side project. Slack was a pivot from a failed game company. Instagram began as a side project while the founders were working on something else.
The beauty of side projects is that they let you test ideas without betting the farm. You can work on your startup in the evenings, on weekends, or during your lunch break.
You don’t need 40 hours a week to make progress—you need focus, determination, and a willingness to start where you are.
If you can carve out even 5 hours a week, you can start building something.
You won’t grow as fast as a full-time founder, but you’ll grow faster than someone who’s still waiting for the "right time."
Final thoughts
Every day you wait is a day you’re not learning, not building, and not growing.
The longer you wait, the harder it gets. Your responsibilities will grow. Your energy will wane. The "right time" will never come, so the best time is now.
Waiting comes with its own risks. Someone else might build what you’re dreaming of. The market might shift. Your motivation might fade. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that your startup will never happen.
If you’re struggling to start a startup, don’t find time – make it.
You get to decide what matters to you and prioritise it. You can let go of distractions and focus on the things that move the needle. You’re allowed to start small, embrace fear, and take action.
The question is whether you’re willing to make the sacrifices necessary to pursue your dream. If the answer is yes, then stop waiting and start today.