Timothy Lubniewski highlights the lessons learned from Building a Business and a Family

Two Roles, One Mission

There are two roles in my life that constantly teach me something new: entrepreneur and father. At first glance, they seem like completely different worlds—one is about building companies, and the other is about raising kids. But the more I’ve grown in both, the more I’ve come to realize: the principles that help you succeed in one show up in the other. Leadership, patience, communication, resilience—it all applies.

Raising a business and raising a family both demand your time, your energy, and your heart. They both keep you up at night. And they both push you to become better, even when it’s hard. Over the years, I’ve found that my experiences in business have made me a better father—and being a father has made me a better leader.

Here are some lessons that have stuck with me along the way.

Lead with Vision, Not Just Direction

In business, I’ve always believed that people want more than a paycheck—they want purpose. The best teams don’t just follow instructions; they rally around a vision. I’ve found the same is true at home.

Kids, like employees, need to understand why. Why do we have rules? Why is school important? Why should we treat others with respect? When I take the time to explain the bigger picture, I see more buy-in and fewer battles. I’m not just managing behavior, I’m shaping character.

At work, vision keeps people aligned. At home, it builds values. Whether you’re raising a company or a child, you have to look beyond the day-to-day and show people what they’re part of, and why it matters.

Patience Is a Power Move

Startups don’t scale overnight. Neither do children. Both go through messy, unpredictable phases. They test limits. They stumble. They change direction without warning.

In the early days of my company, I learned that trying to force growth too quickly usually backfired. Real progress takes time—and often comes in small, quiet wins. The same goes for parenting. You don’t always see the results right away. But if you stay consistent, stay encouraging, and keep showing up, the impact adds up.

I’ve come to see patience not as passivity, but as a strength. It’s the ability to hold space for growth without rushing it. That’s true leadership.

Accountability Builds Trust

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned—especially from parenting—is the importance of owning your mistakes.

As a founder, I always felt the pressure to have all the answers. But over time, I realized that pretending to be perfect only creates distance. The best moments in my leadership journey came when I was honest: “I got that wrong,” or “I could have handled that better.”

Kids notice everything. If I tell them to be respectful but then lose my temper, the message gets lost. But when I apologize, it teaches them that accountability isn’t weakness—it’s maturity.

The same applies at work. Leaders who take responsibility earn the trust of their teams. And teams that trust you will follow you through anything.

Teach by Doing, Not Just Saying

No leadership book—or parenting book, for that matter—can replace the power of example. People learn from what you do, not just what you say.

At home, I try to model curiosity, kindness, and perseverance. If I want my kids to value hard work, they need to see me working hard—but also see me making time for them. If I want them to treat others with empathy, they need to watch me doing the same.

In business, it’s no different. Culture starts at the top. The tone you set, the way you treat your team, the decisions you make when no one’s watching—it all trickles down.

Whether I’m with my team or my kids, I remind myself: my actions are teaching, whether I mean them to or not.

Make Space for the People Who Matter

Building a company can easily consume your life. There’s always one more email, one more problem, one more late-night idea. But the most meaningful success I’ve found hasn’t come from hitting revenue goals, it’s come from being present for the people I love.

There was a time when I told myself I was doing it all for my family, even as I missed dinner after dinner. But eventually, I realized that providing isn’t the same as being there. Now, I prioritize making space, for conversations, for bedtime stories, for weekends that don’t involve my phone.

And here’s the truth: when I show up more fully at home, I lead better at work. I’m clearer, calmer, and more connected to what actually matters.

Leadership That Lasts

Both entrepreneurship and fatherhood are long games. You won’t always see the results right away. You’ll doubt yourself, fail, learn, and get back up. But over time, your investment pays off: in the people you grow, the values you nurture, and the legacy you leave.

I don’t want to just raise successful kids or build a profitable company. I want to raise good humans. I want to build something I’m proud of, something that reflects who I am and what I believe in.

Leadership is a gift. So is parenthood. When you treat them both with intention, humility, and love, they feed each other in powerful ways.

It’s All Connected

At the end of the day, I don’t see a hard line between the business world and the family room. They’re both arenas where leadership shows up. They’re both places where character is formed. And they both benefit when we lead with heart.

So whether you’re scaling a company, raising a family, or like me, trying to do both, remember: you don’t have to choose. You just have to lead with purpose, wherever you are.

Share the Post: