sacrifice

I am currently reading this book on entrepreneurs who graduated from IIMA and have gone on to make it big. The book is titled 'Stay Hungy, Stay Foolish'.

It's certainly making for a very interesting read so far. And it is definitely in the mould that would inspire someone who reads it with even the slightest of entrepreneurial streak, to seriously consider entrepreneurship as an option.

What remains as a common thread throughout most of the success stories highlighted in the book is the amount of sacrifice that each individual has had to go through along the way to success.

Inevitably, there are family break ups, not enough time for spouse and kids, etc. But there are those that have balanced it out as well. I wonder how these people can decide what amount of sacrifice that they are willing to go through to follow their dreams or passions about their venture.

Pretty much the same can be extended to every feature of your life that you are passionate about. How much are you willing to sacrifice along the way? For someone who deems family important, that is a sacrifice, similarly a regular corporate career v/s your own venture. There were even examples where the spouse has worked to earn for the family while the entrepreneurial venture was being started up. There were even cases where the spouse has dived into it head on. That is the kind of sacrifice and dedication needed to succeed.

But does there always have to be a payout of personal life against professional? Or can things be more balanced?

I will continue to read on, but what strikes me as slightly odd is that why are all the people feature in the book so far male? Is that because of the inherent nature of women to be considered as homemakers? Does society have anything to do with it? Or are women just more comfortable with lesser risk and higher stability?