A Balancing Act of Work, Family, and Dreams

Thank you for joining us again on Re-Rolling: A Journey Through Game Design and Self-Publishing. As new entrepreneurs trying to launch our first board game while maintaining full-time jobs, family life, our homes and the demands of a growing business has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of our lives. For Josh and me, building Through The Ash from scratch has required navigating uncharted waters, financial investment, marketing, networking, and balancing our personal and professional lives. Here’s how we’ve managed (and struggled) to juggle it all, and what we’ve learned along the way. Let's dive in!

Launching a business while working full-time isn’t for the faint of heart. Our weekdays are packed: managing work deadlines, spending time with family, and staying on top of household responsibilities. By the time we switch gears to work on the company's projects, it’s late into the evening, but that’s when the real dedication begins.

From designing and testing our first games to establishing a website, creating social media content, networking with influencers, and writing this blog, every task demands time and energy. Each step forward—whether setting up demo days, crafting promotional materials, or refining our marketing strategy—requires meticulous planning, learning new skills, and often overcoming steep learning curves.

Up to this point we have completely funded the business ourselves, reinvesting personal savings to cover prototypes, advertising, and events. This self-financing has meant making sacrifices, from skipping family vacations to adjusting our financial goals. While this level of commitment is fulfilling, it’s also a constant source of stress, especially as we try to ensure that our families aren’t sidelined by the demands of entrepreneurship.

The biggest challenge has been time management. There are never enough hours in the day, and the need to switch rapidly between roles—professional, entrepreneur, spouse, and a parent, can lead to burnout if we’re not careful. Even with a shared vision, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when self-doubt creeps in or when results don’t come as quickly as we’d hoped.

Re-Rolling

In this section we reflect our past actions, decisions and what we may have done differently for better results.

1. Set Clear Priorities Early On

At the start, we tried to do everything ourselves including game design, marketing, website creation, social media, and charity outreach programs. This approach stretched us too thin. If we had focused on one or two key areas, like finalizing our game design and testing it rigorously, we could have avoided wasted time on less critical tasks.

2. Create a Realistic Work Schedule

Balancing a full-time job and a business means carving out consistent time for your venture. We’ve learned that having structured “business hours,” even if it’s just a couple of evenings a week, helps maintain focus and prevents burnout.

3. Outsource and Automate

We initially attempted to manage everything in-house, but it proved to be both exhausting and inefficient. Over time, we’ve come to appreciate the benefits of outsourcing tasks like graphic design and financial management. Also, utilizing tools such as scheduling apps and automation platforms helps streamline operations, saving time and ensuring consistency without constant oversight. While we currently use Zoho for these features, it's simply what works best for us at the moment, there are plenty of other great options available.

4. Build a Support System

Entrepreneurship can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Joining entrepreneur groups and seeking more mentorships earlier might have saved us from learning some lessons the hard way. Hopefully, those experiences will prove to be invaluable one day down this long and winding road. Surrounding yourself with people who’ve been there or who are going through the same struggles, can provide guidance, encouragement, and fresh ideas.

5. Start Small

Starting with a smaller game or a low-cost, game-related product could have been a strategic way to refine our approach before committing to large-scale production. It would have allowed us to test manufacturing processes, fine-tune marketing strategies, and build a strong customer base with lower financial risk. However, the lessons we've learned along the way have given us the experience and confidence to manage large-scale production effectively. We now have a clearer understanding of logistics, distribution, and audience engagement, ensuring that as we grow, we do so with a solid foundation and a well-defined strategy for success.

6. Manage Financial Expectations

Investing personal savings into the business is a huge commitment, and while it has worked for us so far, setting clearer financial boundaries and when owners need to make contributions early on would have reduced stress and tension. Creating a dedicated business budget and adhering to it would have made it easier to track expenses and allocate funds strategically.

7. Focus on Quality over Quantity in Marketing

Instead of trying to be everywhere online, we now realize the importance of focusing on the platforms where our audience is most active. Developing high-quality, engaging content for one or two channels can be more impactful than spreading ourselves too thin.

8. Take Care of Yourself and Your Family

The pressure of launching a business can take a toll on your health and relationships if you’re not mindful. We’ve learned to be more intentional about scheduling downtime, both for ourselves and with our families, to recharge and stay grounded.

Advice for New Entrepreneurs

If you’re starting a business while working full-time, know that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll face challenges, but every misstep is an opportunity to learn and grow. Prioritize your time, lean on your network, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most importantly, keep your long-term goals in sight, and don’t let the day-to-day struggles deter you from pursuing your dream.

Launching Through The Ash has been one of the most challenging undertakings of our lives, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. We’re not just building a business; we’re creating something that connects people, inspires creativity, and brings joy. The journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every step.

In this game of entrepreneurship, the key is knowing when to stay on track, when to pivot, and most importantly when to celebrate the small victories. No matter where you are in your journey, just keep moving forward, you’ve got this!

Until next time, keep rolling those dice, keep learning, and keep igniting your gaming spirit.