Sick kids and startups? They don’t mix.
That’s what everyone kept telling me. It felt like it was this unwritten rule that if you’re going to be in the startup game, you have to be “hands on” 24/7. Answering emails at night, pushing through exhaustion and always being in hustle mode. And whatever you do: Don’t let life get in the way!
Foto: Private
But life gets in the way when you’re living.
It feels like there is no room to slow down, no space for softness. But there I was. A wife, a mother and a founder, with my five-year-old daughter sick and needing me. Needing her mom.
And yet there was that voice in my head reminding me of everything that needed to be done. I could have told her that; “Mom has to work.”, because that’s what I’d heard other successful founders do – always pushing forward.
But that’s not something a five-year-old understands.
And in that moment, with her fever warm head resting on my chest, I realized it wasn't something I wanted to understand either.
Why? It simply didn’t feel right. Not in my head and especially not in my heart. So I chose to put the phone away and to let work wait. I spent that day on the couch with her in my arms, brushing her hair back from her forehead, holding her little hand so she’d know she wasn’t alone. I realized then that being present for her, fully, was more valuable than anything else I could accomplish that day.
That was my real work.
This is the heart of how we’re building Gemz
My partner Lisa and I know that pushing ourselves past the point of exhaustion won’t create a business we believe in. We’re not here to follow the “always on” mindset that tells us to sacrifice everything for the sake of success. Instead, we’re building Gemz on empathy, respect, and compassion, grounded in the understanding that people – not just results – are at the center of what we do. All we do, to be honest.
Our mission isn’t just to build a company; it’s to build one that values the human moments as much as the milestones. We want to connect with others who believe there’s a better way to work – who know that a kinder, more thoughtful approach can lead to real, lasting change and value.
For us, it’s about more than “making it”; it’s about creating something meaningful by being present, by listening, and by building with heart.
Karina Hvidsten | Co-founder @Gemz
