Software startup founder chased growth with 70-hour weeks until his child’s question exposed the main problem with his work-life balance |

Cache Merrill, founder of the software startup Zibtek, spent years working 70-hour weeks to grow his business. Juggling client demands and late-night deadlines, he believed long hours were necessary to secure a better future for his family. But in the process, his presence at home faded. One evening, a simple question from his child, asking why he no longer joined family dinners, stopped him in his tracks. It made him realise that his work-life balance was out of sync. That moment marked a turning point in both his leadership style and his understanding of what true success really means.

The cost of chasing startup success: 70-hour weeks and missed moments

Cache Merrill, founder of the software development startup Zibtek, was all-in on building his company. Launched in 2009 while raising three young children, the startup demanded everything he had. He regularly worked 60 to 70 hours a week, waking up before dawn and working late into the night. Client deadlines, meetings, and constant decision-making left him with little time for family. What began as a noble pursuit to secure his children’s future slowly created a quiet distance from them.As the company grew, his presence at home diminished. Dinners were missed. Bedtime stories faded. Weekends blurred into workdays. Merrill believed he was doing what was necessary for success until one evening, his child stopped him in his tracks with a simple, heartfelt question: “Daddy, why don’t you eat with us anymore?”That innocent question cut deeper than any business setback. It revealed a truth he could no longer ignore: in chasing professional goals, he had unintentionally become a stranger in his own home. It wasn’t criticism, it was clarity. And it marked a turning point in both his life and leadership.

Redefining the main meaning of success: From provider to present parent

Shaken by that moment, Merrill knew something had to change. He reassessed what success really meant, and realised it had to include being present for his children, not just providing for them. He began setting clear boundaries: logging off in time for dinner, being fully available for bedtime routines, and actively engaging in family life again. It wasn’t easy at first, but each small step helped rebuild the emotional closeness he had lost.According to a story first reported by Business Insider India, this shift deeply influenced how Merrill led his company as well. He no longer viewed leadership through the lens of constant availability. Instead, he embraced a healthier, more sustainable style, focusing on outcomes rather than long hours and fostering a workplace culture that prioritised well-being and balance.He started encouraging his team to step away from their desks when needed, avoid overwork, and talk openly about stress. He modelled empathy and emotional intelligence, making it clear that taking care of personal health and relationships was not only acceptable, it was essential. As a result, Zibtek began evolving not just as a business but as a human-centered organisation where people felt truly valued.

The main truth about leadership: It starts at home

Merrill’s journey offers a powerful reminder: true leadership doesn’t begin and end in boardrooms; it extends to the dinner table, bedtime routines, and the quiet, everyday moments that often go unnoticed. In a world where “hustle” is often equated with worth, he learned the hard way that presence is a more lasting measure of success.Today, he continues to lead Zibtek with the same entrepreneurial spirit, but with a renewed sense of balance. He no longer feels pressure to be the first in and the last out. Instead, he strives to be available wherever he’s needed most, whether that’s in a client meeting or sitting beside his children at dinner.His story challenges the outdated belief that professional success must come at a personal cost. Instead, it shows that by integrating compassion, awareness, and boundaries into leadership, it’s possible to thrive in business while also nurturing the relationships that matter most.Also Read: ChatGPT and other AI bots other blocked in this US state as fear grow over mental health risks