Many entrepreneurs find themselves consumed by the demands of building businesses, often sacrificing personal life for professional ambition. Alejandro Betancourt has taken a different path—one where his role as a single father to twins holds equal importance to his business ventures.
As both founder of multiple companies and a hands-on parent, Betancourt offers a compelling example of how family and entrepreneurship can coexist without either suffering neglect. His approach challenges conventional assumptions about what’s possible for single parents in the business world.
Creating a Family That Works Without Following Rules
In his thoughtful essay “Table for Three: Finding Joy in the Space Between,” Betancourt explores his experience building a family that doesn’t match traditional expectations. Rather than viewing his single-parent household as incomplete or temporary, he has constructed a family unit that functions on its own terms.
“The twins and I have our definition of family, our rhythm of life that works for us,” he writes. “And yes, there might be room for someone else in this equation someday—but not because I’m incomplete without them.”
This confidence in his non-traditional family structure provides stability for both Betancourt and his children. By rejecting the notion that something is missing, he creates space for appreciating what they have—a close-knit trio with its own traditions, inside jokes, and understanding.
His perspective offers a refreshing alternative to the common narrative that single-parent families exist in a state of lack. Instead, Betancourt demonstrates how different family structures can provide everything children need while allowing parents to maintain their individual identities and pursuits.
Learning Through the Parent-Child Dynamic
Raising twins has profoundly shaped Betancourt’s outlook on both business and life. His writing frequently references parenting moments that sparked deeper reflections, showing how his children function not just as responsibilities but as teachers.
In “Soaked and Smirking,” he transforms a simple scene of waiting for his children in the rain into a meditation on accepting life’s discomforts rather than constantly fighting against them. This ability to find meaning in everyday parenting moments appears throughout his writing.
His children’s book “Alex the Dragon: The Quest to Tame Its Fire” and cookbook “Little Foodies” both grew directly from his parenting experience. These projects demonstrate how he transforms parental challenges—helping children manage emotions and creating nutritious meals they’ll actually eat—into creative opportunities.
As he notes on his website, what began as “one too many rejected dinners” evolved into developing recipes “my picky eaters would devour.” This pattern of turning parenting obstacles into positive outcomes reflects his general approach to challenges across both family and business contexts.
Practical Time Management for the Parent-Entrepreneur
While Betancourt doesn’t explicitly share his schedule, his output across multiple businesses and regular publishing platforms indicates effective time management strategies. His consistent Monday publishing schedule for his blog “Beyond Two Cents” suggests he’s built reliable systems for balancing different responsibilities.
For parent-entrepreneurs, Betancourt’s example highlights several key principles: prioritizing quality over quantity in family time, integrating children into appropriate aspects of work life, and maintaining separate spaces for focused professional activity.
His cookbook mentions making cooking time an opportunity for parent-child bonding, noting that “getting kids involved is half the fun” and including “tips sprinkled throughout to turn cooking time into meaningful moments together.” This approach—finding activities that serve both parenting and practical needs—maximizes limited time.
Building Networks of Support
Single parents often need strong support systems to thrive, especially while building businesses. While Betancourt doesn’t detail his specific support network, his writing acknowledges the importance of community and connection.
His essay “Navigating External and Inner Struggles” explores how conflict and connection shape human experience, noting that “At our core, all humans yearn for belonging, dignity, and purpose.” This recognition of our social nature likely informs how he structures support for his family.
For other parent-entrepreneurs, Betancourt’s experience suggests the value of building reliable childcare arrangements, cultivating relationships with other parents for both practical assistance and emotional support, and creating stability for children amid the unpredictability of entrepreneurial ventures.
Modeling Values Through Action
Perhaps most significantly, Betancourt’s integrated approach to parenting and entrepreneurship allows him to demonstrate important values for his children rather than just talking about them. They witness his work ethic, creative problem-solving, and commitment to growth through direct observation.
His diverse ventures—from ALMA Capital’s investments to writing books and essays—show his children the possibilities of crafting a multifaceted life driven by curiosity and purpose. Rather than compartmentalizing his parent and professional identities, he allows them to inform each other, creating authenticity across contexts.
Through his Medium articles on topics like failure, resilience, and personal growth, Betancourt articulates values that presumably shape his parenting approach as well. His piece “The Dreaded F-Word We All Try to Avoid: Failure” explores embracing setbacks as learning opportunities—a mindset equally valuable for children and entrepreneurs.
Finding Balance Through Integration
What distinguishes Alejandro Betancourt’s approach to balancing parenthood and entrepreneurship is his willingness to let these aspects of life blend rather than forcing artificial separation. His parenting informs his business thinking, while his entrepreneurial mindset helps him approach parenting challenges creatively.
This integration creates efficiency and authenticity impossible to achieve when treating family and work as completely separate domains. By embracing his dual roles rather than compartmentalizing them, Betancourt demonstrates how modern parents can build successful careers without sacrificing meaningful family relationships.
For other entrepreneurs balancing parenting responsibilities, Betancourt’s example offers an encouraging alternative to the either/or thinking that often characterizes discussions of work-life balance. His story suggests that with intentionality, creativity, and flexibility, building businesses and raising children can become complementary rather than competing priorities.
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