Marriage and Business: Making It Work

Most couples go to work at separate jobs. One or both spouses leave for their job (outside the home )in the morning and meet back in the evening after their day has ended.

I refer to “outside the home” because I consider the “stay at home” job a very important part of the working world. But for some of us we spend a lot of our time with our spouse as a working entrepreneur couple.

My husband and I have been partners in business and life for about 20 years and we have a great working and home relationship. If any thing, we have found that we actually get along better when we are working together as opposed to working apart. We have 3 children and two businesses, and also find time to buy and sell investment property and equipment. My husband loves to buy and sell things and it has always been a source of our extra income since we married. We have always seemed to have this knack of how to help each other.

I am not a therapist with a PHD or any fancy degree other than I am proud of the Associates Degree in business that I have along with the great years of experience working with our vendors, banks, marketing and customers. But I do feel entitled to give some advice on how to survive marriage and entrepreneurship because I think I have “cornered the market”.

First, the most important thing to remember is that you RESPECT and TRUST each other.

You are not always going to love each others ideas but that is why you are partners. Support your partners ideas and listen before you dismiss it. Let your partner grow their wings a little bit and support the risk, after all you must be somewhat of a risk taker if you are in business.

If you truly feel like your partners idea is not feasible, then you simply sit down with your partner and start your list of pros and cons and see if you can both be on the same page. This also means that you are both willing to take some constructive criticism and see the others side. Second, stay involved in the business in all aspects. Stay on top of what income is coming in and how much is going out. You have to set aside time with each other even if it means a dinner date to touch base and let each other know how their part of the business is performing. You may find that there is a vendor who is not charging you what your partner has negotiated or problems that arise with an employee which can be hard to approach at the office.

If you find that it is hard to do a dinner date (with children it is sometimes hard to get a date night) make a certain day of the week to have lunch with just the two of you. You must make time with your spouse.

Make it a family affair, if you have to work late at the office, pick the kids up, order a pizza and eat in at the office. It keeps your family in check and the kids love it. Depending on the age of your children, it can be a little stressful, keep some games, toys and favorite books there, but believe me it is worth it. Give the kids some chores and make them feel like they are part of your business. Believe me, it will be worth it. You are unlike a lot families and no one really understands the commitment and spirit that it takes to be entrepreneurs/ You are juggling not only your household bills, the business’ bills, payments, banking, insurance, and you are responsible for not only your family but your employee and their families. Because their livelihood depends on how successful you are in running your business. No wonder with all that pressure couples find it hard to run a business together. We have a saying at our house, “We do what we do because we have to and we make it work”. Your friends may say you just need to relax, shut off your phone(which isn’t a bad idea sometimes) and forget about it. That is why you are a business owner, you have a different way of thinking.

Just keep focused and positive, take time off and delegate some authority to a trusted employee so you can also spend quality time with your family. Support each other and the success will come. your family will grow closer and benefit from the experience.