We have been working together on our entrepreneurial business ventures for the past 15 years. We constantly hear from people "I could NEVER work with my spouse." Why is this so often the response people have? When we dig deeper to try to understand why this is the frequent reaction from the majority, there are certain themes that come up and we have answers:
"I could never work for my husband." - Alter your frame of reference. For successful entrepreneurial couples, neither spouse should work FOR the other. They must work TOGETHER on almost all main decisions for the business.
"We are extremely competitive." - Utilize that competitive nature. Each partner possibly has distinct strengths, so create goals which are specific to the strengths and celebrate the achievements. Celebrate wins for the business together, but also individual achievements will help to improve the self confidence of the individual too!
"I can't be with my spouse ALL day long." - Make time which is separate. Find your unique treats, it could be reading or exercising and do that alone. Don't eat lunch together daily. When you do share lunch have it be a business meeting, that will make the lunches that are not together social only for you and a friend, or maybe you want to eat alone.
We have spoken to many successful entrepreneurial couples and when we ask what makes it successful, the resounding answer is that "We each have unique strengths." This is true for us as well, Scott is the visionary and I am the logistic, "How do we make it happen" one. A successful attorney couple we know, the wife clearly stated, "He is the business one, not me." And he chimed in, "She always does the jury selection, she is so good at." Not only do they understand one another's strengths, but also they acknowledge and commend it.
Most of us know the old adage, "Never say never." This really is true because it relates to couples working together. Don't just assume it can't happen, think it over and discuss it. Couples could realize they are stronger together than they are separately. Additionally, why provide all of your talents to another company or business? - develop it for yourself and appreciate in the success together as a family.
"I could never work for my husband." - Alter your frame of reference. For successful entrepreneurial couples, neither spouse should work FOR the other. They must work TOGETHER on almost all main decisions for the business.
"We are extremely competitive." - Utilize that competitive nature. Each partner possibly has distinct strengths, so create goals which are specific to the strengths and celebrate the achievements. Celebrate wins for the business together, but also individual achievements will help to improve the self confidence of the individual too!
"I can't be with my spouse ALL day long." - Make time which is separate. Find your unique treats, it could be reading or exercising and do that alone. Don't eat lunch together daily. When you do share lunch have it be a business meeting, that will make the lunches that are not together social only for you and a friend, or maybe you want to eat alone.
We have spoken to many successful entrepreneurial couples and when we ask what makes it successful, the resounding answer is that "We each have unique strengths." This is true for us as well, Scott is the visionary and I am the logistic, "How do we make it happen" one. A successful attorney couple we know, the wife clearly stated, "He is the business one, not me." And he chimed in, "She always does the jury selection, she is so good at." Not only do they understand one another's strengths, but also they acknowledge and commend it.
Most of us know the old adage, "Never say never." This really is true because it relates to couples working together. Don't just assume it can't happen, think it over and discuss it. Couples could realize they are stronger together than they are separately. Additionally, why provide all of your talents to another company or business? - develop it for yourself and appreciate in the success together as a family.
