There is no doubt that being an entrepreneur is hard. Owning a business with your significant other makes it even harder. My husband and I have owned a business since 2008 and we’ve learned a lot over the years. It has not been easy but we have grown so much as individuals and as a team.
Here are 5 quick tips to help you and your significant other be successful in your business.
- Take time out – go to dinner and talk about things other than your business. Talk about news, politics (if you agree), your children, anything – just don’t talk about work.
- Over communicate – even if you think your significant other is on a task or you think he or she knows what you are planning – tell them anyway. Communication is key. There was a point in our business where Austin thought I was checking the email and I thought he was checking and neither of us was checking.
- Treat each other respect – treat your significant other as if they are a regular employee with no relation to you. Would you yell at an employee or intern? Don’t yell at your significant other.
- Roles and responsibilities – each person should have clearly defined responsibilities. One person is in charge of bookkeeping, one person is in charge of marketing. Of course, you can help each other when needed but each task needs to be owned by someone. Now, you can’t fire the person when they don’t do their tasks which leads to the next tip…
- Couples therapy – there is no shame in my game. Couples therapy helps. Sometimes we just get so stressed out that we can’t communicate. Seeing a therapist helps to just reset. I’m not saying you need to go forever but 3-5 sessions will get you re-energized.
Luckily, my husband is my business partner as well as my life partner, so I never had to do the heavy lifting alone, literally or figuratively. – Josie Maran.