Working Together Rules and We Answer Your Questions
On today’s show, we discuss some work together rules we think can help couples who are also small business owners.
And we answer your questions. Thanks for listening!
Click below to listen to Episode 15.
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A few years ago we wrote an article for Soiree Magazine’s special publication called The Work Wife where we discussed 4 Rules for Working with Your Spouse.
For this episode, we revisited that list and discussed if the “rules” are still relevant. (Spoiler: Yes!)
1: Establish Clear Roles
Knowing your specific job and the tasks you “own” within the business is vital. It achieves a blend in the business and the relationship, and it gives each partner direction, autonomy and purpose.
For more on finding your perfect role, check out this blog post.
2: Communication is Key
Closeness doesn’t guarantee communication.
You have to schedule time to discuss company business, just like other business partners would. Glenn and I meet each morning over coffee to review tasks for the day and check in on how projects are moving along.
Communicating is also important when it comes to conflict. You will have conflict. You will disagree. But talking openly and honestly about your issues, whether they be business or personal, keeps them from simmering under the surface until they interfere with your relationship and your business.
3: Don’t Go It Alone
No, you aren’t technically alone — you are a couple in business — but it can still feel overwhelming at times, and if you own a small company or work from home, you can fall prey to loneliness.
Schedule lunches with friends. Find another business-owning couple and support each other. Attend networking events.
4: Date Night
This is a non-negotiable, scheduled time when you are just a couple.
Sure, you might talk about your business, but other couples talk about their work, too. Only now, you know what and who your spouse is talking about.
The important thing is to do activities that focus on your relationship. Strengthen your bond as a couple and your business will follow.
WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS:
We switched things up for this episode.
Instead of doing an expert interview, we decided to answer a few questions from previous guests.
Question: Given your extensive experience speaking with a wide range of small business owners, what is the single most overlooked or underestimated challenge that consistently blindsides them, and what proactive steps can listeners take to prepare for or mitigate it?
Answer: I think the first thing that comes to mind is matters of administration most of which that I can remember are related to HR. Yeah, a lot of things that people don't think about because they're busy wanting to operate their business. Sure, so they may not be up to speed on certain things like we've talked to various lawyers on the show about. Employee handbooks, the importance of those.
Or the importance of ADA. And setting those expectations so that everybody's playing from the same sheet of music. I think people are often blindsided by that. I also have another answer and I'm biased because marketing is our other business, right? I think too many small business owners don't set aside money to market. To budget their advertising or promotion or to think that a very small amount of money is going to be good for from now till eternity. Exactly. You know, you spend five dollars on it and turn your back and say, “That's taken care of!” Yeah, there's not spending money at all or they're spending just a little bit over a short period of time and expecting amazing results. It's all about consistency. Yes, it is and usually that takes some time. How many times have you seen a business that opens but you hear nothing about it on any channel or any promotion or any activity? They don't really do anything and then they go out of business. Well, but the interior was beautiful. The product was great. Yes, the employees were well trained, but they forgot that you’ve got to market it. You can't just build it and they will come. Or they knew it to begin with but they just didn't budget for it. So that's one of the things. Great question, Tim!
Q: What are some ways you stay on top of business trends?
A: That is a tough one.
I think first of all, anyone who says they're an expert in, say, social media-there's no way because it changes too much. I think everyone is still trying to learn; they may have more of an expertise. But anyone who says they know everything there is is probably unaware of the change that just happened that morning. I think you just have to find those trusted sources that are a little bit further along in the journey than you are, and you kind of follow along and see what they're doing. Also, sometimes it's not about trends. We can innovate a lot within our task lists and all the things that make couples Inc and our other business tick. I think that innovation can come from that and you can set a trend, be the trendsetter. Your your work should fit what your mission is what your brand is what your brand DNA is it shouldn't just be incumbent upon whatever the next trend is. And sometimes being first doesn't mean you're gonna have the best market share.
It's important to stay up with what's going on in your industry. But you don't want to constantly be ping-ponging on what’s trending when it doesn't ring authentic to who you are.
