What does it take to be in business with your spouse or partner? What are the pros and cons of being in the same office day after day with the same person with whom you also share a home and household obligations? Mom and pop businesses are a time-honored tradition, but what does it take for them to succeed?
Dale and Linda Condy, owners of Gems of La Costa, say that in addition to communication, understanding and patience, one of the cornerstone of working with your spouse is having a good sense of humor. It's something that has allowed them to thrive for the past 35 years. And, they add jokingly, being constantly in cramped places, including when they take their annual two-week trip to the Tucson Gem Show to buy jewelry and gemstones for their store.
“We live together in a small house, we operate our small business together and we travel together in a small RV. It's just not often that we're very far apart!”
Stan and Joy Prowse have worked together at the Law Office of Stanley D. Prowse since 1987. He practices law and she serves as the manager and chief financial officer. They also cite humor as one of the requirements for a successful working relationship.
“Every day is Valentine's Day for me and Joy,” Stan said. “It helps that we love each other to pieces, and still act like silly kids when no one's watching. It also helps that we have the same attitude towards the basics, everything shipshape at work and at home.”
Jim and Leslie Brubaker of Brubaker & Associates Insurance say they discovered one of their biggest tips naturally.
“The most important lesson we learned from working together is the same as in a good marriage: you have to recognize and appreciate what each other's strengths are and utilize them synergistically. Ours was a perfect match, with Leslie's greatest talents being Jim's weaknesses and vice versa (sort of). After 20 years, it is still working and working extremely well.”
Realtors Tracy and Kevin Sharrar of Terra-Maris Realty have been married for 29 years, and have worked together for 6 years. Their longevity as a couple and their experience works for them, Tracy said, because it allows them to identify with their clients.
“Especially when we're working with first-time homebuyers because we've been there and walked that road,” she said. “We're going to take care of them and help them meet their need, whether it's buying right away or waiting.”
She added that it took some time for them to work out the kinks and figure how to work together, and said they took a major step forward after they received coaching from Buffini and Company, which evaluated their personalities and offered them tips for making the professional life they share work.
“In our personalities we're both leaders,” she said. “And I learned that just because he does things differently doesn't mean that his way is right or wrong.”
Communication, of course, is a key in every business relationship, even if it is not romantic. But talking about the uncertainties of going into business together has added complications when couples go into business. Talking about an exit strategy is a crucial component of launching a business, but in this case it has the added specter of divorce or separation.
Ian McDaniel of The McDaniel Firm has practical advise for people who might be looking at starting a working relationship.
“People need to have the difficult conversations early,” he said. As unromantic as it sounds, he added, people need to discuss what should happen in case of divorce or death and determine who will perform what function in the business, who would be the shareholder partners and in what proportions.
“Conflict in general, tends to arise when the details have not been identified and planned for,” he said. “In any case, having these conversations is good for the business and for the marital relationship.”
Cory Scurlock, owner and founder of Create Hope First, helps couples and families stay in balance. She said couples who work together need to set firm boundaries to manage their time in and away from the workplace.
“They should be able to set hours for business so that they can go from being a business couple, to a romantic couple, to parents,” said Scurlock. She added that it's important for couples that work together to spend quality time as a couple, and suggested that setting regular date nights and family get-togethers is crucial, times without cell phones, television or other distractions.
“The biggest thing is that people make sure they understand their priorities in their life and make sure that work is not their main priority,” she said. “The relationship needs to be the main priority because if the personal relationship starts to crumble, so will the work relationship.”
Dale and Linda Condy, owners of Gems of La Costa, say that in addition to communication, understanding and patience, one of the cornerstone of working with your spouse is having a good sense of humor. It's something that has allowed them to thrive for the past 35 years. And, they add jokingly, being constantly in cramped places, including when they take their annual two-week trip to the Tucson Gem Show to buy jewelry and gemstones for their store.
“We live together in a small house, we operate our small business together and we travel together in a small RV. It's just not often that we're very far apart!”
Stan and Joy Prowse have worked together at the Law Office of Stanley D. Prowse since 1987. He practices law and she serves as the manager and chief financial officer. They also cite humor as one of the requirements for a successful working relationship.
“Every day is Valentine's Day for me and Joy,” Stan said. “It helps that we love each other to pieces, and still act like silly kids when no one's watching. It also helps that we have the same attitude towards the basics, everything shipshape at work and at home.”
Jim and Leslie Brubaker of Brubaker & Associates Insurance say they discovered one of their biggest tips naturally.
“The most important lesson we learned from working together is the same as in a good marriage: you have to recognize and appreciate what each other's strengths are and utilize them synergistically. Ours was a perfect match, with Leslie's greatest talents being Jim's weaknesses and vice versa (sort of). After 20 years, it is still working and working extremely well.”
Realtors Tracy and Kevin Sharrar of Terra-Maris Realty have been married for 29 years, and have worked together for 6 years. Their longevity as a couple and their experience works for them, Tracy said, because it allows them to identify with their clients.
“Especially when we're working with first-time homebuyers because we've been there and walked that road,” she said. “We're going to take care of them and help them meet their need, whether it's buying right away or waiting.”
She added that it took some time for them to work out the kinks and figure how to work together, and said they took a major step forward after they received coaching from Buffini and Company, which evaluated their personalities and offered them tips for making the professional life they share work.
“In our personalities we're both leaders,” she said. “And I learned that just because he does things differently doesn't mean that his way is right or wrong.”
Communication, of course, is a key in every business relationship, even if it is not romantic. But talking about the uncertainties of going into business together has added complications when couples go into business. Talking about an exit strategy is a crucial component of launching a business, but in this case it has the added specter of divorce or separation.
Ian McDaniel of The McDaniel Firm has practical advise for people who might be looking at starting a working relationship.
“People need to have the difficult conversations early,” he said. As unromantic as it sounds, he added, people need to discuss what should happen in case of divorce or death and determine who will perform what function in the business, who would be the shareholder partners and in what proportions.
“Conflict in general, tends to arise when the details have not been identified and planned for,” he said. “In any case, having these conversations is good for the business and for the marital relationship.”
Cory Scurlock, owner and founder of Create Hope First, helps couples and families stay in balance. She said couples who work together need to set firm boundaries to manage their time in and away from the workplace.
“They should be able to set hours for business so that they can go from being a business couple, to a romantic couple, to parents,” said Scurlock. She added that it's important for couples that work together to spend quality time as a couple, and suggested that setting regular date nights and family get-togethers is crucial, times without cell phones, television or other distractions.
“The biggest thing is that people make sure they understand their priorities in their life and make sure that work is not their main priority,” she said. “The relationship needs to be the main priority because if the personal relationship starts to crumble, so will the work relationship.”