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Business Partners & Marital Partners, Will the Marriage Survive? Part II
by Chuck & Sue DeFiore
In the last article, we concluded by saying that keeping your business
and personal relationships separate is very important to the survival of
both your business and your marriage. In this article we will talk about
how to achieve this goal.
One of the most important ways to accomplish this is to set up distinct
business hours, and when they are over, don't discuss business,
concentrate on your relationship. It is difficult, but make a
concentrated effort at it. Confine your business discussions to business
hours or set aside a specific time to discuss the business.
For example, take the last half hour of the day, and discuss the
business day; any suggestions you have, what was accomplished, what
needs to be done tomorrow, during the week, how are the monthly goals
you set at the beginning of the month progressing. Remember to couch any
criticisms or suggestions in a positive vein. Think of how you felt in
the work situation and how supervisors dealt with you when making
suggestions. Negatives only cause resentment. They do in the corporate
arena, and even more so, when dealing with a spouse you must live with
24 hours a day. Be sure to set aside time for each other-go for walks,
out to dinner, or just for a drive with your spouse. Do not discuss
business.
You should have outside activities that are not business related. If
not, join a group that interests you. It will allow you to meet with
others who are not connected to your business. Running a home-based
business can be very lonely; getting away from the home, and having
outside interests is imperative.
In addition to the problems inherent to couples running a business,
starting a home-based business presents its own set of problems and
questions. Before you start be sure to ask yourself the following:
1. Are you self-motivated? Organized? Able to prioritize your work? You
will no longer have a supervisor or a boss to tell you what to do. You
will be the decision maker. You will have to motivate yourself. One way
to accomplish this is to use a To Do List and stick to it. In addition,
set definitive business hours, and stick to them.
2. Will you be able to deal with the isolation? You will no longer meet
people in the halls, congregate around the coffee pot, or take a break
to talk with your co-workers. To combat the loneliness and isolation be
sure to join groups that meet outside the home, or schedule luncheons
with friends and associates.
3. Write up a business plan. Be sure the business is something that
interests you. You might want to start on a part-time basis, and grow
from there. Research the business carefully, make sure there is a
market, and the competition is not overwhelming.
4. Be sure you have at least six months living expenses set aside. This
will give you the time to work through the marketing strategy outlined
in your business plan, and avoid bad marketing practices. In addition,
if changes need to be made, you can do so, without monetary concerns
becoming an issue.
5. Be sure your office space is located in a separate room or area of
your home that offers the least distractions. A separate office is best,
especially if you are meeting with clients. Remember to always present a
professional appearance.
6. When will you do your regular household chores? Make up a schedule of
when you will deal with them. Some individuals find getting chores done
before the start of the work day is best. At the end of the day, close
your office door and then deal with the remaining household items that
need to be handled. Time management will be a very important factor in
running a home-based business.
7. For husband and wife teams, it becomes imperative to have some form
of disability insurance for each other. Remember, even though your
partner may be your husband or wife, he or she is still your business
partner. An accident or illness to one of you can severely impact the
operation of the business.
A business is only as good as you and your partner make it. It takes a
lot of dedication, time and energy to run a business, whether it is
home-based or not. It can be a very rewarding experience. Think
carefully, and ask yourself a lot of self-searching questions before you
begin.
Copyright 2000, DeFiore Enterprises.
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About the Author
Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to
visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions
Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com
Click here to learn more about Chuck and Sue DeFiore
Articles by Chuck and Sue DeFiore
 Managing Cash Flow 
Juggling The Day With A Deal
Various Aspects Of The Lease Purchase Business
Does Your Business Need An Attitude Adjustment?
Ethics in Business..A Lost Art
Referrals…The Secret Weapon
How To Give Yourself A $20,000/Year Raise
A Forgotten Marketing Tool - The Postcard
Using Those Business Cards
Is Your Business Safe?
Getting Started In Real Estate
Take It To The Customer
The Art Of Calling on Real Estate
Finding and Qualifying The Tenant/Buyer
Checklists for Tenant/Buyers and Sellers
The Lease Purchase Business Day
Warming Up to Cold Calls
Businesses - Leisurely Dining Or Fast Food?
How Do I Implement The Lease Purchase Plan
Guidelines For Choosing A Guru, Coach...
Are You A Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda?
Are You Profiting From O.P.P.?
The Many Ways To Profit From O.P.P....
How Do You Profit From O.P.P.?
Consulting Your Way To A Six Figure Income!
Business Partners & Marital Partners (Part I)
Business Partners & Marital Partners (Part II)
The "Psyche" of The Seller and The Tenant Buyer
The Divine Secrets Of The Ya Ya Lease Purchase Hood
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