Posted by Maggie Mistal
In case you missed it, last week on Making a Living, I interviewed Mark and Lu Samu, a husband and wife team who've found success by pooling their talents and going into business together. Their partnership (Mark is an architectural photographer and Lu is an interior designer) has netted two books,"Can't Fail Room Makeovers" and"Paint Saves the Day" and a third is on the way. Many listeners to my show have shared their desire to start a business with their spouse. If this sounds like you, follow these tips to create a successful working relationship with your significant other:
Respect each other's talents. To best set up your partnership, write out your complimentary strengths and set up your business in a way that plays to both of your talents. For Mark and Lu, that meant Mark's focus was on marketing and promotion as well as photography. Lu's creative talents enabled her to inspire the many home improvement projects captured in their books. Mark and Lu were very clear that they see value in the other's skills and wouldn't be a successful team without their combined efforts.
Keep your ego out of it. One of the benefits of working with your spouse is that you can be honest about what's working and what's not. According to Lu, she finds Mark's feedback on her work invaluable. The two trust each other's opinions and rather than get defensive, appreciate the role that honest feedback plays in creating the best outcome.
Define expectations upfront. In my own experience working with family, I've found it best to be as upfront as possible about what's expected from each person in the partnership. Setting boundaries around the working relationship can also help maintain a strong personal connection as well. It was clear from talking with Mark and Lu that their working relationship meets their individual career needs and goals as well which is crucial for long-term success.
We didn't have time to discuss it during the show, but I was able to see Mark and Lu's creative talents firsthand. They met me at my home before the show and gave my husband and I a few great redesign ideas for our small NYC apartment. Seeing those two at work, solidified for me that partnership between spouses can yield greater results that one could achieve alone. If you have career couple advice and questions, please share them below.
And tune into Making a Living today at 4pm EST (1pm PST) to learn all about the social networking tool Twitter and how it can give a boost to your career!
From: Ann Wilkinson | 9/17/09 at 12:56 pm
It was truly inspiring to listen to Mark and Lu, and their honesty and compassion for each other struck me as their key to their success. My husband and I owned a company for 18 years, and that experience was not only a test of our relationship, it was also a source of strength for us. Having a clear idea of each of your goals for the business is key -- do you intend to have your business be your job until you retire, or do you want to build a company with the idea of selling it in the future? Make 2-, 5-, and 10-year plans for yourselves, and be completely honest about what you want. Another aspect of having a company with your spouse is to make sure that you understand your own and your spouse's attitude toward finances and money in general. This is crucial to the company's future and the health of your relationship! Finally, make sure you schedule in some time for non-business talk and activities. If you are discussing the company and business during all your waking hours, you are going to do a fast burnout! Being a power couple who also work together isn't for everyone, but it can work. We sold our company in 2006 and have moved on to enjoy individual projects, and we still love being together and sharing ideas!