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Family Matters:  Business w/ DH/Family  |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 25 2012 : 3:52:42 PM
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Do any of you lovely ladies run a business with your DH or family?
We are thinking of possibly starting up a business around the end of the year, or maybe next year- and I'm looking for tales of conquest and frustration.
My husband is a wonderful mechanic, but ever since his war injuries, he lacks the ability to really stay on a specific task for very long. He needs someone to ride his butt and keep him in gear. I can definitely do that, and I can keep books and manage phones. However, I'm a little concerned that the business aspect could greatly alter our relationship dynamic. Just looking for advice/input from you ladies since I find you to be a group of similar-minded, strong women :)
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2012 : 4:11:58 PM
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I've tried in the past to partner with family for business and it was a nightmare. My DH and I have far too different of opinions on certain aspects of running a business to go in together, even with running the family farm we butt heads all the time. I do know a few people who are very successful with their business and family relationships.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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Joey
True Blue Farmgirl
1868 Posts
Joey
Gulf Coast
FL
USA
1868 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2012 : 05:27:02 AM
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I/We have had 2 different businesses over the past 10 years and DH and I work together very well. We come at almost everything from different life experiences and have MANY differences of opinion but we have always been able to talk them out and do what was best for the business. I had an old boss that always said "everyone gets their say, no everyone gets their way." It has helped us. Good luck. Joey
Well behaved women rarely make history. |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2012 : 08:50:55 AM
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I like that quote from your old boss, Joey. Makes alot of sense!
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
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GirlwithHook
True Blue Farmgirl
922 Posts
Alyce
Madison
WI
USA
922 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2012 : 10:03:23 AM
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Joey, I think I'm going to cross-stitch that saying from your boss and put it on my kitchen wall!
I do have a couple of businesses with the Mister as a silent partner, and I do the sewing for his. We are still in the "adjusting" stage unfortunately (neither business is very old), and we are learning to strike a balance between my needs and his.
I almost feel as if I should blog about the learning process; it might make a good "what not to do"!
A hook, a book, and a good cup of coffee.... |
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Dorinda
True Blue Farmgirl
1023 Posts
Dorinda
St. Cloud
Florida
USA
1023 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2012 : 6:11:14 PM
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I have been in business with my husband for 28 years now. We work really well together. But you have to separate family time from business. We own 2 successful Septic businesses. After 6:00 PM there is no more talk of business. I cook dinner and we sit down to eat as a family. We talk to our children about their day and things to come. I love the freedom it gives me. I do remind my husband every once in a while when things get stressful in the office and I start seeing him get up tight that I married him to be his wife not his secretary. He then changes his attitude instantly and reminds me how he could of not done it all these years with out me. My husband is a jokester and we laugh a lot together when things are going crazy with customers. We do not work on the weekends and try to stay out of the office. Every once in a while we will do a few pump outs on Saturday if the people really beg us to please help them. Like when their house is swimming in sewage and they cannot get any one else to come. Or if my husband is wanting some extra spending money. LOL. Neither one of us is boss over the other we just both know what needs to be done and we get the job done. We both know that this is how we make our living. If I want to make plans to go shopping and out to lunch with friends I just schedule it. He never saids a word. Just like with any other job you have to make sure every thing is in order and done accordingly to keep the business up and going as smoothly as you can and that your employees are taken care of.
Make sure you have alot of I love yous and hugs. Not all married couples are cut out to do this together. But don't forget one great benefit....You get to sleep with the boss and no body talks about it...LOL......
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
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Lieberkim
True Blue Farmgirl
839 Posts
Kimberly
Sunnyside
WASHINGTON
USA
839 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2012 : 6:24:03 PM
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First let me say that I'm so sorry your husband was injured and a thank you for serving his country.
Working together really depends on your individual personalities. Can you "ride his butt" without him knowing it? I have a friend who was so good at encouraging her husband to be the best he could be that he always thought they were his ideas and it built him up in confidence until he was all he could be. And he adores his wife.
Hope it all works out well for you.
Excuse the mess & the noise, my children are making happy memories |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2012 : 08:59:52 AM
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It would be something I need to work on, Kimberly. I would love to be that kind of a wife for my husband.
We have the exact same personality type, and we agree on most things. We've never fought in over two years together.
This is the kind of thing that we will not go in hock to start- so DH and I would be working up and saving up all the start-up costs. It's looking a year out at soonest.
We have been running the ranch together for a year and a half now, even before we were married. We work very well together, and we talk about any/all changes together before we make them. We've both compromised to make the other happy, and I really like that about us. We're mighty stubborn, but we're also reasonable, and reason wins out in our planning.
The business idea is one that has both scarcity and a market, so I think it's promising. We'll be doing some more research before we decide, though. And we still have the animals (of which only the chickens are covering their own feed... I need some calves to drop soon!). Running a small ranch, doing all your own fencing, repairs, building, etc. is a lot of work... Good thing it's all worth it in the end!
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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Family Matters: Business w/ DH/Family |
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Business w/ DH/Family
