Growing Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Relationships

“Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.” – Jim Rohn

Every entrepreneur has various relationships in their life.  They could be a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, niece, cousin, girlfriend, wife, partner, neighbor or a friend.  So how do you manage all of those roles in addition to being a businesswoman?  That was the topic of January 25th’s #startupchat, Growing Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Relationships, hosted by @startupprincess‘ managing director, @speakmichelle and business/marriage expert panelists, @DinoandShannon.

 

Q1. What struggles do you have running a business and preserving your relationships?

@DinoandShannon I struggle sometimes with disconnecting with work at night so I can engage w/family. Constantly working on that. With my clients, and even in our own marriage it can be stressful to not have a “steady income” if both are entrepreneurs.

@speakmichelle I know that one struggle I have running a biz and keeping my marriage going is time. I feel pulled in 100 directions.

@JHNannies I have found a common daily theme is an expectancy to do more and have results daily

@MCGustafson It’s about putting tasks in compartments of time. Working by a weekly plan sheet keep it all organized. Then sharing with hubby so it makes us feel like a team managing “our” calendars not just mine.

@WhatDoWomenThi1 My husband is so loud on the phone when we both work from home, I write a note that says ‘shsssh’!

TIP: @MarriageCheckup Have you tried to share your calenders with your husband? I use Google calenders and it works great!

 

Q2: Is your spouse/loved ones supportive of your entrepreneurial ventures? How do they show it? 

@DinoandShannon Yes- until we started working together & it created some new struggles to work on. I love that we do personal development together and are teaching it to our kids. So different then how I grew up!

@CKPFineArt My husband is wonderfully supportive. He asks how things are going, and he recognizes that what I do is important to me. Re: housework, I’m lucky enough to be at home, but it’s still tough. I budget an hour a day for domestic tasks and catch-up.

@radiantcosmetic Our loved ones are super supportive. They show it by lending a hand at our events and in lots of areas.

@BenitaWizeHouse Yes, very supportive in pitching in w/ un-done household chores so that things are done as a team.

@JHNannies Something I’ve started doing with my significant other is using Do.com it’s a fantastic way to organize time.

 

Q3: What other things can WE do as entrepreneurs to make it easier for our spouses/loved ones to support us in business?

@DinoandShannon Share our bigger vision and WHY for what we are doing & enroll them. Plus, set rewards when meet goals. Balance out “partnership” with time to be just boyfriend/girlfriend. Keep the romance alive=key to making more $ in biz. Make requests of what you need. Don’t expect spouse mind reading or assume they know. Define what is a date night, and what’s a “night out” for you. Date nights are pre-planned and more special. I also am a fan of making double batches of soups or casseroles and freezing 1/2 for later.

@speakmichelle I’m really working on ENROLLMENT this year. Not just what I’m working on, but WHY that task, project, event is important! I also think it’s a good idea to give them how they can support you. Help with kids, dinner, dishes, etc.

@MCGustafson Make them feel part of our business team not another thing/task to be managed.

@littlelambweb Set boundaries so your partner feels your just as important as your business. Even if your not a biz owner, don’t forgot to have your date nights!

@redheadJami Definitely ask and be specific. “I need help with this so that I can do this later or with you.” We choose several easy meals and several more detailed meals in our meail plan so that we can work those into our schedules.

TIP: @DinoandShannon Prioritize your to do list into A-B-C categories. Make sure the A’s get done everyday!

 

Q4: Do you carve out time each week to spend with family and friends? Date nights, etc? Are they regular times each week?

@DinoandShannon We likely do do a weekly night out (movie/dinner) and then once every month or so we go on a real “date” that’s pre-planned. For us, a date night is little “extra”. Concert-play-something diff than ordinary. Keep the spark alive

@BenitaWizeHouse Friday’s are our ‘Family Fun’ night where we do movies, games, crafts, etc. It’s great & we’ve been doing this for yrs.

@startupprincess I also schedule time with my kids. They don’t know that, but when that appt pops up its a reminder to focus on them.

@littlelambweb Tues and Weds are mine to spend as I want. Sundays are also off limits. Thats when i get my crochet on, lol.

@carlymelissa_x I do activities with friends, like regular games of soccer etc. It combines my fitness time with social!

 

Q5: Anyone have”relationship evaluation time”with loved ones? I ask, “rate me on a scale from 1-10″ “What can I do to improve?”

@DinoandShannon Dino and I evaluate on lil’ things nightly during pillow talk. Big things we do at weekly marriage mastermind. We also have weekly family council and let the kids give feedback/have a say @ family life.

@BenitaWizeHouse Great idea!!; don’t have one now, but I’m inspired to implement such an evaluation.

@FronteSentre I regularly ask my kids if they have anything on their mind or if they feel like they got enough “mommy time” this week.

@CarterMarissa We agreed that we wouldn’t discuss business in bed. Might sound silly but it helps keep business & pleasure separate, haha!

 

In the month of February, #startupchat will be talking about money, finances and profits. Mark your calendars for every Wednesday at 2pm EST, 12pm MNT!

 

Startup Princess guest blogger Kim Celano is the founder of KC Bakes, an online cake pop stand business.  Dedicated to her social media outlets, she has transformed KC Bakes’ reach from a small group of local bakers into an international audience of cake pop makers, bakeries and recently supplied stands for a new restaurant in California.  Kim is an avid baker and enjoys sharing her knowledge through tutorials on her blog, aptly named KC Bakes. She lives in Maple Shade, NJ with her husband.

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