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 separate business hours, and when you’re done, don’t talk about business, focus on your relationship. It’s hard, but make a concentrated effort at it. Limit your business conversations to business hours or set aside a specific time to talk about 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 the monthly goals you set at the beginning of the month are progressing. Remember to express any criticism or suggestion in a positive vein. Think about how you felt in the work situation and how supervisors treated you when they made suggestions. Negatives only cause resentment. They do it in the business field, and even more so, when it comes to a spouse with whom you have to live 24 hours a day. Be sure to set aside time for each other: go for a walk, go out to dinner, or just take a drive with your spouse. Don’t talk about business.

You must have outside activities that are not related to the business. If not, join a group that interests you. It will allow you to meet with other people who are not connected to your business. Running a home-based business can be very lonely; getting away from 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 begin, be sure to ask yourself the following:

1. Are you self-motivated? Organized? Are you able to prioritize your work? You will no longer have a supervisor or a boss telling 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. Also, set definite business hours and stick to them.

2. Will you be able to deal with the isolation? No longer will you bump into people in the hallways, congregate around the coffee pot, or take a break to talk to your coworkers. To combat loneliness and isolation, be sure to join groups that meet outside the home or schedule lunches with friends and associates.

3. Write a business plan. Make sure the business is something that interests you. You may want to start part-time and grow from there. Research the business carefully, make sure there is a market and that the competition is not overwhelming.

4. Make sure you have at least six months of living expenses set aside. This will give you time to work on the marketing strategy outlined in your business plan and avoid bad marketing practices. Plus, if changes need to be made, you can, without money concerns becoming an issue.

5. Make sure your office space is located in a separate room or area of ​​your home that offers the fewest distractions. A separate office is best, especially if you are meeting with clients. Always remember to present a professional appearance.

6. When will you do your regular housework? Make up a schedule of when you will deal with them. Some people find that it is best to do homework before the start of the work day. 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 of one of you can seriously affect 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’s home-based or not. It can be a very rewarding experience. Think carefully and ask yourself lots of self-assessment questions before you start.

Copyright 2000, DeFiore Enterprises