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Does your spouse help you in your business?

by FriendlyRob
37 replies
Hi,

My wife wants to help me with my business, she really does. The only problem is that she can't grasp what I do and I have a hard time teaching her in a short time, the skills that took me years to understand.

She has been dabbling in some nonsense work at home models that just frustrate her. I just know that it would be more profitable for us, if she could take away some of the busy work (administrative) that I have to do.

If you could share with me (and us, the forum members) how you do it, that would be helpful.
#business #spouse
  • Profile picture of the author Jagged
    We started as a team & always will be a team. We work well together...
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    • Profile picture of the author FriendlyRob
      Originally Posted by Jagged View Post

      We started as a team & always will be a team. We work well together...
      Unfortunately, mine started as my adversary until the money started coming in. Now she wants to help.
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      • Profile picture of the author GarryMSayer
        Originally Posted by FriendlyRob View Post

        Unfortunately, mine started as my adversary until the money started coming in. Now she wants to help.
        Yep. I can relate to that especially at the start when we were sleeping in separate beds because I wasn't finishing until four in the morning!

        Now it's different though.

        To be fair to the missus though she does help out when I need her to. She proofreads absolutely everything I write - except for forum posts, herein is my disclaimer to any grammar and syntax cops out there, so please forgive any spelling mistakes!

        She's also a dab hand with the finances too. And luckily not with the spending. She does all my financial book-keeping and does a great job too.

        I wouldn't be where I am today without her. I'd still be working 60+ hours in hospitality looking after drunken people and clearing up their s**t!

        Garry.
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        • Profile picture of the author FriendlyRob
          Originally Posted by GarryMSayer View Post

          Yep. I can relate to that especially at the start when we were sleeping in separate beds because I wasn't finishing until four in the morning!
          I don't blame her at all for having been skeptical, it wasn't the first time I tried making money in my spare time. But I somehow, I knew it would be my last.

          This business is perfect for me, and I knew that I was going to continue until I succeeded.
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          • Profile picture of the author stackman
            Mine has no interest in what I'm doing -- other than asking for money at the end of the month. She thinks I have some sort of money-making machine and would rather not know about it so that she won't be implicated when I get arrested.
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            • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
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              Originally Posted by stackman View Post

              Mine has no interest in what I'm doing -- other than asking for money at the end of the month. She thinks I have some sort of money-making machine and would rather not know about it so that she won't be implicated when I get arrested.
              lol ... priceless

              I think it is probably a good idea for anyone who has an interested spouse to spend some time training each step of the way, all the way to the point that they could actually launch something on their own if they wanted to rather than just handling your busy work stuff. I don't have a spouse but if I did and they wanted me to help out, I wouldn't be satisfied at all with just the crap work.
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      • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
        wow...I'd LOVE to see this thread grow...

        This is exactly what my fiance and I are facing right now (we marry in March).....

        I'd love to have her help, but even the proofreading/editing aspect of my eBooks/projects go beyond what she is familiar with or understands...hm....

        I suppose I could just "train" her, but, yes, it's taken quite some time to learn it....
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  • Profile picture of the author cclou
    Yes, I put my husband to work. I bought a copy of Artisteer and he makes my templates for me, along with any graphics that I need. He has a really good eye and I hate graphics, so that works great for us. I've had him do backlinking and some writing as well.

    I found that it works best if I give him specific instructions. He has a job mentality. And I don't mean that as a criticism. At first I wasn't as detailed and didn't give him lists because I hate being told what to do and how to do it. Once I realized we were wired differently it became much easier. I don't try to teach him the why and the how any more. He does learn as he goes, but I'll probably always be the "boss", because I'm the one coming up with new ideas and figuring out how effective new strategies are. At first I resisted that because I felt that he should care about our online business the same way I do. But truthfully it works perfectly the way it is.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lisa Gergets
    My husband didn't "get it" at first either. He's a former attorney and has a skeptic's mind, LOL. After he saw the recurring passive income he started to understand the unlimited potential there is in IM. It's like the classic A-HA moment!

    Now he helps me with idea development - he helps me see things from a completely different angle, good or bad. He also does a lot of writing for me as well. And, he keeps the kids busy when I'm working on the weekends, which is pretty priceless!

    There's no way I could have accomplished what I have without his support.
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    • Profile picture of the author Silas Hart
      The only aspect of my business my girlfriend is apart of or helps out with is shipping and putting on shipping labels.
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  • Profile picture of the author ProEFI
    My wife is a very talented writer and a constant knowledge seeker (educated engineer but now a stay at home mom). However, I can't seem to get her interested enough to become engaged in my business.
    I'm still working on her.

    Andrew

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    • Profile picture of the author FriendlyRob
      We are trying to work on the administrative aspect. Customer service etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Suzanne Morrison
    My husband isn't really that interested in internet marketing, but he does listen to me when I ramble on about my work and I do the same for him. He also gives me his opinion when I build a new website and gets excited with me when I do something that makes more money

    Cheers,
    Suzanne
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    • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
      My wife is involved in certain aspects of my business but the main part I do myself She is great at writing and promoting so she takes care of that stuff which is a huge load off my shoulders. Just like anything else without her I would be lost and vice versa we are the other half to each other so it only makes sense to be involved.

      -WD
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  • Profile picture of the author deannatroupe
    My husband doesn't really help that much with the business aspect of things, but he's GREAT around the house. He does most of the cleaning and cooking. He also does most of the discipline when the kids get out of line. He is also the math whiz so he pretty much keeps up with the household numbers for me and lets me know what we need to have to make ends meet for that month.

    Rob as far as your administrative needs go, you might be better off hiring a VA than trying to get your wife interested in doing that sort of work.
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  • Profile picture of the author mejohn
    My wife helps in the practical end of things. She packages up our products and ships them out. I do all the article writing and SEO.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      My hubby doesn't help me so much. He is a quality control engineer and has been for quite a while. Therefore, he is trained to seek out and destroy the portion that is "wrong".

      There could be 550 wonderful aspects to something and he would dis the one small thing that he thought was off.

      He pretty much leaves me alone, and has now taken over cooking our meals every night, sweeping and mopping the hardwood floors and does a marvelous job! I wouldn't have it any other way!

      MissTerraK
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      • Profile picture of the author millionebook
        It is great if you can have help and work as a team but many times it is best to have the responsibilities yourself. That way you are in control of your ventures. Help from your spouse in a positive way is a bonus
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        • Profile picture of the author Susan Hope
          Yep my hubby helps a lot.

          In fact, he and I met in an online business venture - we married earlier this year. The original online venture is long gone and he took a full time job when we got together (he has been trying to make his living online before).

          He did that obviously to keep a roof over our heads but also to free me up so I could carry on persuing the online business. Because we met that way and he used to try and do the same he understands completely and always helped by listening and giving his expertise.

          A few months ago though he got made redundant (another victim of the recession) and so we now work together - he has his specialities and I have mine and we can both do the others job too but we each do our own far better, for instance, he is our adwords genius and I leave things like that up to him whereas I like talking to new clients and he does not LOL

          It works out well for us.

          Cheers
          Sue
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          • Profile picture of the author Terri Tutten
            My husband Jim is the Artist Dude - so he's a very important part of our team! But he's not really interested in the technical aspects of making money online, so I just send him my "work orders" and he does all the graphics, banners, ebooks, everything to do with the art work. I'm hopeless in PhotoShop, try as I might.

            He also does most of the housework, and lucky me, the cooking. I tend to stay focused on my work while he's busy being creative in many ways. He never talks to clients; that's always me, and you'll never see him making a post - LOL!

            We both consider this to be "our" business, each an equal partner. Neither of us could do this without the other, unless there was a lot of outsourcing!

            Terri
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  • Profile picture of the author TheDebtEliminator
    Hello Rob,

    My wife works on the 90 ... 10 business model

    She will do 10% of the business (answer the phone) and authorize 90% of the spending.

    At least I can buy a few WSOs

    She does keep me feed and smiling ... so everything is OK

    Cheers
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  • Profile picture of the author TelegramSam
    Originally Posted by FriendlyRob View Post

    Hi,

    If you could share with me (and us, the forum members) how you do it, that would be helpful.

    The best thing to do is to get her to bring you nice hot cups of tea and food regularly. She can also help by making sure she does all the ironing and cleaning properly for you. Next you could get her to kj;/sdfgkh ,khjdslgh s"dgdghf h

    Whack, Biff, Ouch!!!

    Sorry, my wife just saw what I was writing and showed me what the inside of a frying pan looks like ;-)

    Seriously though, my wife and I built are businesses from the beginning and it was only since the kids came along that she started concentrating on looking after them etc.

    Even now her help is very valuable and along with my other staff, she helps to allow me to focus on the big picture etc.

    To make it work, it's important to have very definite roles and to try and not discuss work matters at times when that isn't appropriate ;-)

    Sam
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  • Profile picture of the author adriennep
    My partner and I work really well together. We each have different 'talents' and are happy to let the other get on with what they do best. Luckily we have always been of one mind and agree on all the big stuff - we only ever tend to disagree on small stuff, and manage to sort that out pretty quickly.

    The main advantage is that we understand each other's frustrations, and the ups and downs that business inevitably brings. We often say we don't know how other couples manage when one of them is going through a really rough time at work, and the spouse just doesn't get it - it must be really hard.

    The only disadvantage is that we never seem to turn off our business heads. Even going out for a romantic evening, at some point a work related issue is raised and before we know it we're 'back in the office'. I know of couples who manage to switch off the work thing as soon as they get home, but when you work from home that's easier said than done!
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  • Profile picture of the author bravo75
    My missus thinks I'm a few olives short of a pizza
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  • Profile picture of the author mmixon
    I wish my wife would work with me on my internet stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author tj0575
    I would love if my wife even had interest in what i do. but to be fair she is a great cheerleader for me, when i am feeling down she is right there to pick me up and tell me to keep doing it. she has always been on my side just no interest.
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  • Profile picture of the author Buildingfutures
    She does indeed, actually. She doesn't do anything with the business itself, but there is a lot of help coming from her when it comes to me wanting to buy new tools or something like that. She's the more frugal one of us, and if it wasn't for her, I'd be dead, dead, broke right now, haha!

    -Sean
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  • Profile picture of the author cma01
    My DH has a pretty demanding career so he doesn't work with me in my business, but he does give me feedback on designs and ideas.

    He works in operations, but he is also a great writer. I set up a blog for him and he has built up pretty good site traffic and a Twitter following.

    Now my 9 year old is already creating videos and I set her up with a blog a couple of months ago as well. I pay her to help me with simple tasks like social bookmarking now and it won't be too long before I can have her do some design work.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brad Gile
    My wife and I actually started our IM business together. I do the designing and website coding and she does all the content writing for our customers.

    It actually works out perfectly. I'm very lucky that she shares the same goals in this business as me.

    Now, she'll tell you that she's not as passionate about IM as I am. I live and breath it, she doesn't. She actually has interest out side of IM. As some of you might be able to understand, IM can become very addictive and almost become a hobby as well as a business.

    I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author info-link
    My girlfriend is a very talented to spend my hard-earned money only. And think that she don't plan to help me in my online business. May be in the future?
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  • Profile picture of the author Branlan17
    I'm only 17 so I can't say I have a spouse, but I've been trying to get my gf of over a year to dabble in IM. She's very busy right now but when she heard I'd started having hundred dollar days doing this on top of going to school she became a bit more intrigued haha
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    My wife doesn't even now how to turn a computer on, but that doesn't stop her from trying to tell me how to run my business.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
      Ahh that sounds familiar, I have that type of spouse as well. Loves to tell me how to do it even though he has no idea lol.

      Kim
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      My wife doesn't even now how to turn a computer on, but that doesn't stop her from trying to tell me how to run my business.
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    • Profile picture of the author candoit2
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      My wife doesn't even now how to turn a computer on, but that doesn't stop her from trying to tell me how to run my business.
      Keep your spouse on the other side of the house. Memorize this rhyme and all will be fine.

      Aaron
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  • Profile picture of the author bieke81
    My husband doesn't really help in my business, well, except in staying out of my way while I'm working, which, i think, could be considered helping too (I mean, being able to concentrate is rather important, and if you have someone around you that constantly tries to make conversation doesn't help LOL). He learned that the hard way, though, I locked him out of the house one night, 'cause I really needed to finish a project.

    Guess it's not that bad, he doesn't know anything about computers, except play games on them and isn't interested in learning it, so I don't bother teaching him things because I know that I will only get upset at the end and he won't have learned a thing (again, we learned that the hard way). But at least, when he's home he'll keep the kids busy and do some household chores if needed when I'm in the midst of a new project, and for me that's helping enough.

    Leslie
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Powers
    Well,that's really a good thing.But why don't you try to find some fellows to help you and then develop your business.My wife is engaged in a different work with me.I have my own team to do the same thing together.Some of them are even more professional.
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