How to Successfully Run a Business With Your Spouse
A Few Tips to Get Through Each Day
Going into business with your family, especially with a spouse, can be extremely challenging — but it doesn’t have to be. Many couples can navigate working together and successfully manage a family business, all while strengthening their marriage! According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, 53% of managers in family-run businesses share those duties with a spouse. So, more often than not, spouses are able to run a business together, despite the horror stories you might have heard! Running a successful business with your spouse takes a lot of consideration, however. If it’s something you’re considering, keep these tips in mind. Create healthy boundaries. Keep your work life and your home life separate. Don’t carry household conflicts — like forgetting to unload the dishwasher or a disagreement over parenting — into a work environment. A great way to maintain these boundaries is by setting work hours, in which you’re allowed to discuss business. During all other hours, business discussions should not be allowed to happen.
who holds which jobs so you can minimize the amount of opportunities for arguments when something doesn’t get done.
Create your own space. Even though you may work from home, that doesn’t mean you need to be in the same room or take breaks together. And while it might seem silly if you’re working in the same home, communicating through email will help you keep a record of your discussions. Remember the value of your relationship. At the end of the day, choose your marriage over your business anytime those two priorities come in conflict with one another. At the same time, bring the healthy traits of your marriage, like trust, respect, communication, and humility, into your business partnership. Building a business with your spouse is possible — if you’re willing to put in the work.
Fairly divide work duties. Make sure that both of you are taking on the amount of responsibility that you feel is fair. You both want to be clear on
Communicating With Elderly Loved Ones Who Can’t Speak
5 STRATEGIES YOU CAN TRY
As people age, whether because of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, brain injuries, or impaired hearing, they and their loved ones may experience more and more difficulties communicating with one another. Sometimes, seniors even lose their ability to speak entirely. Fortunately, there are still methods that you can use to communicate with your elderly loved ones. Whatever your elderly loved one’s condition might be, one or a few of the following five strategies may work for communicating with them. Be respectful. Keep your loved one involved in the conversation, even if it seems like you’re just talking at them rather than with them. Be patient with them as they speak — they’ll appreciate it more than you might think.
Let them practice. Avoid finishing their sentences or speaking for your loved ones. Depending on the condition, continued practice could either partially or completely restore their speaking skills. It might be tedious at first, but conversing with them will get easier with time. Be patient. Don’t rush through your conversation with your loved ones. Make sure that you’re both on the same page in the conversation. Let them know when you’re switching conversation topics and confirm that they understand with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Always take time to listen to what they’re saying. Converse during physical contact. Conversing while holding your loved one’s hand, brushing their hair or applying lotion can make the interaction seem more natural. Let them know you’re going to touch them
before you do it, however. If they pull back, it’s probably best not to engage in physical contact with them. Play their favorite music. Playing some upbeat tunes or old favorites is a great way to indicate that you enjoy spending time with your elderly loved one. Music sometimes conveys emotion easier than words, and can make communication easier. Spending time with elderly loved ones when they need human contact the most shouldn’t feel like a chore. With these tips, you can make your time together worthwhile for them and for yourself.
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