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Working Together Can Be Profitable
With 80 percent of businesses being family-owned, many couples desire to work together, even when it means overcoming various obstacles and challenges that face business owners.
But, what if you're already in business together? What can you do to improve your company, both financially and emotionally? How can married couples thrive while working together?

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"A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug."
Patricia Neal, Academy award-winning actress

     Yesterday and today Promotional Consultant Today will explore ways married couples and families can succeed and even prosper in business together. Yesterday we looked at Goal Setting, Responsibilities and Communicating Effectively.

Drop Egos At The Front Door
     There is no room for power plays in a family-run business or office. You must create and maintain a harmonious environment for yourself and your staff members, even if it just the two of you.
     Your harmony together (or lack thereof) can make a huge difference in sales, customer service and productivity. You must be united in your efforts to succeed. Customers, employees, vendors, and suppliers must see you working together as a couple.
     A bickering couple creates tension and makes the entire office environment toxic.

Hold Meetings On A Weekly Basis
     If you aren't doing this already, it is a great idea is to schedule weekly or even daily meetings. These are meetings held at the office, not your home in the evenings. This is the time to discuss expenses, the profit and loss statements, goals, problems you have or think you may encounter.
     Nothing should be combative or argumentative. All the communication should be constructive and in line with carrying out the goals of the business.

Trust Your Board Of Advisors
     Creating an outside board of advisors is helpful for finding solutions. Differences can be settled with the use of an advisory panel.
     The advisory board is comprised of trusted people with different areas of business expertise. They can also be a sounding board for issues or challenges that your business might face.
     You can meet with them as a group quarterly or meet one-on-one, as necessary. A good mix would include a CPA, an attorney, a banker, a marketing expert, and someone retired from your industry.
     Check with your Chamber of Commerce for programs that might be available to help businesses grow. Many Chambers have formal groups that meet and act as advisors.
     Formal or informal it doesn't matter how you get together; what is essential is that you have a group of professionals or trusted friends who will be honest in their feedback to you.
     Remember: at the end of the day you are going home together. Try to keep things in perspective and leave the shoptalk at the office. To survive in today's competitive marketplace, you must be able to successfully conquer work-life balance. When you maintain balance, you can have a successful business and marriage.

     Source: Zelda Fraden is a consultant, speaker and entrepreneur. She is the former president of Women Business Owners of North Florida and a past recipient of the regional SBA Family-Owned Business of the Year Award.

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