In This Issue
- Henry and Marissa's Update
- Two Minds Tip: Advantages of Couples Being In Business Together
- Feature Article: Becoming More Confident In Front Of An Audience
- We Recommend: Double your profits while working less!
Hello everyone,
What a whirlwind couple of weeks it has been!
A few days ago, we finished our 85 page guide called "Freedom From Self-Employment Traps: A Business Owner's Blueprint".
In this guide, we share with you some of the most empowering knowledge and strategies we used to increase our income by 147% in 11 months. And believe us, you can do it too.
Busy as it may be in the office, Henry found time for some all-important networking - on the golf course!
Thanks to Steve Bianchini from FranchiseMart who arranged a great morning of golf, he got to practice his swings.
And yes, he does need a lot more practise. And I can also tell you he doesn't need much motivation or excuse to go to the driving range!
Enjoy this edition's tips and here's to a wonderful weekend coming up!
Cheers,
Marissa and Henry
Two Minds Tip
There are certainly mixed reactions when we talk to people about being in business with your life partner. 
Some are interested in how we make it work, some want to know if it's really worthwhile, some want to know how to start and some just plain don't want to go there!
It's definitely not for everyone's and it has it's own drawbacks.
But for us, we love it, and here's some advantages and tips we'd like to share with you.
Advantages of Couples Being In Business Together
by Henry Chow and Marissa Carlos
A motivated couple with a solid business plan can definitely increase the family income. But finances aren’t the only benefit of working together. As with any other business venture, it’s crucial to carefully weigh the pros and cons – and clearly, there are cons -- before taking such a step.
But in the “pros” column of your checklist, add these among the benefits of going into business with your spouse:
1. Family Unity
2. Better Communication
3. Increased Income
4. Holiday Scheduling
FAMILY UNITY
When your spouse is also your business partner, the substantial amount of time spent together working for a common purpose often builds unity between you. As business partners, you’ll learn to protect each other more from external forces that sometimes drain energy and enthusiasm. For example, few non-family partners will take steps to bring order to an overwhelming schedule or commitment load. Few outsiders will pick up each other’s slack unasked.
There’s a new level of bonding possible when couples forge business unions.
No one else could share your concerns about what’s going on with your venture like a partner who’s also invested in its success. In fact, a partner who isn’t involved in your business can easily become frustrated with hearing so much about it.
No one else will understand the sheer joy of each success the way a spouse who’s your business partner will. The victories are multiplied by two. Who else could know so intimately what’s kept you sleepless at night? Who better than your life partner will appreciate how much every little business victory really means?
If you have children, both business partners are parents who understand the time and energy challenges of parenting. Because you and your partner happen to care about the well-being of the very same child or children, it’s actually easier to reach agreement about the needs of your little ones. You can often even start spending an equal amount of time with the children, which enhances family relationships.
INCREASED INCOME
Many couples work in business together with the aim of increasing family time and family income. Often the income will increase when the primary caregiver (e.g., a stay-at-home mother) becomes employed in the family business, bringing in a second salary plus actively helping the business grow.
If you have a business that operates from home, this will save money as well as increase the amount of family time you have with the children. Costs for child care and commuting are only two of the expenses that can be eliminated if you operate your family business from home.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULING
A couple’s business also can provide a more balanced lifestyle. When spouses have a business in common, their paths run parallel – rather than just occasionally intersecting. When in business together, you can decide exactly when a getaway should be planned, rather than hoping your honey’s boss will agree with your family’s need for quality down-time together.
BETTER COMMUNICATION
Business partners spend countless hours brainstorming, strategising and sometimes even commiserating. Working through the communication challenges that often are part of those processes is precisely what brings most business couples closer.
A couple who keep their private and professional lives separate will fare much better in the workplace. This means leaving petty squabbles at home or resolving them so that they don’t get in the way of the job: You’ll gain the respect of other colleagues.
EXERCISE
If you aspire to be a couple in business or want to make your business partnerhips with your life partner work, make sure you establish in advance (and along the way) rules and boundaries which build not only your business, but also your personal relationship. Hash out as many issues as you can – on both fronts -- before you commit.
Grab pen and paper and write out your answers to these questions, and later review your answers together:
- What does success look like? Describe success in terms of how the family and business are running.
- What does failure look like? Describe failure in terms of how the family and business are running.
- What are you willing to sacrifice, and what would be non-negotiable?
- If you have children, what are your current responsibilities for raising them and how should those roles change or be tweaked once a business venture is launched?
- What are your measurable goals for the business? (E.g., how much income monthly, how many employees, etc.)
- Imagine this business venture is your new child. List 5 key business principles or rules to operate by which you feel will best prepare the child for success in the real world.
Last but not least, have fun and enjoy your business.
©2009 Marissa Carlos and Henry Chow
Feature Article
Becoming More Confident In Front Of An Audience
This edition's success tip comes from Shelley Taylor-Smith.
As a 7-time World Marathon Swimming Champion, Shelley has overcome partial paralysis; several major and minor car accidents; a benign breast scare; a collapsed marriage and much more to become a highly in-demand speaker in Australia and overseas.
How can people become more confident in front of an audience?
* Preparation - both physical and mental. By focusing on being confident and allowing themselves to enjoy the journey. Even a highly technical presentation can be fun, as long as we don't get bogged down by detail and by trying to remember rather than trusting ourselves as the experts we are.
* Get help from a coach - learn about everything, from making the most of your nervous energy and using your body language and voice, to writing the speech and learning memory techniques to guide you through it.
* Practise - tell stories to family and friends as they are your best and most honest gauges.
* Be you - focus on what makes you, you.
Remember we all have someone out there who is fascinated by us, so always present as if you were talking to them.
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