Five tips to help keep your business and homelife as happy as possible

 

 

Everyone knows maintaining relationships is tough, whether that be friendships, romantic relationships, or business partners. When it comes to running a business with your spouse it takes work, hard work. You have to be able to balance any issues in your relationship and any work-related issues that may arise. And it’s important to not conflate the two. Kimberly and Leo Perez of Mechanic Project LLC know this well. They have been married for 14 years and in 2025 they will be celebrating 10 years of being business partners. In this article, Kimberly will share her advice on how to maintain a healthy relationship, both at home and in the office.

 

1. State The Intention of Your Conversation

Before you begin speaking with your partner, make sure you’ve clearly defined whether you’ll be talking about something personal or business-related. This way, you both can put on your correct “thinking cap”. When talking about these issues you may have to be in different headspaces, so it’s good to preface with which one is needed. Do you need to be in tune with your emotional or analytical side? Both are important.

Kimberly says setting intentions has been a game changer for her and her husband. She says, “At the start of the conversation we tell each other: ‘This is not a conflict or confrontation. It’s a time for us to resolve the issue at hand.’ Going into a discussion with a neutral and open mindset helps create a space for healthy, productive conversation.” Another factor that impacts their conversations is the tone in which they speak to each other. She says, “The way we start a conversation very much determines the way it will end.” When both parties enter the conversation respectfully it ensures that it will end the same way, with no disrespect or anger.

 

2. Prioritize What’s Important To You

There are always going to be tasks that need to be completed, so it’s pertinent you take the time to understand what matters most to you. When you make your to-do lists put them in order of highest to lowest importance. Make sure to include all tasks on the list, not only business-related ones. For example, “sit down for family dinner” and “look through potential candidates” may be of equal importance to you, thus being next to each other on your list.

For Kimberly and Leo, this looks like carving out specific family time moments. When the shop is busy and Leo has been pulling long hours, Kimberly makes sure she brings the kids in to have lunch with him. This allows them to spend time together while also not taking him away from any of his work-centric responsibilities. Another thing they prioritize is attending crucial events. Kimberly says, “We don’t miss our children’s moments. If we have to, we’ll adjust our schedules at the shop to make sure we show up for our kids.” As parents, you only get to see your kids grow up once which is why this couple prioritizes showing up for them.

 

3. Divide Your Responsibilities

When each person in a partnership has set their sole role it makes it easier to run smoothly. If both parties are trying to do the same job, arguments over the “correct” way to do it can ensue. In Leo and Kimberly’s case, he has a more front facing role while she is more behind the scenes. Kimberly says, “Leo fixes cars, directly manages employees, and is the face of the company. On the other hand, I manage our numbers, run payroll, pay bills, manage our marketing – lots of administrative tasks.” This is what works best for them. Make sure each person is doing not only tasks they’re good at, but ones they enjoy as well. If only one person has the “boring” tasks on their plate it leaves room for resentment to build.

The shop isn’t the only place they have their respective roles. Kimberly says, “One of the major benefits of being a small business owner is that it allows for Leo to spend most of his time at the shop while I can spend my time managing our household. It is a true blessing to be able to stay at home with kids.” While Kimberly is in charge of running their home, there is still a division of labor within it. She says, “At home, Leo and I share as many responsibilities as possible. I have a strict housework schedule that I adhere to while I am home during the day. Leo helps me with anything that doesn’t get done at the end of the day.”

To them, spending as much time with their children as possible is their number one priority. So, by equally dividing their needs they can efficiently handle both their business and household duties. At the end of the day, as a partnership, they tackle whatever is left over. Together they know they can always count on each other to weather any storm.

 

4. Know When You Need A Change

Sometimes, it’s not a simple of division of labor that’s the problem, it might be the entire structure of your routine. To have a strong and loving relationship you must spend alone time together as a couple, not just as a family. At one point, Kimberly mentions their struggle to find a sitter for their date night. Instead of letting that bog them down or build into a greater issue they came up with a solution. She says, “We redid our shop schedule. Now we close the business on Sunday and Monday, so while the kids are at school we have an entire day to ourselves.”

Kimberly and Leo know what the key to success is. She says, “DRIVE has taught us that you need to work ON your business, instead of IN it. That is when you truly see a shift as a business owner.” As DRIVE clients, they have access to other married shop owners just like themselves. They’re able to network with them, both giving and taking advice on their journey as owners.

Her biggest piece of advice? “If you are struggling in your business make an effort to grow your team and expand your resources. Even if it’s not in the budget, a good employee will pay for themselves. Even if you’re scared, do it scared.”

 

5. Embrace Gratitude

Remember why you started your business in the first place. For Kimberly, “Leo and I became business partners five years into our marriage. After several years of working for other companies, we realized we wanted to build something for ourselves. More importantly, we knew we wanted to have a family one day and the big picture was to leave a legacy for our children.” When you enter into disagreements with your partner make sure to remember the positive aspects of your situation. At the end of the day, you get to work with the person you love and make decisions that directly benefit your family! Together, you can conquer any problem you face – as a team.

 

There are many strategies you can use as a couple to make running a business with one another smoother and more enjoyable. Whether that be by working on your communication skills, setting boundaries on who does what, or simply taking time to remember why you love one another. In Kimberly’s words, “It’s all about gratitude, embracing the life you have and adjusting from there.”

 

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Prepared by Chase Clough

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