Most of the articles I read about Business Life focus on the Business part of the equation. Or what happens from 8AM -5PM (or 7AM – 12AM for Entrepreneurs). This article however touches on the life side of the equation. It provides a brief insight into the various roles that spouses play in the work of their CEO-mates. From the jealous spectator to the true business partner there is a wide spectrum of how married couples work together (or apart).
From my experience, I have watched some my friends place a wedge between themselves and their spouse by alienating them from the goings on at the office. This includes not sharing bad news and down-playing big wins – they just keep it to themselves. Maybe that works for them – not me though.
My wife is what I would call “the truth serum”- she knows me well enough to not allow me to kid myself. As CEO’s we justify decisions, make excuses, get overly optimistic about chances of success, etc. – well for me, Jen just knows when I am happy (and not). If I am happy then she can dig into the details to see if there is real substance behind my exuberance. If I am down, she can question to see if it is really as rough as I am painting it out to be. And that is how she keeps me in the truth zone. If I start lying to myself, she knows it before I do. I’m lucky to have a great friend like her…
So, what role does your spouse play in your Business Life?
