About Business:
1) If we reverse the way a lot of the comments have approached the original question, and this might be something that Cali and Neal can comment on; If the relationship breaksdown (not because of work, but for personal reasons) what happens to the business, who gets ownership of the company, and in the case of a very close- working at home situation such as C&N, does it spell the end for the business immediately?

About Lifestyle:
2) Does being financially comfortable, help ease pressures on the relastionship, as there is one less think to cause tension and arguments.

About Accounts:
What are your thoughts on shared bank accounts? Personally, my wife and I, each have our own account, and one joint “budget” account. Our wages go directly into our own accounts, and then a percentage is moved into the budget account each month. My percentage is higher than my wifes, as she pays for food direcly from her own account. If you look at the balance sheet of the budget account for the year, then I actually put in a little more than neccessary so that we have a little bit of room, if it’s needed (for example if one of the cars, we have two, needs work).

About Children:
Does having children effect your work ethic? If you have your own business which, especially in the start up requires a LOT of extra work, or are planning on starting one, does having children add an extra dimension to the pressures?

There are some who can pull it off – I’m not one of them!

I dated one of the restaurant staff, who was 2nd in command – until I came in as a trainee, and took her position. I think she resented it a little.

Although within 3 months, she’d whisked me back to her home country, where we got married and had two children. That was 13 years ago, so….

One of the things that was talked about in an earlier podcast, was borrowing money from friends and family. Is it really advisable, isn’t it a huge strain to put on the friendship/relationship, specifically if the business isn’t florishing?

John P.

A business needs a boss. Someone has to be in charge. Someone has to be “the decider.”

A marriage doesn’t need a boss. A marriage is better without one. Much better.

If you can compartmentalize, then go for it. By “you” I mean the partner who is NOT the boss. Can that person take direction and instruction but not take it personally.

Conversation can become an issue. If you talk about work at home, and at work, well, it’s 1-dimensional. Also, telling your spouse about work is repetitive, they were there.

Overall, I advise against it.

2. Keep an open line of communication. The minute you hold back it begins to fester and other situations build up on top of it until it is too late to fix. Continual communication keeps the slate clean.

3. Set boundaries – As with any employee/employer/colleague relationship there are boundaries, limits, hierarchies and rules to be followed. While it is more difficult to keep up with these boundaries with family a working relationship must have them. However the minute you walk out the door into the personal life remember to leave the boundaries behind.

4. Segregation of work and personal life – This is the most crucial, yet difficult issue of working with family (and friends). Letting a situation from either life bleed into the other will quickly derail both the working and personal relationships you have built. Generally because family and friends have an extra level of care for each other (compared to working relationships) both good and bad situations become that much more passionate. The disagreements and arguments become more heated and the successes become that much more glorious.

I have witnessed first hand relationships torn to shreds with the integration of family and friends into the work and personal life. Some relationships will likely never be mended and some are slowly being rebuilt, but will never be the same.

For this reason I have separated myself from opportunities like this, I cherish my personal relationships too much to risk it.