There is an old saying 'behind every good man is a good woman'. In this era of equal rights it could be said that 'behind every good woman is a good man'. Regardless of the gender, it is important to realize the impact that one's spouse has on the success or failure of a business. Many ventures are doomed to failure since the spouse is not as committed to the business as the one working it. This cycle seems to repeat itself over and over without anyone being aware of the true cause.



In simple terms, it takes a lot of effort to make a business successful. The hours that one needs to put in are long, especially at the beginning. Many sacrifices are made including time with the ones we love the most. Many ventures need attention at nights and on the weekends. Depending on the size of the operation, one may need to be in a separate room reading financial statement, doing the books, or preparing sales presentations. The time commitment can put a great strain on any relationship. However, it becomes magnified when the other person is not as equally committed to what is transpiring.

There are thousands of examples where a business was doomed because of the 'nagging wife'. Naturally, this can be a male or female in this era. Again, the gender is not important. The situation is one where the spouse is continually harassing about lack of time and attention. Of course, the one working the business is getting resentful since he or she is of the mindset that this is all being done for the family. The success of the business will mean a better life for everyone involved. The hours are difficult but the payoff will be there. Of course, over time, concessions are made to the nagging spouse. The hours spent working are reduced which means that things are not proceeding at the pace required. Suddenly, something gets overlooked and it dooms the business. This has occurred in countless situations.

Donald Trump is one of the most known people in the world today. His business success is remarkable. He has attained the greatest of heights with his ventures while also experiencing his share of disappointments. In his personal life, his track record with women is well chronicled. At present, he is on his 4th wife. Nevertheless, one thing Trump gives all his wives credit for is their understanding of his commitment to his business. He feels this is one of the reasons why he is such a success. Also, since he experienced a few missteps personally he points to the need for the romantic relationship to be right if success is going to be accomplished.

The factor is equally important if you are going to get involved with a partner. Before moving forward with a venture, it is imperative that the facts gets exposed. Will the other person's spouse be supportive of the time commitment that is necessary to get the business going? Is that person going to be inadvertently involved in the decisions? Will your partner be coming in saying 'my wife/husband thinks....'? When revenues become available, will there be a rift at home regarding the reinvesting of funds back into the business as opposed to that vacation in the tropics? Unless these questions are answered at the beginning, difficulties will arise that often cannot be overcome. In 99 out of 100 cases, given a choice between a spouse and a business partner, the spouse is chosen. This is not the ideal situation if you are the business partner. Be sure that your own house is in order yet also be aware of where your partner is with his situation.

With a division of goals, it is impossible for both the business and the relationship to succeed. If a person has the ability and drive to make a business successful, anything short of that will be unacceptable to him or her. If that person ignores the spouse while attending to the venture, a toll will be taken on the relationship. Often breakup is the result. As was shown, the succumbing to the nagging spouse will inevitable sabotage the business. It is important to be aware of this opposing forces when beginning any venture. They might not determine your success but they can cause you to fail.