Keeping Up Your End of the Bargain

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have a significant other who supports my foray into the world of entrepreneurship financially, mentally, and emotionally. It’s hard work to start a business and I can’t imagine starting one without the support of those close to you. However, it does bring up a good question of what can the entrepreneur do to hold up their end of the responsibilities.

I’m not just talking about the financial burden that all of the sudden finding yourself without a paycheck obviously has – though that is very important to take into account. But also the fact that for you work NEVER ends. If you’re committed to it, you can’t just turn it off and you’re always either physically working on something or some piece of the business is churning away in the back of your mind (most recently at 2am!). I’ve been told that as the business grows you’re able to separate yourself a little more but right now we’re talking bare bone stages. This of course takes away from the time and attention you give anyone significant in your life be it spouse, family, or friends.

So how does the entrepreneur keep up their end of the bargain? Honestly, I don’t know and would love some answers. I’m lucky enough to have a partner who believes that “home” tasks such as laundry, meeting with contractors, sweeping the floors (which I don’t do enough of), taking care of the dogs (aka, the VPs) have intrinsic value. So while I try to pick up the lions share of those tasks in truth it doesn’t feel like I’m contributing a whole lot when he’s the one who’s working every day to keep a roof over our head and food in our bellies (and keeping our dogs in the lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed).

Not to mention the fact that it seems like every chance I get I want to run new ideas or concepts by my significant other to get his read on things. I imagine that there have been many a day when all he’s thinking is that he wants to sit back and not deal with my business problems after having dealt with his work all day. I try to be respectful of that but once again my brain seems to ALWAYS be working on the business.

I dream of being able to reward him one day by having made enough money to give him the flexibility to do whatever he'd like after his supporting my dreams for so long. But in the meantime I’ll ask again, how do entrepreneurs keep up their end of the bargain with their partners, family, and friends?