Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Going into Business with the Techie

We are finally done with the public launch of our company and I can get back to squeezing in some blogging time. I've just realized how hard it is to write again when you have been on a break. The ideas are there, however, the flow is not smooth. Any tips there? So here's my attempt at putting my thoughts down on paper (virtually).

When people realize that the techie and I run a business together, the first thing they ask is "What's it like to work with your husband? Don't you get tired of each other?" I used to wonder about the same thing when I heard of such situations, before we started our little venture, and now I finally have an answer.

I hate it, however I wouldn't trade it for the world. Confused, well so am I, so you can keep me company.

The techie handles marketing and projects, while I run operations and finance. Point is we are always fighting over our different areas of operation and can't help discussing work to the exclusion of all else, except our daughter. This means we have absolutely no personal time. Secondly, at least in the near future, we cannot take a holiday together. Due to the size, nature and newness (pardon the word) of our operations, one of us has to be on hand at all time. This means we take separate breaks, if we do get to take a break. Plus, we have to be completely reachable and ready to take decisions (with all relevant updates and information) even when on holiday.

The benefits are that we though work long and unusual hours, we can support each other in all aspects including child-care (though the onus for domestic arrangements falls on me and business arrangements fall on him).

At the end of the day, I don't know if I can ever go back to a regular job, were we see each other only at the end and beginning of the day, even if we get to take family vacations.

Example, last week the techie went on a break with the boys for two days. I had loads of work since I had to cover for him as well. However, I was bored out of my mind since I couldn't pick-up the inter-office phone and pick a fight with him!

Don't try to understand me, I'm too complicated even for me. All I can say is, it's literally a 'partnership' in every sense of the word for us.

P.S. - Have just decided that this will be the first in a mini-series of posts on working with your spouse. Who knows what enlightenment I may get from the introspection and my fellow bloggers.

14 comments:

  1. I am your newest follower and i came here from SITS! I would love to see you by my blog;)Oh and i love this idea of posting about working with your husband series!!
    Also don't forget, if you need any help increasing your blog's traffic or easy HTML tips, you know where to come!
    Today we talk about another blog trick, so come on by to find out that and more!
    Happy Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm not sure we would survive working together...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Design It Chic @ Thanks for joining the party. Stopped by your blog the other day and had a good time.

    Mwa @ I feel the same, some days, almost like the big D is not far off! However, the boy's weekend opened my eyes. You guys are already working with three little ones together, so that's a way more complicated situation.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brave woman! I dont think I could work with my partner.. I think he would go crazy before what I would! I think he enjoys escaping to work during the day and having some 'him' time :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hehehehe.......... we are no different, as a couple, that's why we have separate offices and handle different areas of the business.

    Thanks for joining the club.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the times when my husband and I are both at home - I do a lot of my studying at home, and he's doing some computing research, also working at home. I'd hate us to be separated for eight hours every day. But on the other hand, could I work with him...? I have no idea!

    ReplyDelete
  7. As much as I love my husband, I would murder him if I had to spend every day with him.

    He has this "looking over my shoulder" thing. Which is hilarious, because he can't do a damn thing without running it past me, but he's always checking up on the stuff I do.

    When we were picking our residencies, I was seriously thinking about internal medicine. A friend said something like, "Great! The two of you can open an office together!"

    I switched to path that very day. (And that was nearly 30 years ago. If anything, it has gotten worse.)

    Love the man. Love him better when he's doing something totally different.

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow thank you for that post.
    i just started to think about that topic, if it would be something for me to work with my boy...

    i also work for a couple. but they do have holidays together but only because they have me and three others working for them ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rachel Cotterill @ I know, it's a nice feeling to be doing your own stuff while being under the same roof.

    The Mother @ hehehe....the 'looking over the shoulder stuff' sounds so cute. I can't even begin to comment on a couple who have been married so long.

    Melanie @ you made my day. I love it when someone finds my posts useful or informative. Am off to visit your site.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think it's awesome that you guys are doing this together. Now it's a real partnership ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I hear you ref it being hard to blog when you're on a break. I get so many random ideas and then I never get round to writing them, I probably have a year's worth of stock in my mind but will never post!

    I too work with my Husband and it is the best and worst thing to do! We too quickly had to divide our roles into clearly defined areas as I'm a control freak and he's quite silent so we were constantly annoying each other. It's tough at times but i wouldn't change for the world :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to work with my husband some day. I think we would actually work really well together. Maybe our own company someday? Looking forward to your new series!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Stopping by from SITS.

    Sounds like you guys have quite the partnership. It's fascinating to hear your perspective. I honestly can't imagine. My husband is home two days for every one he works, and the days he is on shift, technically feels like my day off. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Elisa @ Thank you for the kind words :-) Though the reality of a real partnership is pretty confusing.

    Pigletinfrance @ I hear you on the blog ideas, so true.
    You are the third person to use contradictory terms when talking about working with your partner.

    Classycareergirl @ It's great to work with your spouse for one very important reason, 'implicit trust'. Thank you for following my humble series.

    nevertoooldforangst @ Thank you for stopping by. Am going to drop by your blog right now.
    Working with the techie is a trial by fire.

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from all of you....thanks for letting me know what you think