We had toyed with the idea for years that he should give up the only career he had ever known—newspaper journalism—so we could work together. The curiosity, challenge, and fun in his line of work had dissipated and it was high-time for Act Two. Yet, it’s always scary to pull the trigger and up and quit. Both of us were gun-shy.
But at the end of last year, his employer of nearly 30 years— USA TODAY—made a one-time offer that he simply couldn’t refuse: A somewhat generous voluntary buyout. They were paying him to leave. Woo hoo—he couldn’t sign those papers fast enough!
While our kids knew what was going on, we were scared to tell extended family. The reactions would be predictable: Are you sure this is a good idea? Won’t you hate being together 24/7? How will Peter feel going from being a national columnist at the biggest paper in the country to a nobody at a small shop nobody’s heard of? Will working for his wife bruise Peter’s ego?
We played the cynics’ questions over and over and continued to come to the same conclusion: We were confident this was the right move for us. We weren’t naïve enough to assume this arrangement would be without some challenges, and we’ve taken measures to address them.
Even though we work in an open office with lots of other people, a half wall separates Peter and me. This provides just enough privacy and space. We never fight (or kiss!) in front of colleagues. We hardly “yes” each other either; we’re perfectly willing to reject one another’s harebrained ideas. Each of us has distinct roles and responsibilities that build on our individual strengths and expertise. And perhaps most importantly, we have tremendous respect for one another. This business partnership works because we don’t just love like husband and wife; we really like each other as best friends too.
Copreneurship, which is defined as married and in business together, definitely isn’t for everyone. Plenty of couples cherish their time apart and couldn’t fathom the thought of sharing both the personal and professional. The ability to partner to create a happy home and a thriving business is somewhat magical. Listen to your head and your heart to know if such an arrangement might work for you. Test the waters slowly with business trips and even lunch meetings together with key contacts. Work on a project together and see how your partner reacts to your candid opinions. Figure out how you'll measure the success of the arrangement and determine an exit strategy upfront in the event of a failed professional partnership, so the personal one isn't destroyed in the process.
For now, Peter and I have no regrets. Our home is busy and full with our kids. Our lives revolve around those “babies” as well as this one. We’re now living, breathing and growing Women For Hire together.
Tory Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire, which produces high-caliber recruiting events and online career services to connect professional women with leading employers nationwide.
