The Business of Us
The Business of Us tells the stories of entrepreneurs and their relationships. In our podcast we focus on the science around committed partnerships and entrepreneurial personalities, and specific actions couples can take today to improve their relationship. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Episode 10: Talk About it Before It Blows Up
Join us as we dive into the ups and downs of marriage, where challenges become the gritty canvas for greatness. Dean and Alanna Stott share their journey of building a family and multiple businesses together by having fun in the mud, understanding each other’s strengths, and connecting around shared and individual goals.
Key takeaways from today's episode:
Relentless Resilience: Challenges are the stepping stones to greatness; embrace the dirt and grit instead of trying to become an “Instagram couple” focused on external perceptions.
Unique Strengths: Recognize and celebrate individual strengths and weaknesses in partnerships.
Marriage and Business Synergy: Effective communication and shared goals strengthen both personal and business relationships.
Defining Wealth: Wealth is multifaceted, extending beyond financial means to include shared values and goals.
Shared Mission: Learn about the Blue Rose Foundation's efforts to prevent child trafficking and heal trauma survivors.
Entrepreneurial Advice: Open communication and mutual respect for shared and individual goals are key to success.
Episode 9: Harnessing ADHD Strengths in Relationships
In this episode, therapist Anita Robertson explores the intricate dynamics of ADHD and relationships. Several years ago Anita found herself struggling as a new mother with ADHD and, in the process of her own relationship growth and adaptation, realized that most relationship tools didn’t work for ADHD without refinement. Anita sheds light on the different ways ADHD can show up in our behavior and how to channel the unique ways ADHD can invigorate relationships, such as passion and novelty-seeking.
Key takeaways from today’s episode:
Understanding ADHD: Recognize the variability in how ADHD presents and its influence on executive functioning and sensory experiences.
Harnessing ADHD Strengths: Leverage qualities like passion and novelty-seeking to enrich relationships.
Five Pillars of ADHD Relationships: Growth mindset, praise, games, and positive acceptance are essential for thriving partnerships.
Effective Household Management: Transform chores into engaging games with minimal steps, using playlists and rewards.
Dopamine and Brain Performance: Keep dopamine levels high to optimize focus and relationship dynamics.
Relationship Bootcamps: Structured activities can help partners learn to appreciate and utilize their differences.
Episode 8: Two Couples, One Vision: Powering Through Entrepreneurship Together
In this episode, we delve into the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when two married couples, Dale and Melisa, and Jake and Kendi, come together to pursue an entrepreneurial endeavor. The four individuals bring diverse backgrounds and experiences, from wealth management and healthcare to operational consulting and the automotive industry. Together, they have formed Slanted Saguaro, LLC, with the goal of acquiring and turning around struggling businesses.
Key takeaways from today’s episode:
Aligning Business Vision and Strategies: The couples discuss the importance of building trust, open communication, and a shared understanding of their goals and objectives. They share insights on how they navigate the complexities of aligning their individual visions and strategies while maintaining the integrity of their marriages.
Balancing Work and Personal Life: The hosts explore the challenges of ensuring that their marriage and personal relationships do not get lost in the hustle and bustle of their entrepreneurial venture. They share strategies for carving out dedicated time for each other, such as their weekly Monday night date night, and how they prioritize staying connected.
Building Wealth and Giving Back: The couples reveal their overarching goal of not only building wealth but also investing in and empowering people and the community. They discuss their commitment to fostering meaningful relationships and their desire to have a positive impact beyond just their business endeavors.
Episode 7: Running so Fast I Didn’t See the Freight Train
In this episode, Rico Rodriguez, founder of RicherU, discusses how despite overcoming a difficult childhood to find entrepreneurial success, he still faced severe mental health issues affecting his life and relationships. Rico shares his journey to inspire others to seek help and remind them they're not alone.
Key takeaways from today’s episode:
Mental health challenges can't always be controlled or overcome by willpower
Self-talk is important; be kind to yourself
Healing requires self-ownership, support, and vulnerability
Understanding ADHD's impact is essential
Entrepreneurs often hide mental health struggles behind achievement and professionalism
Episode 6: Don’t Defer Health or Happiness
In this episode, we sit down with Brad Feld and Amy Batchelor, the authors of "The Start-Up Life," to discuss the often-overlooked challenges entrepreneurs and their partners face. They share insights on how to maintain a healthy relationship and personal well-being while navigating the demanding world of startups. From the difference between external perceptions and reality, to aligning the rhythm of business and personal life, Brad and Amy offer practical advice for founders and their loved ones to thrive together.
Key takeaways from today’s episode:
Acknowledge the discrepancy between the glamorized image of startup life and the actual day-to-day challenges. Openly communicate and set realistic expectations with your partner.
Mind the “integrity gap.” Amy and Brad almost got divorced because he would say one thing but then go do another. They share how to get back in integrity with one another and restore that broken trust.
Plus 1 minus 5: The math of relationships means that every positive action counts as +1 but every negative action counts as -5. We need to be mindful of all the little actions we take in our relationship to ensure that it thrives, and that is especially about the little moments of kindness and respect.
Don't let the rhythms and demands of entrepreneurship override your relationship. Brad shares his commitment to always answer the phone when Amy calls, no matter what the context, along with other tactics to ensure his actions and priorities align with his commitment to Amy.
The importance of investing in your personal well-being through therapy, coaching, and a commitment to self-improvement.
Entrepreneurial mental health and wellness should be a priority, not an afterthought. Seek support and resources to maintain a healthy mindset.
Episode 5: Rituals for Love and Life
In this episode, we'll explore how two entrepreneurs, Mel Pruett & Andrew Horn, who met in a spiritual and non-coincidental way, have harnessed the transformative power of choice and belief to create a life filled with intention, connection, and balance.
Key takeaways from today's episode:
The difference between routine and ritual is intention. We'll discuss three powerful rituals our guests have implemented, including Sunday check-ins, quarterly "love dates", and bi-monthly date nights.
The transferable skill set between relationship rituals in romantic partnerships and business relationships. Our guests share how the same principles can be applied to cultivate deeper connections in both realms.
The importance of non-violent communication in relational intimacy and connection and how to get unstuck, including learnings from men’s groups; authenticity is not a virtue, authenticity with positive intent is a virtue.
Practical suggestions on how listeners can identify the rituals that will work best for them, based on their unique needs and desires.
Episode 4: Don’t Forget to Love Each Other
Join us as we explore the intricate connection between entrepreneurship, personal relationships, and the power of aligning your core values with Chris & Susan Spear. We'll delve into the common challenges faced by founders and spouses, including the dynamics of different personality types. Discover practical strategies to create a sustainable template for success in both your business and personal life. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or navigating the complexities of a close relationship, this episode is packed with insights to help you thrive.
Key takeaways from today's episode:
Establish a clear template for your entrepreneurial and relationship journeys by using your core values as a guiding filter.
Use your strengths and risk tolerance levels within your relationship to drive growth and connection at home (and in your business).
See your entrepreneurial journey not as a destination but as an exploration to truly become yourself, individually and in your relationship
Episode 3: Treat your Relationship Like Work
Ann and Sunny Sheu share their story of connecting over a glass of Sprite, working in the family business together until a prenup pulled it apart, and rebuilding their relationship by focusing on themselves to build an intentional relationship focused on their “decade dream.”
Key takeaways from today's episode:
Having a shared family vision and aligning on long-term goals, what they call the Decade Dream, fosters commitment and makes navigating conflict easier.
Ongoing personal development is a crucial aspect of both business and relational success. It enhances individual resilience and enriches the relationship by allowing the shared family vision to truly incorporate all of each person.
Consistent and open dialogue with a clear structure and regular cadence – just like a healthy business – helps manage expectations, communicate needs, and resolve conflicts.
Episode 2: The Third Person in the Relationship - The Entrepreneurial Couple Project
I talk about The Entrepreneurial Couples Project that I’ve spent the last 9 months working on, share more about my background, why a relationship that includes an entrepreneur (or two!) is different from other relationships, the four types of couple, and some simple tips and date night ideas for each type. Let's explore the unique challenges and triumphs faced by couples who mix business with romance. Thanks to Jamie Born - LCSW for interviewing me!
Episode 1: The Faulty Electrical Wiring in Entrepreneurial Couples
This episodes features Jamie Born - LCSW sharing her expertise on the "faulty electrical wiring" that can damage families where one of the parents is a business owner, why the myth of affluence often causes these families to be complacent until it's too late, and how a couple can proactively protect and strengthen their relationship. She also shares her very personal and moving story of growing up in a similar family, and how she has grown from it.