Jan 30, 2019
On this episode, Karen and Cadie talk about something they know a lot about; starting, working, and thriving in a family business. Karen and Cadie share their personal family business ups, downs, tidbits, wisdom nuggets, warnings, and all the pros and cons. Plus, they give us their secrets for making it work not only in the business but also not to take that office tension home with your spouse, kids, or siblings.
The Lessons:
Join the Domke Market Wine & Cheese
Club
Quotables and Tweetables
When you leave the office, you have to leave it at the office. I
think that's the hardest thing I've seen for people that are
working together as a family, whether it's husband and wife or
mother daughter or whatever. - Karen Simmons
When a family business doesn't work out, you can be business divorced. - Karen Simmons
It's not a secret, that you and I have a much better business relationship than we have a personal relationship. - Cadie Gaut
I don't think that if we have a conflict in the business, I don't think that that carries over into our personal lives. - Cadie Gaut
You want to be able to leave an office on Friday, disagreeing as equally as possible, but yet have family Christmas on the next day or to a birthday party, and it will not affect the situation. - Karen Simmons
I am making such a conscious effort to notice not only how I speak to everyone around me, but even my staff, asking them to do something rather than just telling them. - Cadie Gaut
I am separating myself from that boss mentality to a team leader mentality, and not just with my business partner, but with staff, friends, family, my husband, my children. - Cadie Gaut
A family business mentality is like when the coach's son is on the football team or baseball team. - Cadie Gaut
When you only see somebody in their personal life, you don't know how they are in their business life and vice versa. - Karen Simmons
Everybody out there thinking about bartering services back and forth - don't do it. - Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut
If you support someone, family or friend then you should be willing to pay for their services if you're going to support them. - Karen Simmons
Don't take a discount from a client. You pay what anybody else would pay, it's all fair, nobody has any hard feelings, and it just works better that way. Do not trade out. - Karen Simmons
I think that's the basics of a good family relationship, is leaving that person alone to do what they know how to do, but having respect for that, but it has to be mutual. - Karen Simmons
I don't care if it's your husband, your wife, your sibling, your niece, your uncle, your grandpa, if each one or one of them thinks they have to be a part of every little thing and they don't trust the other people to do their job or the other person can't do the job, it's a bad business relationship. - Karen Simmons
My experiences with people that are married and in business and the ones that are successful leave each other alone to do their part that they know the best. - Karen Simmons
In a family business, it's imperative that you tell each other what's going on, stay in your lane, and you make decisions affecting the whole company together, but staying on the target of your talent. - Karen Simmons
Whether you're in business by yourself, or with a team, or especially with family you're going to have to have a date night at some point. You cannot live and breathe and eat "the work" 24/7. It will strangle you. - Karen Simmons
Success can tear people apart, and I've seen that happen. - Karen Simmons
You can be so different in personalities, both of them (business owners) want to be visionaries, but nobody wants to be the executioner. - Karen Simmons
You know going into business with the people that you trust the most is not take them for granted. - Karen Simmons
It sounds like everything that you're saying as far as what you need to have with your business partner, trust, respect, listening skills; it almost seems like skills that you need for a healthy marriage. - Cadie Gaut
Sponsor:
Domke Market
Domke Market - Facebook Page
Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut
Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties
About Cheers To Business
Cheers To Business is a seriously casual business and entrepreneur
podcast that discusses starting, running, refining and growing your
company, or excelling at your current job with two or your
soon-to-be friends - over a glass of wine. Please subscribe, review
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always, CHEERS to you!