4 Tips For Working With Your Other Half – And Making It Work
It’s common to hear someone dedicated to their career say they are “married to their work”, especially in today’s economic climate and competitive job market. However, there has been a recent upward trend in couples who actually fuse their personal lives with their work. In the process, they create an incredibly fulfilling career and personal relationship. But how?
It’s possible. Meet Maria Orozova and Scott Thomas.
Maria is President and Creative Director of design and marketing house The MOD Studio. Scott is President of revenue growth agency Intelechy Group. Together, they are a testament to the success spouses can find when they combine forces and work together professionally. The duo, living and working in Austin, Texas, made the decision to form a partnership between their companies. Doing so allowed them to offer a broader scope of services to their robust roster of clients, which includes Exclusive Resorts, Lexus, Circuit of the Americas, Dell, Four Seasons Residences and more. Both agree that they experienced their fair share of roadblocks and lessons learned along the way. But their businesses and marriage have valiantly withstood the tests of this gutsy merger.
Are you considering starting a business venture with your partner? Or do you need guidance smoothing out your existing working relationship? Either way, read on for their advice about how to maintain a vibrant and fulfilling connection. They’ve made it work both in the office and at home, and so, too, can you.
The Work/Home Equilibrium
The old adage “keep your work and personal lives separate” has become increasingly unrealistic in our tech-centered world. To be able to unplug – especially when you own your own business or have flexibility to work remotely, is essential.
Rather than trying to maintain an even work/home balance on a day-to-day basis, Maria and Scott suggest making up for particularly hectic stretches of putting in extra hours working with relaxing getaways sans responsibilities. Rewarding yourself with some R&R after a busy season is an ultimate luxury. And will ensure you don’t fall into an “all work, no play” mindset, which can be detrimental to your well being and relationship.
Opposites Attract
One of the primary benefits of working with your counterpart is being able to leverage each other’s unique strengths. According to Maria and Scott, deciding roles and delegating responsibilities based on your individual abilities ensures you are complementing each other’s talents and bridging any potential gaps.
For example, spouses who are social and gifted in networking IRL and on social media can benefit from partners who are better at behind-the-scenes, operational duties, and vice versa. It’s a classic example of playing on each other’s strengths.
Team Goal-Setting
No road map is created without a destination in mind. Agreeing upon end goals will keep you both on track for success. Maria and Scott have found that maintaining open lines of communication keep them in tune with each other’s ideas. It also helps them avoid roadblocks before they arise.
While you may not always agree upon the best route to take during your journey, keep in mind that you both want to arrive at the same destination together.
#Respect
All couples know that having and showing respect for your partner is a must-have in any relationship. But it’s easy to let tempers flare when business is involved. Even if you already have an understanding with each other, use a tone that is respectful in your personal relationship. Have a conversation with your other half about maintaining the same level of dignity in the office as you do at home. Maria and Scott have found that will prevent feelings from getting hurt and small disagreements from turning into full-blown issues.
Working Together Can Work
All relationships take dedicated effort. Working together with a spouse or significant other can prove especially challenging. But the rewards are worth the effort. With careful thought and execution, you can create the same success that Maria and Scott have shown is possible.
Maria Orozova
As the President + Creative Director of MOD, Maria has more than a decade of experience developing advertising and branding campaigns for local and national clients. Her work has earned 16 ADDY® awards & 35 American Graphic Design Awards. She was selected as one of Graphic Design USA Magazine’s “2012 People to Watch”. Maria is also a featured writer for elite publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Texas CEO Magazine and Austin Business Journal. Always the entrepreneur, she started MODpaper, a luxury couture invitation design studio. She also finds time to serve on the Board of Directors for the Center for Child Protection, the Fashion Marketing Advisory Panel for The Art Institute of Austin, both GENaustin‘s Board of Directors and planning committee for the Pathfinder program. She is a long time supporter of the National Children’s Alliance and Ballet Austin. She was also selected as a finalist in the 2015 Austin Under 40 Awards. In addition to her professional and volunteer duties, Maria pursues a wide range of personal interests, including skiing, interior design and adding to the ever-growing list of countries she has visited – 28 in total.
Image: Teamwork rama_miguel
