Tom Cridland and Deborah Marx are two young entrepreneurs from London who met at University in Bristol six years ago, fell in love and have been an item ever since.
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When they graduated in 2013, they decided to apply for a loan to start up their own fashion brand www.tomcridland.com and made the choice to work together despite being a couple. We asked them what their advice is for other couples who want to go into business together and this is what they said.
1) Enjoy the time you spend with each other. If you're going to work together, the main thing is that you enjoy each other's company. There's lots of talk in today's day and age about people needing their space away from one another and, whilst this can be an important part of a functional relationship, if you enjoy being away from each other so much the whole time it might be better to find someone you actually enjoy spending regular time with.
2) Don't be too bossy. If you're in a relationship with someone, chances are you'll think they have talent of some kind. Talk through your roles together and, as much as possible. Leave your partner to do what they're best at without trying to boss each other around.
3) Put your relationship ahead of your work. Working is a crucial part of life and it's important to work hard. If you enjoy it, you'll perform better though. As crucial a part of life is being emotionally happy and, therefore, on the (hopefully rare) occasion something doesn't pan out as expected, don't get into a shouting match.
4) Don't take advice as criticism. Working together can be amazing if you're going out, as you're able to share the living you make from it. Working can and should be a labour of love, but the motivation to make some money obviously plays a part. If you therefore have a common goal of doing well and your partner offers you some advice on how to improve on something, don't take it as a terrible insult but as a loving suggestion.
5) Be a real team. Nothing takes priority for us work-wise over doing the best we can for our customers and clients. We are consequently on exactly the same page and aiming for the same things. As a result, communication is quick and easy for us.
6) Ignore anyone who says working together is foolish. It might not be a good idea for them and their relationship; that doesn't mean it must be the case for yours. Everyone is different their preferences should be respected.
7) Be flexible when your partner has more work on than you. If one person is more inundated than the other and needs to stay up till 3am catching up, don't be needy because the risotto's getting cold and Downtown Abbey's started.
8) If possible, never pay yourself more than your partner or vice versa if you're starting a business together. There should be more important things in life to you than money, which always goes further if it's shared out. There's nothing more pathetic than a penny pincher.
9) Enjoy a work life balance. Above all, work as hard as you can if you want to do well, but don't feel guilty for taking the time to relax together sometimes. Taking time off can make you work more productively.
10) Don't let professional life together make you less romantic. If you're running a business together, it's not unprofessional to surprise your girlfriend with flowers or a present just because you're at the office, or to surprise your boyfriend with a cheese toastie and a cup of English breakfast (you might enjoy different surprises to us).
tagged in Couples Relationship