Family Life - Suggestions for the Spouse of an Internet Entrepreneur

Frustrating, isn't it: you spend so much time and effort keeping the household together, even doing the chores your spouse used to do before she got obsessed with her internet business. You faithfully go to work every day - because you know you have to, in order to pay the bills each month. It feels like you do nearly everything…

… and meanwhile, the entrepreneur in the family just parks her butt in front of the computer.

It can be downright frustrating - heck, even annoying -- to watch your spouse tapping away endlessly on the computer, especially if you've had to pick up the slack while he "works". What, exactly, could possibly take so many hours out of a day, and every day? And when is the money supposed to start coming in, like she promised?

You may not entirely understand what your spouse is doing, and perhaps you don't care to know the details. However, she's determined to build her internet business and you can help her along. You don't have to participate in the work - unless you're both agreeable to this arrangement - but you can lend her your support.

Support Suggestion #1: Be respectful of her work time.

You have every right to expect her undivided attention when it's your time together… likewise, she should be allowed to work uninterrupted during her agreed-upon "business work hours". That means not bringing up household issues, chit-chatting, or otherwise providing other distractions.

Support Suggestion #2: Consciously try to be supportive - or, at the very least, stop or minimize negative comments.

Imagine if you were trying to lose weight… really trying, and serious about it. Then imagine if your spouse kept deriding your efforts: "You're never going to lose those pounds! You've been trying for 6 months already and you still look the same!"
Now imagine instead that your spouse says, "Wow, you're really getting fit! I can see a lot more definition in your arms and legs."
Which would you rather hear? Well, it's the same for your spouse: show support for her efforts, even if you don't completely understand this internet business thing.

Support Suggestion #3: Cheer her successes.

You might think it's ridiculous when your spouse does a happy dance when she receives her cheque… especially if it's just for a few bucks. But it's not really the amount that she's so happy about; it's the fact that she successfully sold a product - especially if it's her first sale! It shows her efforts are starting to pay off. It gives her hope and motivation that things are only going to keep getting better.

Support Suggestion #4: Come to a mutually-acceptable agreement on issues such as time and money.

Your spouse will need to invest both time and money into her business. Just as you would expect a traditional brick-and-mortar business to have operating expenses (storefront or office lease, equipment, inventory, supplies, employees, advertising, etc), so too does an internet business (domain registration, website hosting, marketing, etc). It just happens that the funds may be allocated to different types of things. Fortunately, in many ways, an internet business is more affordable than a brick-and-mortar business.
With respect to time: again, any type of business requires some long hours, especially in the startup phase. That holds true for the internet, too.
Agree on how much time your spouse should be able to spend working online, how much money is okay to invest, and where this money is going to come from. It's easier to get this stuff agreed upon right from the start, then to haggle and argue over it later. Note that your spouse may occasionally run into business emergencies or tight deadlines and may need to work extra hours during these times. Provided it doesn't happen too often, try to take it in stride - and perhaps propose that you do something special together after the business matter is taken care of.

Support Suggestion #5: Don't let snippy comments affect you.

It's hard when others think your spouse is a "deadbeat" for "not working". But believe me, it's hard for your spouse to hear these comments, too! There will always be people who won't understand entrepreneurship, even with 'proof' of success (for many people, this will be in the form of money). Try not to let negative comments like these affect you, and don't throw the comments back at your spouse.

You yourself may find it difficult to believe that the internet can really offer a legitimate business opportunity. Many people feel the same way. If it would help, discuss setting deadlines with your spouse - deadlines where she would agree to show you proof of progress. For example, the two of you may agree that she has to make her first sale within six months. In return, try to give your spouse uninterrupted time to work on the business.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela operates the Home Based Work website, which offers practical tips and articles for people seeking a way to work from home. Visit www.homebasedwork.com for more information, opportunities, and useful resources.