Recently Akuba and I have worked really hard to stay on track with our individual objectives.  So much so that we sometimes neglect the business goals and objectives we share!  No one really suffers but our businesses, so it was important for us to find something to help us foster creativity and communication but didn’t take up a lot of time. Enter the couple’s journal.  Now writing in a journal is definitely not a new thing, but with a little creativity, a simple notepad or private blog can turn into the perfect medium for communication. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Bizzyness, copreneurs, Couples in business
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I wanted to take a moment to share with you what we’ve been working on the past few months. Bizzyness hasn’t gone anywhere, but it has been a little over a week since our last update, so I wanted to drop a note. For the past few months I’ve been heads down working on a variety of projects but today I want to highlight my baby! Introducing Social Saints!

The story behind Social Saints
In the winter of 2007 I started a very long conversation with God about my purpose and what he would have me to do. After months of prayer and dialogue I received my answer. Simply put God wants me to use my talents to empower others. Since I’ve always considered myself a God Fearing Internet Marketer, I decided to combine those two truths into something more real. The result is an internet marketing consultancy designed to assist faith-based organizations and non-profits in the development of strong, relationship-oriented, online communities.

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Tags: Copreneur, faith-based, social networking
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Fellow Copreneurs,

Did you know divorce rates tend to increase during times of recession, unemployment, etc.? According to Legal Zoom, during a brief recession in 1997, the number of divorces rose 16.9 percent, and 255 couples were divorcing every day during that year . What does supporting your mate mean to you these tough economic times?  And what coping strategies do you suggest to other couples?

Tags: Bizzyness, Copreneur, Couples, Economics, recession, Relationships
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One of the things that I love most about Justin is his entrepreneurial spirit. He, like my self, doesn’t want to be confined to a cubicle the rest of his working days. That’s why I knew the day that he told me he was quitting his job was inevitable. The decision to finally do so came after months of 50-60 hour work weeks, the resignation of a close colleague, working weekends, and an episode where a common cold lasted for almost a month simply because he was unable to take time off from work to recuperate. By the way, the list goes on…

I will admit that my first thoughts were about how this would affect us financially. Personally, I want to complete my Masters and not to mention it’s almost time for me to buy a new car. When it comes to our relationship, there have been discussions of starting our lives and buying a home together. I wondered how would we be able to take all the trips, start all the businesses, afford to get married and live the lifestyle we wanted to live based off of one income for an unknown period of time?

I jotted down an exhaustive list of ways in which one could be a more supportive partner including things I have already done. The reality is there aren’t any “best practices” when it comes to showing your support. What works for one person may not work for another. I want to turn the question around to you. If you’re in a relationship where you had to support your mate as they transitioned into entrepreneurship, how did you handle it and what is some advice that you would give to others?

Tags: Bizzyness, Copreneur, Couplepreneur, Couples in business, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial, Mate, Spouse, Support
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Should couples go into business together? It’s not exactly an age old question, but it’s definitely a new question that’s gaining in popularity. Credited as being coined by Frank and Sharon Barnett, the term ‘copreneur’ is defined as a couple, (married or unmarried) that shares ownership, commitment, and responsibility for a business. Its predecessor, the phrase “mom-and-pop store” dates back to around 1951 (www.webster.com). They were the staple of the community and even today, evoke a certain level of comfort and familiarity at their mention. Now that more and more people are taking the leap of faith into entrepreneurship (sources say at least a quarter million), they are looking to their mates as potential business partners. Sure, there are plenty of downsides to couple-owned businesses: long hours, limited personal time, fuzzy boundaries, and neglected romantic relationships, but there are many rewards as well. You are your own boss, you can to spend time with your mate you otherwise couldn’t have (thanks to Corporate America), and you can transcend into a deeper level of trust, intimacy, and dependency on each other. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Bizzyness, Copreneur, copreneurs, Couple Questions, couple-owned-business, couplepreneurship
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