Companies and Marriages Change Over Time

There's an old story about a college age son who toasts his parents at an anniversary party on the amazing skill of staying married to the same person for 25 years.  The parents look at each other, laugh and reply "This isn't the same person at all!".

All of us who have been married for a while understand that.  Marriage usually includes children, loss of parents, moving, financial pressures, job changes, etc.  These experiences shape us and how we respond to them singly and as a couple determines whether or not the marriage will succeed. We need a different set of skills at each new stage. 

Businesses are the same.  There is no more exciting stage for entrepreneurs than start up.  The new idea is thrilling and when the idea starts generating cash we can hardly believe we would ever want be anywhere else.

Then the experiences start.  Meeting payroll, paying rent, deciding how much to allocate for client acquisition.  Now entrepreneurs are working on the company as opposed to the idea.  The thrill is a little less. You start to relate to the yells of TGIF by your employees.  You never had to wonder before if missing your daughter's dress rehearsal is a fair trade-off.

You can't be a visionary and a manager at the same time.  They are entirely different.  One looks forward.  The other looks back.  Can the same person do it?  Of course.  Small business owners do it all the time. But it does change the texture of how they view what they are doing.

Decide on an exit strategy. Maybe it's never.  Maybe you'll pass it on to your children.  Maybe, like in a marriage, there's a deal breaker that means you're out.  But think ahead.  It'll help your business and your marriage.

Comments

[Suzanne]

One of the best bits of advice I ever got was "you never have the same company two years in a row." It helps me not mourn the good stuff that is no longer around and helps me embrace the good stuff that's different from last year's good stuff. Thanks. Good post.