In this episode, we're diving into something really personal - how we manage to run a business together while staying happily married. When we tell people we're married to our business partner, we usually get that look of mild shock followed by "How do you survive spending so much time together?"

We've been running businesses together on and off for over 10 years now, and we've been married for 13 years this year. Back when we started our first business, we were only 22 and barely adulting properly! We were newlyweds trying to figure out marriage whilst simultaneously learning how to run a business without a boss telling us what to do.

Those early days were tough but also pretty wonderful. We got to spend heaps of time together - café breakfasts, beach walks whilst everyone else was at work (definitely pre-kids!). But we struggled with time management and switching off from work for ages.

When we launched The Digital Brew, we were older, had two kids, and crucially, we'd figured out what roles we each played best.

Have really good reasons for going into business together that you're both committed to. Whether it's financial goals, flexibility for family, or career opportunities - these will carry you through the tough spots.

Don't assume who should do what based on stereotypes. We initially thought Angela would be the creative one and Stewart would handle admin and finance. Turns out Stewart's rubbish at admin! Now Angela handles the upfront project work and ongoing admin/finance, while Stew focuses on long-term client management and support.

We split our tiny office down the middle with a divider. Sounds dramatic, but it's brilliant! We can still chat about projects, but we're not constantly interrupting each other.

Use tech systems to keep work conversations contained. We use Twist for async work chats and Todoist for task management. No more work talk over dinner (the kids quickly shut that down anyway!).

The beauty of working with your spouse is seeing the full picture of what they're dealing with. Support each other through the ups and downs.

Marriage is forever - business might not be. If your marriage goes sideways, chances are your business will too. Prioritise your relationship above all else.

This wraps up season two of our podcast! We're taking a little break but we'll be back with season three and loads of fresh episodes already planned.

Thanks for listening, and if you've got your own experiences or tips about working with your spouse, we'd love to hear them!

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