Make Business Fun

I you are at mid-career or halftime of life, the prospect of “making business fun” may sound like a dream come true. That dream can come true with the right business partner. Many start-ups, entrepreneurs and small businesses know how lonely it can be when shouldered with the responsibility of running a business. It’s a lot of work and working completely alone is a scenario often experienced.

However, the wrong business partner can be not only detrimental, but disastrous personally as well as professionally. This article expands on an interview with Laura Couvillon, the CEO and founder of IntegrateUP, a recruiting company in the digital marketing industry. From her background working trade shows and a meeting planner, she realized how important culture is in locating any business partner. Here, we cover the definition of a business partner, managing life and business, adding fun to your workday and the importance of core values.

Life of a Solopreneur

A solopreneur is an individual who starts and runs a business single-handedly, typically taking on all responsibilities, from product development and marketing to customer service and accounting. Unlike entrepreneurs who might build companies with employees or hire teams for various functions, solopreneurs intentionally operate alone, focusing on building a business that can be managed independently. Many solopreneurs choose this path for the flexibility, autonomy, and creative freedom it offers, often structuring their work around personal strengths and passions without the complexities of managing a team or navigating organizational hierarchy.?

Solopreneurs are often found in fields where personal expertise is a significant asset, such as consulting, coaching, freelancing, or digital content creation. Their businesses are typically designed for agility, allowing them to adapt quickly to changing market demands without needing approval from partners or investors. Solopreneurs may leverage digital tools and outsourcing for specific tasks to streamline their operations, but they retain the central role in decision-making and execution. Success for a solopreneur often relies on personal branding, networking, and self-discipline, as they are solely responsible for driving the business forward and ensuring its sustainability.

Drawbacks of Working Alone as a Solopreneur

Being a solopreneur has its rewards, but it also comes with notable challenges. One major drawback is the lack of support and collaboration. Solopreneurs often work alone, which means they don’t have a team to share ideas with, provide feedback, or cover tasks if they’re overloaded or need time off. This can lead to feelings of isolation, especially for those who thrive on collaboration and social interaction in a workplace. It can also limit creativity and problem-solving, as there’s no one else to bring in different perspectives or insights.

Another challenge is the demanding workload. Solopreneurs are responsible for all aspects of their business, from client management and marketing to financial planning and operations. This can lead to long hours, high stress, and potential burnout as they juggle multiple roles without the ability to delegate. Additionally, with no one to step in, taking vacations or time off can be difficult, and any disruptions in their availability may directly impact income and client relationships. I wrote a song Top Dog years ago about the loneliness at the top, whether a solopreneur or the president of a huge company.?

Furthermore, limited resources can be a barrier for solopreneurs. Without a team or external funding, they may have fewer financial and operational resources, which can restrict their ability to scale or invest in new opportunities. This can create a constant need for efficiency and prioritization, as solopreneurs balance keeping expenses low while trying to grow their business. At some point, a solopreneur may want to consider a good business partner.

What Constitutes a Good Business Partner?

A good business partner possesses qualities that contribute to a productive, trustworthy, and balanced relationship, aligning both with the business’s goals and the personal values of their partner. Finding that business partner is the focus of Laura Couvillon’s business, IntegrateUp. Complementary skills and strengths are essential; a partner who brings expertise in areas where the other partner may lack proficiency—such as financial management, marketing, or operations—creates a more well-rounded team. This complementary dynamic allows each person to focus on their strengths, creating a balanced workload and making the business more resilient.

Another crucial quality is shared values and vision. When both partners have similar long-term goals and align on core values, it creates a unified direction and helps prevent conflicts down the road. Differences in vision can lead to strategic misalignments, so it’s essential to discuss and agree on the business’s purpose, growth expectations, and ethical standards early on.?

Trust and transparency are also foundational to a strong partnership. A good partner should be someone you can rely on, who communicates openly, and who is committed to honesty, especially when challenges arise. This includes being transparent about financial matters, work challenges, and personal limitations. Lastly, adaptability and resilience are key attributes; a good partner should be willing to adapt to changing circumstances and show resilience when facing setbacks. Flexibility, coupled with a positive, solution-oriented mindset, can help the partnership endure inevitable ups and downs in business.

Strengths, Personality and Values

Enneagrams, core values, and core culture play a pivotal role in identifying a valuable business partner by offering a deeper understanding of personality traits, motivations, and shared ethics. Enneagrams, as a personality framework, help reveal potential partners' intrinsic motivations, strengths, and conflict tendencies, offering insight into how they handle challenges and communicate. This understanding allows for more compatible, effective partnerships where both parties can anticipate and appreciate each other's working styles, resulting in a smoother collaboration process.

Core values and core culture serve as the foundation for alignment in mission, work ethic, and decision-making. When partners share fundamental beliefs and values, it creates a stable environment where mutual trust and respect flourish. This alignment fosters a unified approach to business goals and ethical standards, reducing friction and enhancing the probability of long-term success. Ultimately, investing time in assessing these personal and cultural dynamics helps ensure that a partnership is built on a shared vision, creating resilience against challenges and increasing the likelihood of achieving common goals.

Managing Life and Business

Life’s demands can sometimes make it feel like everything is spiraling out of control, especially for those balancing a career with responsibilities at home. There are moments when the chaos seems never-ending, with never-ending to-do lists, family obligations, and work deadlines. It’s normal to feel stretched thin, like a rubber band being pulled in opposite directions. But part of managing life and business is recognizing that this tension is temporary; the demands of work and home ebb and flow, and things eventually settle back into place. The housework, the errands, and even the expectations we set for ourselves can often wait.

Allowing some things, like dishes in the sink or a pile of laundry, to be temporarily sidelined can be a liberating form of self-compassion. By giving yourself permission to set aside minor tasks, you create space to address the more immediate priorities—whether they are personal well-being or critical work projects. Embracing this flexibility can prevent burnout and keep your mind and energy more focused on what really matters. Learning to navigate the “push and pull” of life with resilience can make it easier to stay calm during the busy times, knowing that the balance will eventually be restored. Remember, it’s okay to let go of perfection and accept that sometimes life is messy—because it’s all part of the journey of managing both life and business.

Applications and Takeaways

1-Add the Fun Factor to Your Workday: Finding ways to incorporate fun into your workday can elevate your mood, boost creativity, and reduce stress. Small actions like playing music, personalizing your workspace, or having lighthearted team check-ins can make a big difference in your daily experience.

2-Work Hard and Play Hard: Balancing intense focus on work with intentional moments of play helps you stay energized and motivated. Embracing this motto can remind you to push hard during focused work periods and fully unwind during breaks, leading to greater overall satisfaction and productivity.

3-Schedule Breaks and Fun: Putting fun activities or short breaks on your calendar ensures that you’ll actually make time for them, preventing burnout and refreshing your mind. Whether it’s a walk outside, a quick game, or a coffee chat, these scheduled moments can improve mental clarity and keep you engaged in your work.

The wrong business partner can be not only detrimental, but disastrous personally as well as professionally. Deborah Johnson

Additional Resources

How Your Core Values Can Affect Your Happiness article and podcast

The Enneagram Institute with descriptions

Stop Circling: Steps to Escape Endless Roundabouts appendix on core values

Empathy and Strategy: Leading with Heart article and podcast

Top Dog: Is it Worth Being Your Own Boss? Article and podcast

Our Guest

Laura Couvillon is a recruiting guru and online business management expert. As co-founder of IntegrateUp, she’s had a front-row seat learning exactly what it takes to build companies from the ground up -- and especially how to build an ideal team of service providers who support a visionary CEO as they create a company that is ready to scale and grow. Laura spent 10 years in the corporate world working her way up the ladder where she finally landed as a show director. She planned and managed conferences and trade shows with a team of 5 all over North America. Laura sees herself as a professional mullet: business in the front, party in the back. She gets stuff done and loves to have FUN along the way!

The Host

DEBORAH JOHNSON, M.A. has 25+ years working as an entertainer, composer, producer, author and speaker. Her keynote, "The Hero Inside" stirs audiences to not settle for merely playing as an accompanist to their dreams. Rather, it is to call upon everything they have inside to be soloist & center stage in pursuing & accomplishing their dreams and potential. This can include pursuing a new avenue or expanding on a current area of business, especially at mid-career or the halftime of life. Get more free downloads & links at: DJWorks. Websites: DeborahJohnsonSpeaker.com; GoalsForYourLife.com; DJWorksMusic.com