What it’s Really Like Working with Your Spouse

When James and I decided to work together, we knew it would come with its fair share of challenges and rewards. It was a decision neither of us took lightly. As the Founder and President of JSK Marketing, I wear one hat, while James, our Chief Strategy Officer & Partner, wears another. But behind those titles are just two people trying to find and navigate the balance of our professional and personal lives. Spoiler alert: it’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.?

A question I get often is, “How do you both make it work without stepping on each other’s toes?” For us, the key is respect and clarity. We each bring unique strengths to the table – James is a forward thinker, and he knows how to get there. I am creative and thrive in the vision and leadership space. Recognizing each other’s strengths and coming together to learn each other’s perspectives on what is best for the company has helped us to not step on each other’s toes and truly value what the other brings.?

Communication is another exercise we practice quite often. Whether it’s brainstorming a project, refining our company’s vision or simply deciding whose turn it is to pick our 3-year-old up from school, we’ve learned that being open and honest is essential.?

However, the perks and challenges vary daily. One of the joys of working together is not only getting to see each other more often but also getting to celebrate and witness each other’s professional wins as a team. Seeing each other’s hard work pay off in real time is a shared success we can both take pride in.??

One of the challenges we occasionally face is blurred lines between work and home life. It takes an intentional effort to separate the two, but we’ve set boundaries that work for us and don’t affect the people around us.??

If you’re considering working with your spouse, my advice to you would be this: embrace it as a partnership in every sense of the word. Lean into each other’s strengths, set clear expectations and don’t forget to have fun along the way. After all, who better to trust your company’s success than the one person who knows you best???

I’m grateful for the opportunity we’ve been given to build something amazing together. It’s not just a job – it’s a shared experience and journey, and one I wouldn’t trade for anything.?