Foot Rubs, Reset Buttons & Resignation Letters

Five couples explain how they’ve managed to build Inc. 5000 businesses—and stay married.

STANDING UP TO YOUR SPOUSE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE

Norm and Elaine Brodsky have been married for 54 years and have worked together for 32 of them, first as business partners, and then as co-founders. Their Brooklyn-based delivery company, Perfect Courier, would hit the Inc. 5000 for three consecutive years, starting in 1984, and the Brodskys would go on to found a handful of other businesses, including CitiStorage. While Elaine, 76, stands several inches shorter than Norm, 80, she towers among many in spirit and verve. Her greatest attribute, though, may well be convincing Norm that his big ideas aren't the only good ones. -In conversation with Christine Lagorio-Chafkin

You two have worked together for decades-so long that other couples who are also business partners come to you and ask: How do you do it?

Norm I always say: One person has to be more forgiving. It's her.

Elaine I attribute our success to the fact neither of us wanted to get divorced on the same day. But seriously, we each took care of different things and didn't step on the other's toes. I think the main thing is respect. Respect and trust that the other person would not do anything to destroy our marriage or our business.

Did you set boundaries?

Elaine Yes and no. We lived where we worked. The offices were on the third floor, we lived on the fourth. At the beginning, I said, "There's no discussing business up here."

Norm There were no computers, no nothing. Computers were huge then, so that part made sense.