Smooth OPERATORS

Establishing and running a business is challenging; doing it alongside a significant other can add more madness to the mix. Here are tried-and-tested strategies to help you pursue entrepreneurship with your partner.

- Ravina M Sachdev

Conventional wisdom has it that you should keep your work and home lives separate. But what if you want to work with your significant other? Is it possible? Very much so, but it takes serious commitment and effort to make a relationship work if you add business to the mix.

Working with a spouse is not for everyone. "The biggest disadvantage of working together is the extremely blurred line between work and home life," says Mumbai-based relationship coach Rishita Makhija. "If something goes wrong in either of the categories, it could have a huge effect on the other. However, if you manage to crack what makes your personal relationship work and apply the formula to business, the results could be magical," she adds. Here are tried-and-tested strategies from Rishita and power couples who have aced the winning formula to get your started on your entrepreneurial journey with your partner:

WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS