Planning had a lot to do with that success. For us, Ann's word is law when it comes to sales and marketing, although I can put in my two cents' worth. However, neither one of us operates so autonomously that we don't listen to each other. The Hatchetts' system for defining duties came about naturally. The tasks he doesn't care for happen to be the things I like to do.
Many couples find a division of labor arises naturally.
But even if this isn't the case for you, it's important to agree on which tasks each of you will handle and how far your authority extends. As their businesses grow, many entrepreneurial couples find it difficult to separate home and work. Instead, the objective should be to appropriately juggle the two focuses in your life and integrate them in a way that allows you to have good relationships in both arenas. While some spillover may be healthy, experts caution against letting the business take over your lives. It takes a lot of time and energy to become a successful entrepreneur.