Work-life balance when working with your spouse

Changing work patterns, particularly over the past 30 plus years have seen an increasing number of marriages where both partners work full time. Many women don’t want to end their careers when they marry and have children - others simply can't afford to stop work.

Back in the 50’s men worked from 9-5 and in general their wives stayed home. That’s less common now and two incomes are often needed to pay off housing and other living expenses. Many young women are faced with the dilemma of not being able to afford to stop work for as long as they want when their children are young. It’s at this point many abandon the corporate sector for alternatives – like independent self employment or purchasing a franchise.

Most small businesses, including franchises, are bought and started by those at or approaching retirement age (see my post on over 50’s) or the young, who may be starting a family or have young children to care for.

Work-life balance becomes less of an issue if you can work from home – which probably explains it’s growing popularity. When researching for my book ‘Couples in Franchising’ I was surprised to find how many different types of business can be run successfully from home. Many multiple franchise owners for example manage their businesses from their homes.

Wherever the work gets done the old maxim still holds true - ‘little things mean a lot’. I remember talking to the copreneurial owners of an Ace Hardware store recently - the husband mentioned that he always makes sure his wife has fresh flowers on her desk.

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Copreneurs can holiday & maintain control at work

Having your own business is rather like having a child. You nurture it and you do all you can to ensure its success. Work can take over though and when you live and work together 24x7 it’s not always easy to find time for yourselves as a couple.

Technology though has made a huge difference to the way businesses can be run. I was talking to a couple recently who are owners of a Gold’s Gym in Virginia. They told me that because they are now so well equipped technologically (with computers and email and video cameras) they’re able to run their facilities from wherever they are, yet still be involved in day to day operations and decisions.

They tell me this had provided dual benefits. They make regular visits and they maintain control of all financial matters but they delegate the rest. This allows their front office people opportunities to grow and take managerial control – and their business continues to grow.

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Sustainability issues in the business arena

There are increasing numbers of eco-friendly business decisions being made now by individual small businesses and large multi-nationals alike. Multinational franchises too are going green with the multiplier effect having ripple effects across their global coverage. In the restaurant industry two such franchise organizations are McDonald’s and Subway.

I’ve mentioned McDonald’s first LEED certified restaurant in Savannah, Ga in a previous blog-post. Another is planned for Chicago. Other initiatives include McDonald’s Energy program which they say has saved 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions – and saved the company thirty million dollars, so a win-win for all concerned.

Subway too have worked closely with the U.S. Green Building Council to follow (LEED) certification requirements, to build stores that conserve both energy and water. Subway have now opened several "Eco Stores," the first in Kissimmee, Fl., with subsequent eco-stores in St. Helens, Ore., and Keizer, Ore. There are plans for a fourth in Laplace, La. Other Subway initiatives include napkins made of 100 percent recycled materials, saving 140,000 trees a year. Also, by redesigning their shipping packaging, they’ve eliminated over 97,000 pounds of plastic annually. See the National Restaurant Association’s Conserve website: http://conserve.restaurant.org/conservenow/success_subway.cfm

The ink and toning franchising industry is another field where environmental sensitivity is on the rise. I was speaking with the owners of several CartridgeWorld franchises in Tennessee who said that 350 million cartridges are tossed into land fills annually in the United States alone and that it takes almost 1 gallon of fuel to produce a new laser cartridge. On top of that I’m told a cartridge takes around 450 years to decompose.
They said that customers are happy to give their cartridge refilling service a try when they learn that they’re not only ‘becoming more green’ but at the same time are ‘saving some green’ (around 40% to 50%, on new print cartridge prices).
It’s nice to see ‘green economics’ becoming a reality for the consumer.

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Leadership shown in sustainable development

People everywhere are becoming accutely aware that we all have a responsibility to our own families and others, to leave this world in as good a state as we can.

Individuals and businesses are now consciously making decisions about 'sustainability' of their businesses into the future, and there are an increasing number of admirable organizations either doing their own thing or collaborating with others to 'make a difference'.

One such company is Melaver, Inc. a third-generation, family-owned business based in Savannah, Georgia. This real estate developer is committed to sustainable development and currently has eight LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design process) certified projects in their portfolio. They developed one of the first LEED certified buildings in the U.S. which is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Melaver Inc. also developed Abercorn Common, the first all retail LEED shopping center in the country which incidentally includes the first LEED McDonald’s worldwide. In this development stormwater seeps into the soil through porous pavement and the interior of the building is kept cool by the heat reflecting rooftop - on most days the sun serves as primary lighting. See http://carriagetradepr.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/melaver-inc-45/

I'll be interested to hear about other such initiatives ...

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The Value of a Smile

I was sent a note by a friend recently and as it applies as much in business as in a social context I thought I'd include it here. I haven't been able to find out who originally penned it so have to credit to 'Anon'....

A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It reaches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory sometimes lasts a lifetime.
Noone is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and no one is so poor but that he can be made richer by it.

A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged. A smile is sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble.

Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, or borrowed or stolen, for it is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.
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Business Opportunities in Going Green

I saw an interesting program recently about the regeneration of a rust belt town thru green industries. The town is Braddock in Pennsylvania, just 8 or 9 miles outside Pittsburgh and the turn around seems due to the inspired leadership of their visionary Mayor, John Fetterman. I found an interesting report about this on the Web http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june08/greenjobs_05-12.html .

In the case of Braddock the town appears to be developing and attracting all sorts of innovative ventures, for example oil (from restaurants and every other conceivable source) is being treated and recycled for use in cars rather than treated as waste. As each new green industry starts it also spawns other - not necessarily green - jobs as the services of electricians, plumbers, welders and builders are involved. A town and a whole community that was dying can now be seen rising like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes.

Across the world, innovative minds are seeking solutions to the problems facing us. No one has all the answers – but no individual’s efforts need be wasted if they work as part of a community. This does however take good leadership, with an open minded attitude to finding sustainable and innovative solutions to problems, along with an ability to keep everyone aiming at the same goal. John Fetterman Mayor of Braddock is clearly one example of such leadership.

Another example of innovation and inspired leadership in this area is I believe, to be found in McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry LLC with their ‘cradle to cradle’ approach to design, and it’s potential effect on supply chains and industry generally. See http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm

Innovation has always been an interest of mine. When problems are seen to be sufficiently major and as a result capable of attracting significant media attention, funding invariably becomes available for the necessary research. Al Gore was hugely instrumental in attracting people’s attention to the severity of problems we face in Global Warming. The subsequent release of the Stern Report and other scientific data has reinforced the message. Where previously people who espoused green credentials were described as ‘the loony fringe’ now it’s ‘cool to be green’ and that’s a healthy change of attitude. I just hope the current economic crisis doesn't push the need for truly sustainable business initiatives 'off the agenda'.

Perhaps you know of other innovative business and community initiatives involving green issues. If so I’d be interested to hear about them.

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