Running ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ with my beloved wife Eva K. is one of the most rewarding - and most challenging - things Iโve ever done. We are partners in life and partners in business. We share a vision, we share clients, we share a home.
We also share the reality that working together doesnโt come with an โoff switch.โ
The meeting from 10 a.m. sometimes spills into the dinner conversation at 8 p.m.
And yes - sometimes the other person is both the love of your life and the one driving you crazy in a spreadsheet.
๐๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ?
- The trust. We know each otherโs strengths - and blind spots - better than anyone else could.
- The alignment. Our work is not a role-play; the ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒ we guide clients through is the life we live.
- The joy of shared successes. When a client has a breakthrough, we both feel it.
๐๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐?
- Boundaries. Science tells us the human brain needs context shifts to regulate stress and maintain creativity. When work and life are woven together, you must consciously create those shifts.
- Feedback. Honest feedback is easy to preach to leaders - harder to practice with your partner when the stakes are emotional.
- Difference in pace. One of us may want to push forward; the other wants to pause and reflect. (And yes, we switch roles.)
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐โ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ - and what leaders can take away:
1. ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐.
Even the most aligned vision canโt replace time apart to recharge your own mind.
2. ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฎ๐ฌ.
You donโt have to do everything together. Let the other person shine where theyโre strongest.
3. ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ.
Neuroscience backs it up: laughter reduces cortisol and builds connection. And sometimes, all you can do is laugh.
For us, thereโs also ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ. We both carry the ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐: ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐. To help people grow, to bring more clarity, kindness, and courage into the world. To leave things just a little better than we found them. That intention is what holds us steady when the days are long and the edges are sharp.
๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ - whether at home or at the top of an organization - ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. Itโs about turning that friction into creative energy, without losing sight of why you chose each other in the first place.
And if youโre wondering: yes, we do sometimes stop talking about work at dinner. And sometimes, we absolutely donโt.