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Entrepreneurs and Spouses: Part I

January 30, 2008

When I decided to quit my job and start my first business I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife, Michele. I can’t imagine the suffering spouses of entrepreneurs endure. Fortunately for me, Michele is a smart woman. With a masters in international business and a promising career with GTE (now Verizon) she earned enough (earning more than I did the last time I got a w2 from someone else’s company) to support our tiny mortgage and her health insurance was stellar. Michele realized that I wasn’t going to be happy working for other people, she knew that I was better suited to be an entrepreneur.

Of course, it hasn’t always been roses. That first year I worked late every night, wandering home after nine most nights. I traveled around the country raising money, signing leases or doing deals. It was hard on our marriage. But as time passed I got a clue and realized that having a balance between work and life was better for my marriage AND my business. The truth was I didn’t have to make EVERY decision, it was better to empower others. Our business grew and things seemed great, Michele and I decided to have a baby. Of course right before the baby came the bubble burst and our clients were falling left and right. Finally Nortel and Enron collapsed and our funding dried up. The month before Ethan came I had to tell Michele that my business was bankrupt. We had waited until we thought things were stable, but things are NEVER stable when you are an entrepreneur. Our financial woes, coupled with a difficult pregnancy really put a stress on our marriage once again.

Things began to look up a month after Ethan was born and I had secured funding to reorganize the business. Michele was relieved. Of course her relief was short lived as 19 terrorists flew planes into the Word Trade Center and The Pentagon on the same day we were to close on the deal. I sat with my wife and newborn and I prayed. I realized how little control we have and put my faith in God (later that year I was baptized). The next day our investors agreed to close and we were able to save the business.

Over the years there have been ups and there have been downs and I can honestly say I wouldn’t have been able to do without Michele. Thanks honey, I love you!

Written by Alexander Muse · Filed Under Blog, Startups 

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