In this week’s episode of Balance: The Journey of Entrepreneurial Couples, Tanya Simon interviews Jackie and Steve Bayly. They own Properties4You, they provide services such as financial strategy development, debt reduction and consolidation, and cash flow maximization. They have over 25 years of experience as an investment team and also directed the start up development and profitable sale of Go Loans.

Main Questions Asked:

• How did you guys meet each other?
• Why did you make the decision to go into business together?
• When did you decide that you had to really make a change?
• What has been one of your biggest challenges together?
• What are your thoughts on work life balance?
• What are your three biggest tips for the listeners?

Key Lessons Learned:

Gaining Experience

• Working for someone else can give you perspective on what you want to do and what you don’t want to do.
• You have to believe in yourself to make the leap to self employed.
• Personal development and investing in courses can help you grow in more than just your business. It’s important to become more aware of yourself and understanding what works for you and what doesn’t.

Challenges

• As your relationship and family changes, you may have to modify your roles in the business.
• Building a business is different from just running a business, you need to figure out each other’s responsibilities in order to succeed in business as well as a family.
• You have to trust yourself and your significant other that you can achieve your goals. Your business will only grow as much as you do.
• You take on a lot of different roles in the early days of the business, you should outsource the tasks you’re not as skilled at as soon as possible.

Tips and Advice

• Establish your separate roles in the business and then get out of each other’s way.
• Figure out what your highest values are and operate within them.
• Rely on people who have expertise in areas that you don’t.
• Take time for yourself to celebrate and plan for the future.
• Take personal development seriously and take courses together. Strive to grow mentally and well as grow up.
• Pass on your knowledge and wisdom to your kids, include them in your business life and be open to sharing your experiences with them.

Life versus Business

• Set boundaries on your schedule. Commit to work when you’re working, and life when you’re at home.
• Being self employed means that you are never truly able to separate your business and your family life.

Links to Resources Mentioned

http://properties4u.com.au/home/

Jackie on LinkedIn

Steve on LinkedIn