Roses are red, violets are blue,
I am the boss, and so are you.
According to Inc. Magazine, there are at least a quarter of a million "copreneurs" in the United States. Copreneurs are husband-and-wife teams who run businesses together. To some, this may sound romantic: twenty-four hours a day with the person you love. To others, it may sound like a life sentence without parole: twenty-four hours a day with the person you love.
Balancing Business and Family Life
Randy ’75 and Karla ’76 Peters, copreneurs who owned Four Seasons Trophies in Dickinson from 1977 to 2020, know from years of experience that working with one’s spouse offers both benefits and drawbacks.
Stepping away from work – both physically and emotionally – is good practice for all workers. Unfortunately, this isn’t easily accomplished by husband-and-wife teams who go home together. Often, "shop talk" continues around the dinner table and into the evening. Randy shared, “When we got home at night, we left work behind. We had three active boys who kept us pretty busy.”
Karla added, “It was so nice working together. You always had someone that you could trust 100 percent of the time to give an honest opinion, someone who was always there for you. I wouldn’t change a thing. We raised a wonderful family. The kids learned a lot by being a part of their Mom and Dad’s work life. We were able to spend quality time together that not all families are able to have. We met many people through Four Seasons Trophies who became close friends. Because we ran the business together, they were (and are) common friends. The people who worked for us are lifelong friends that we still hold very close. We have lots of good memories, and because we worked together, we have the same memories, which I think is a blessing.”
Randy and Karla met and began dating in high school. They attended DSU together, where Karla graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with a Physical Education minor, and Randy received his degree as a science teacher. Early in their careers, they taught in Baker, Montana.
The Key to Success: Communication
When your partner in business is also your partner in life, the stakes are high. Randy and Karla say the best advice they
can give is to maintain open communication. After all, a strong marriage is the foundation of a successful partnership, both in business and in life.
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By: Debora Dragseth, Baker Boy Professor of Leadership | School of Business and Entrepreneurship Dickinson State University
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