Local Entrepreneur Meets The Food Network

My first food Entrepreneur! I was really excited to hear their story for two reasons: 

One, they have a cupcake business {yum!} and two they were on The Food Network's Cupcake Wars!

My favorite quote from this interview:
"What's wrong with a baker whose a man?"
Love it!

Let the Interview Posts Begin

{ fyi: we won't be posting all of the interviews on our main page...just highlighting a few. you can view all of them on our interviews page.
we are posting as fast as possible, twenty-four interviews are already lined up! }

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Architect Gone Self-Employed
"Mrs. Architect Entrepreneur"

Stats:

Married: 11 years

Phase: Growing

Children: Three

Entrepreneur Type: Professional

Started first business: 1st year of their marriage

This entrepreneur's spouse is a family friend. We have known one another for a little over three years and attended events and enjoyed dinner and birthday parties together. When I went to her home I saw boxes ready to ship and paperwork on the table...it was obviously the home/office of an entrepreneur. I must admit that I am a little intimidated by her as she is an incredibly beautiful and extremely talented woman. She exudes so many of the qualities that I hope to achieve so I was more than excited to hear about her journey in the life of entrepreneurship.

Here are a few things she had to say:

MTE: So, did you know your husband was an entrepreneur, or was going to be one, when you married him?

No, because he was going into architecture and that seemed safe, and plain. He went to work all day and was done at 5:00 pm, but I knew I was in trouble about the first month after we got married. While he was still in school I actually attended a seminar that said there was a high divorce rate in architecture and we realized that unless he was going to own his own firm that it was not really very lucrative for a long time... and that is when he said he wanted to start his own design firm. He was always designing things and always creating and coming up with ideas to patent and things so I knew that he always had that in him, I just didn't know he was actually going to go there {laughing}.

MTE: Were you raised in an entrepreneurial family?

Yeah I would say that. My dad wasn't quite the same type of entrepreneur that my husband is. We had a family business and implemented new and progressive ideas, so yeah.

MTE: What attracted you to your husband?

Well, a lot of things. I really liked that he was high energy, outgoing and ambitious. I also noticed that he was a leader of his peers. They all kind of did whatever he said, they kind of all looked to him.

MTE: Explain what your involvement has been with your entrepreneur's businesses?

Initially, very little, but as it grew I helped with marketing as that is my background. I would do a lot of the managerial/administrative type work, all the extra work.

MTE: Have you ever had to get a job to support the family and/or your entrepreneur.

Yes. Yes. Um there was a time when we hit a rough spot and I waited tables at night. We've been fortunate that I haven't had to go back full-time. We've always been creative about extra sources of income (selling things online, flipping things for a profit) those types of things just to get a little income. I have a business background and I sometimes miss that element of work and I was okay going back to help out. There was definitely a feeling of I hope that we make it through and that I wouldn't have to be doing this for the next few years.

MTE: How have you handled or dealt with the instability of being married to an entrepreneur?

Thank goodness for credit cards! I think that you learn more because you have to pay attention to every penny. We get really creative when things look like they are going to be tight we try to cut costs any way that we can. He works all the time which is hard, up until two AM and working on vacations can get annoying {laughing}, that's the one thing that I think is really hard is putting it down, shutting your mind off. 

MTE: Can you talk about some of the hardships you face being the spouse of an entrepreneur?

I play the role of his reality check sometimes and I think he sees it as an anchor, but I'll just say, "I know you want to start this company..." and his initial reaction is let's get a 1-800 number and office space and I'm gonna get all these people in place and I think let's start from home, use our cell phones and I know he feels sometimes hindered by that. He has actually credited me with making sure we take baby steps.

MTE: What are some of the joys you have experienced being married to an entrepreneur?

Having access to him because his schedule is flexible. With children I can volunteer at their class or if someone is sick I don't have to worry about getting time off.

MTE: How has the entrepreneur work/home balance affected your family life?

In our situation I think it has really bonded our marriage and it's been the best thing because we are both working so hard on our goal. We both know it's kind of do or die all the time and we are both dreaming and planning together, so I think its been really bonding.

MTE: If you had to define your entrepreneur in three words what would they be? 

Intense, restless and passionate.

MTE: Name three attributes you have gained from being married to an entrepreneur?

Thick skin {laughing}, open-minded and more understanding.

MTE: What would you tell other women/men who are about to marry an entrepreneur?

Be there to be their reality. By saying that I mean they can get so lofty in their dreams and ideas and it's wonderful, but there needs to be a balance and if you can then be their balance. Behind every married entrepreneur is, you know, the wife who got them there! Because they absolutely will not make it on their own.

MTE: What being Married to an Entrepreneur taught you?

He has taught me to dream, I think that is a really endearing quality. He is the type of guy that will jump into a pool without checking the temperature, that is not me at all!

MTE: So how would you answer the following question: Is being married to an entrepreneur worth it?

Definitely

As always she was so poised and on her game. I could sense an underlying confidence of where things are at, in regards to the company, and it makes me happy. They are a great couple and great team. I really appreciated her honesty and her depth and understanding. Since she has been down the road a few more years than I have it was good to see that you can still end up loving each other. :)

Interview with a Startup Wife

Interview with a Start Up Wife
"Mrs. Startup Entrepreneur"

Married: 4 years
Phase: Startup
Children: 3
Started first business: 1st year of their marriage

While this particular spouse wasn't really my first interview I wanted to start with someone who is right in the mix of the startup world. I was really only acquainted with her husband so this was one of those blind date/job interview type meet ups. Of course I did my homework (aka facebook stalking) so I had some insight into who she was and I felt confident that we were going to get along well. We decided to meet up at a local coffee shop. Luckily we parked our cars at the same time because we ended up being the only two customers in the shop :) And she was even more adorable than fb told me she would be! We ordered Peppermint Hot Chocolate and started to chat.

Here are a few things she had to say:

MTE: So, did you know your husband was an entrepreneur, or was going to be one, when you married him?

Yes. I knew he was going to be before we married.

MTE: Were you raised in an entrepreneurial family?

Yes.

MTE: What attracted you to your husband?

He made me feel like I was the most amazing person, that I could be anybody that I wanted to be, but that I was amazing just the way I was. He's so loving and giving. He is such a hard worker and I always knew that he would be a great provider and I knew that he would be a really, really good dad. And he always attracts people. He always has a lot of friends. And he's totally the opposite from me and I love that.

MTE: Explain what your involvement  has been with your entrepreneur's businesses?

 Ummmm, I try to be supportive, he bounces a lot of ideas off me, so like a sounding board. And  I try to help with design, a little bit here and there. I try to help write a little bit for his website as well. So I wish I could do more. I would enjoy being a part of the business, but it's hard with kids. If we could afford it, like a part time nanny, I would love to be more involved. 

MTE: How have you handled or dealt with the instability of being married to an entrepreneur?

{Laughs}  well this week is going well, so...it's definitely a process, this last year has been major growing pains for us. He works so hard and so much and he's always trying to do the right thing, but it's so hard to know exactly what the right thing is. One of the biggest issues we have is being so connected all the time, the company can't wait, the client can't wait. It's like a Dr. without the salary, available 24/7. He is checked in no matter where we are. We are still "dealing" with that.

MTE: Have you ever told your entrepreneur to get a "job"?

Honestly, we've had arguments when we would get worried, like should we have done this? But really I believe in him, I wouldn't want him to have to get a job. I believe in him. We could move into apartment to save money or whatever. This is what he wants to do.

MTE: Can you talk about some of the hardships you face being the spouse of an entrepreneur?

Insurance is huge, we have a child with health concerns so that's a big priority and can make things complicated. Not having a steady paycheck. Working more, that's hard and I think feeling like you can't say anything because he is really doing it all for you and your family. I never want him to feel unappreciated, but it's not easy... I wish he didn't worry so much and that I didn't worry so much.

MTE: What are some of the joys you have experienced being married to an entrepreneur?

Flexibility of being able to come to the hospital with our child. I think his confidence is higher, even though there is a lot of stress, he brings an energy and excitement to the house because that's how he feels about his work. He is learning a lot about himself. Obviously the  joys of the money and the potential and where we can go with it...I mean with a 9-5 job you kind of know where the cap it at if you know what I mean.

MTE: If you had to define your entrepreneur in three words what would they be?

Smart. Innovative. And no matter what he succeeds....he always succeeds and excels at everything he does.

MTE: Name three attributes you have gained from being married to an entrepreneur?

Patience. To dream bigger and to have faith, just to have faith & let go.

MTE: What would you tell other women/men who are about to marry an entrepreneur?

You just have to know that it is what it is. That sometimes you are going to feel like you come in last, but really, underneath it all, that it's really all for you. What most entrepreneurs have in common is that they really want what is best for their family. Also, you have to have realistic expectations, that's all you can do. You've got to laugh and have a sense of humor too.

MTE: What is one of the greatest lessons you have learned being married to an entrepreneur?

Ummmm. I think that no matter what as long as...ok...well, when we talked about it and decided that officially he was going to leave his 9-5 for sure, that the best thing that could happen was that we could make millions of dollars and that the worst was that we don't...but no matter what we have, or don't have, we always have each other and we have to hold onto that. No one, or thing, can take us away from each other.

MTE: So how would you answer the following question: Is being married to an entrepreneur worth it?

 Yes. It's hard, but yes.

Amen to that. This entrepreneur's spouse was both genuine and forthright. It was obvious that she loves her entrepreneur and believes in his abilities and I found myself relating to so much of what she said. Being in the thick of things (managing and balancing kids, husbands, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.) with an entrepreneur who is in a start up is a difficult task. I was impressed with her drive and commitment to the cause. Keep it up! You guys are a great team and will no doubt make your mark on the world.