How professional licenses and certifications are beneficial

It’s important to note that having a professional license or certification does not guarantee you a job, even though there are many jobs which require professional licenses or certifications. Besides being a job requirement, professional licenses and certifications can benefit you in several ways. They can provide job security, credibility, and increased earnings potential.

Job security. Our economy is going through some tough times right now, and having a professional license or certification can set you apart from the crowd. Each relevant certification or license you add to your resume makes you more attractive to your current employer, or to a potential employer. You may also have more job security if your company recently paid for your license or certification because they will want to receive the return on their investment in you.

Credibility. Some certifications label you an expert in your field. Having the certification lets people know at a glance that you have met certain criteria and you know what you are talking about. This can lead to increased job visibility, consulting opportunities, and more.

Increased salary potential. Some professional licenses or certifications may be required for a promotions or new job title, and obtaining one of them may help you make the grade. Some licenses and certifications can be worth anywhere from $1,000-$5,000 or more, depending on the certification, your locale, and the demand for that certification. These gains in salary are easiest to achieve when changing companies, as you may not see a direct salary increase if you obtain the certification while already employed.

How to choose a license or certification

Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. Follow the money! I’m kidding! But only slightly. You should follow your professional goals, and if that is in line with where the money is, then great. But I don’t recommend getting a license just because you read somewhere that you might earn more money because you have that license. Needs change, and in a few years that license you spent a lot of time and money acquiring may not be worth much more than the paper it is printed on. It’s best to get the licenses and certifications that are required, then go for those that are most in line with your professional interests, or which will benefit your career the most.

Management and Human Resources can point you in the right direction. If you need help determining which license or certification to go after, I recommend speaking with your manager or HR representative. They can help you determine which licenses and certifications are the most valuable within your industry. Your manager will probably have a better idea of which certifications will be most valuable within your day to day tasks, and your HR representative may have a better idea of how your industry views certain licenses and certifications from a hiring perspective. I’ll caution you to be careful how you ask these questions though, because you don’t want to give the impression you are seeking a new job if that is not what you are doing.

Professional licenses and certifications can help advance your career

A professional license or certification may not guarantee you a job, but they can go a long way in helping you advance your careerm or find a new job. I recommend investigating which licenses or certifications may be beneficial to you and look into acquiring one. It is an even better deal if you can convince your company to pay for it!

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I’ve always thought serving on a jury would be interesting, and it’s part of my civic duty, so I don’t mind. Actually, I welcome the opportunity. My only concern is that I don’t get stuck in a 6 month long murder trial. But that idea probably comes from reading too many John Grisham books and watching too many movies like The Runaway Jury (based on a John Grisham novel), or the modern day classic Jury Duty, starring Pauly Shore.

The reality is that I may not even get past the initial jury selection. I’m sure the jury selection process will be a lot of sitting around and waiting, so I will bring a book and a notepad and be prepared for a little light entertainment while the lawyers question other prospective jurors.

Jury Duty and work

I suspect I may be in the minority here because my job gives employees excused time off with pay while employees serve jury duty. The law does not require employers to pay their employees while they are on jury duty, though they may if they wish. However, the law does require employers to allow workers time off to perform jury duty, and employers cannot fire employees simply because they miss work to serve on a jury. I’m sure there are many people out there who simply cannot afford to serve on a jury because it would cause them undue financial hardship.

Jury Duty Exemptions

There are many valid jury duty exemptions, with rules varying by state, county, parish, etc. The best course of action is to check with the court from which you receive a jury summons for more information.  In addition to exemptions from jury duty for military service (some states require military members to serve, but military commanders can overrule this if it will affect mission capability), there are many other exemptions. Common exemptions include health reasons, caregiver status, undue financial hardship, certain professions such as policemen, firefighters, and emergency workers, full-time students, convicted felons, and more. There are simply too many specific exemptions to list them all. Here is a list of federal jury duty qualifications, exemptions, and excuses.

This is only a summons - not an official notification of selection

Right now, I have only received a jury summons, which basically means, I “may” be required to serve on a jury. I need to call the courthouse the night before the date of report, at which time I will find out more information about my reporting duties. I may find out at that point that they do not need me. But I will gladly serve if called.

Beware of Jury Duty Scams

There is a jury duty scam going on where thieves pose as jury coordinators. They tell you you never showed up for a jury summons and threaten to issue a warrant for your arrest. When you protest, they request your personal info (DOB, SSN, etc), which they then use to steal your identity. NEVER give out personal information over the phone!

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Actually, there is a lot more to it than that. Labor Day represents how far we have come as a nation (and on an international level) in regard to human and worker’s rights. By no means is everything perfect in the US or abroad, but working and labor conditions are drastically improved over standards that were in place only 100 years ago, or fewer.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the US was not a scheduled day off in celebration of a holiday, but an unpaid day off taken by over 10,000 workers who banded together to march in a parade in an attempt to create solidarity in workers rights and create a bond between disparate labor and trade organizations.The parade was followed by a festival for the marching workers and their families. The year was 1882.

By 1894, Labor Day was a US National Holiday, and each of the 50 states has since made Labor Day a state holiday as well. Today, Labor Day is celebrated in many countries, though it is also known by other names such as Labour Day, May Day, and International Workers Day.

An evolution of worker’s rights

While Labor Day is something most Americans (and many international workers) take for granted, it is a lasting reminder of how our society’s working class has evolved. Less than 100 years ago, the US did not have child labor laws or minimum wage laws (except for a 2 year period between 1904-1906 when all child labor was abolished by the National Child Labor Committee, which was later ruled unconstitutional).

In 1938, the US passed the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, also called the Wages and Hours Bill, which set a national minimum wage, guaranteed time and a half overtime pay (and instituted a 40 hour workweek), and eliminated many forms of child labor in the US. This bill was passed near the end of the Great Depression as part of FDR’s New Deal.

Th Fair Labor Standards Act was a great advancement in worker’s rights in the US, when many workers in the Industrial Revolution were working 12-16 hour days, 6-7 days per week. The mid to late 1800s saw the formation of labor unions, protests, boycotts, and other demonstrations in the attempt to gain worker’s rights. In many of these cases, the protests turned violent and even deadly.

We’ve come a long way

Today we all benefit from the hard work and sacrifices that were made by those who came before us. Though you may have a job that requires you to work on Labor Day, or you may work more than 40 hours per week, you are still afforded many rights that our recent ancestors did not have. We in the US have it better than those in many countries where fair labor and trade laws simply do not exist. I, for one, am grateful for the opportunities we have here in the US.

Now, I’m going to take the rest of the day off. 

Related Labor Day reading:

• Labor Day History at the History Channel.com.
• Labor Day (US) and Labour Day (World) at Wikipedia.
• History of Labor Day at the US Department of Labor.
• The 8 Hour Day Movement.
• Labor Unions in the US.
• US Labor Law.

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The move would require most non-emergency personnel to work 10 hour days Monday-Thursday, instead of the traditional 8 hours Monday-Friday.

This will obviously cause a period of adjustment for state workers, as well as state residents who were, until recently, able to take care of things like getting driver’s licenses, paying taxes, and other state business 5 days a week. The benefit for residents is they will be able to take care of things either earlier or later than they previously were able to, so certain tasks may be easier for some people.

What do you think of a 4 day work week?

Personally, I love the idea. I’ve worked every shift imaginable, and I would have no problem going into work an hour earlier and coming home an hour later. I would also try to cut down my lunch break as well so I could get out a little earlier. The idea of a three day weekend every week is extremely appealing to me. I would love an extra day every week to take care of things around the house, go grocery shopping, work on my websites, and take care of everything else required in a “normal” busy life. I don’t have children yet, but I know that if I did, I would love the idea even more.

Unfortunately, this was recently brought up to our Vice President in an “all hands call” and the idea was quickly shot down. I work as a government contractor and we work hand in hand with military and civilian personnel who work a traditional 8-5, M-F schedule. To ask us to do anything different wouldn’t be fair to our client.

How about every other Friday off? There are similar modified schedules that gives employees every other Friday off. My neighbor works works 9 hour days and gets every other Friday off. Again, this isn’t an option for me because our mission is based on a 5 day work week, and our time is submitted weekly. But I would love to have this option as well. Even one or two extra days off per month would be a blessing in my book.

Pros to a 4 day work week. There are quite a  few things I love about the idea of a 4 day work week. The most beneficial aspect is more time. No, there isn’t a magic button that makes each day have more than 24 hours. But in my opinion, you can do a lot more with with a full day off than with an extra hour or two broken up over the course of a week. Pros:

• More time at home with family.
• More time to take care of chores, shopping, and other household activities (do it all Friday and have Saturday to yourself).
• More time to devote to hobbies.
• Lower commuting costs (save money on gas!).
• Save money on food (unless you brown bag it every day).
• Do you shopping and other errands on Fridays when most people are working.

Cons to a 4 day work week. While a 4 day work week seems like a golden opportunity, it is a rare opportunity at best. And like everything else, if there are good things, there are probably some things that are bad. Cons:

• Not available for most workers (most businesses do not have the option of closing doors an extra day per week).
• Arranging day care may be difficult; particularly for single parents or those with special needs.
• 10 hour days can get long and tedious very quickly.

What do you think? Would you prefer to work four 10 hour days and have every Friday off? Or do you prefer the standard 8-5, M-F work schedule?

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But sales and marketing is about much more than upselling the customer to earn a few more dollars. Sales and marketing can be a quick way to satisfy your customer and garner attention from your employer - earning you commissions and promotions. But sales and marketing is also about building long term relationships and giving the customer what they need.

I recently featured a guest article by Bob from Shark Investor. The guest article, The Remarkable Approach To Your Finances, was about how to invest in yourself. Some of the tips included learning how to speak in public, learning a new language, increasing your financial intelligence, and improving your sales and marketing skills.

Don J. wrote in and asked:

I’d love to hear some suggestions on how to learn sales and marketing. This was the section that really jumped out at me in reading this article, and I have known for a long time that it was a weak spot for me. Right now, I think that it is holding back my career in several ways.

Don, I think this is an area in which many people can improve. I worked a sales position before joining the US Air Force, and even though I eventually changed careers, I learned a lot during my time as a salesman. I have learned more since then by working as a consultant and observing others in my field and when shopping. These tips may not make you the salesman of the century, but if you follow them, your sales and marketing skills should improve - hopefully improving your professional prospects as well.

What it takes to become a better salesman or marketer

It’s not about you, it’s about the customer

Sales are great. They help your company turn a profit and put money in your pocket. But your company wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for its customer base. Unless you are meeting your customer’s needs, he will not return. Ask yourself what problems you can solve for the customer. Solving your customer’s problems will increase customer satisfaction and improve sales.

Know your customer

The best way to sell someone a product or service is to know their needs. The more familiar you are with their product and needs, the easier it is to provide solutions to their problems. Solve their problem and you will have a repeat customer.

Listen more than you talk

The best way to give someone what they want or need is to have them tell you what they want or need. And they will if you let them. Just be sure to actually listen to their answer. You should be an expert regarding the product or service your company offers and you should have no problem recommending something to fit their needs.

Know and understand your product or service

Sales is more than just handing over a product or service in exchange for cash. Sales is about problem solving and you, as the salesman, are the expert problem solver. Customers may have an idea what they want, but of sometimes they don’t know what they need. You can give them the information, service, or expertise they need to get the job done. Consulting is a prime example of this in action.

Be prepared

Know your product, know your customer, and be prepared. You will increase your sales if you can anticipate your customer’s needs and solve their problems. Part of being prepared is rehearsing your sales pitch. You don’t want to come across like you memorized a sales guide, but you don’t want to stammer through your response either. You should aim to come across in a confident, conversational manner. Remember, practice makes perfect.

Be passionate

If you aren’t enthusiastic and don’t support your product or service, why would anyone else want to buy it? You are the face of your company and the more enthusiastic you are about your product, the more the likely the customer will feel the same way.

Sometimes the downsell is the best sell

Sometimes, selling the customer less than what they ask for is better than giving them their initial request or selling them more than they need. While this may seem counter intuitive, this is really just good business. You want your customers to know that you are more concerned with meeting their needs than making a much money as possible. This level of trust can bring you repeat business, and repeat customers are almost always more valuable than one time customers.

Sometimes you need to plant a seed

If you have a prospective client who may become a big customer, it may benefit you in the long run to make a deal or two that may seem disadvantageous at first glance. Maybe you need to throw in a little something extra to sweeten the deal the first time, or maybe you give the customer a one time discount to seal the deal. But sometimes that is worth it. Once you have a customer, they are more likely to stay with you than go through the trouble of finding a new vendor. That doesn’t mean you need to give away the farm. But sometimes you need to be creative in order to land contracts.

No last minute upsells

The last thing any customer wants is an upsell when they think the deal is done. Last minute upsells can come across as underhanded and can break the trust you worked so hard to establish. If there is the possibility of additional services the customer can purchase, let them know before they agree to the deal. That way there isn’t the perception that you are trying to pull one over on them, or are only concerned with lining the company coffers. Remember, it is about providing a service to meet the customer’s needs, not yours.

Ask for the sale

The power of suggestion can be a strong one. That does not mean you need to be aggressive and overpowering when making sales. But sometimes, all people need is a little suggestion before they will make a decision.

Anyone can become a better salesman

Some people are born salesmen. They have the gift of gab, recognize opportunity, and seem to excel at every chance that comes their way. While I can’t guarantee you will replicate their success, I believe anyone can improve their success at sales and marketing. And I don’t think you need to go to college to learn sales or that you need to read numerous books on “sales techniques.” At its base level, being a salesman is about problem solving. If you can solve the customer’s problem, you can be a successful salesman.

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Whenever you are dealing with with anything of importance, get it in writing. This includes things such as a contract for employment, salary negotiation, contractor’s estimate, negotiating a purchase, or anything else that involves money or a service. If you don’t get it in writing, you open the door to unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of you.

Real Life Example: Get a job counter-offer in writing

I left my previous job a few months ago because I needed a new challenge, and quite frankly, I didn’t like the way things were going with management or the company. In the weeks after I left, I was followed by several other individuals who left for various reasons. One of my former coworkers accepted a job offer from another company, resigned from his position, and then had an exit interview with his managers.

During his exit interview, he caved in to management. As I mentioned in my exit interview, my former managers tried placing blame on me when I left. The company is/was having financial difficulties and was in the middle of bidding for a large contract. The large number of people leaving was adding fuel to the fire and hurting the company’s image. The managers told him he was letting down the company and his team. To entice him to stay, they offered to give him a raise that didn’t quite meet the other company’s raise, but came fairly close. They followed that up with a promise to bring his salary up to the other company’s offer during the mid-year promotion cycle. He relented and agreed to rescind his acceptance at the other company.

Fast forward a week. He met with his management again and verified he declined the job offer. Management then gave him a paper to sign. It was verification of his new salary, which was only half the promised raise. His managers gave him a half-baked excuse about budgets or something. What it boils down to is that they coerced him into staying by lying.

What could my former coworker do at that point? He could either remain with the company or look elsewhere. He had already burned his bridge to the new company and didn’t have anything else lined up. So he signed the paper. I hate to say it, but now management knows they have a pawn and I seriously doubt any of them respect him now. He has already shown his willingness to leave for greener pastures, he has shown weakness in negotiation, and he allowed himself to be manipulated by management. I think his future is very limited at that company.

I rarely think people should accept a counter offer. At that point you have accepted a new position and you risk burning a bridge and ruining your reputation. Other people’s perception about you can change, which can limit your future with the company. Here are some more reasons why you shouldn’t accept a counter offer. If you decide to accept a counter offer - get it in writing.

What you need to get in writing:

When in doubt, always get as much information as possible in writing. Ask all the important questions such as Who, What, When, Where, How, How Much, Who is responsible for what, etc.

Other times you need to get it in writing:

• Moving household goods. Always get your moving estimates in writing. Is your move based on weight, total boxes, number of people moving you, is there an extra charge for stairs or mileage?
• When buying a car. Read the fine print and check for items being added that you didn’t request. Also make sure everything verbally agreed upon is in the contract. You don’t want to find out your warranty expires earlier than the salesman told you.
• When getting work done by a general contractor. Does the price include parts and labor? IS there a warranty?
• Salary and benefits negotiations. There are many things to think about in a salary negotitaion. Be sure to get your proposed salary in writing as well as time off, retirement package, job description, other benefits and anything else that was important during your negotiation. More reading: Salary Negotiation Tactics.
• Other: Anything else that requires a contract, compensation, money changing hands, work being done, or anything that can cause you to lose time or money. Get it in writing!

Feel free to add tips in the comments section. I’ll be more than happy to include them in this article.

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Do you work a lot? Why? Most people want badly to earn enough to support their family, to buy the things they like, or to invest so they can earn more money in the future. It all makes sense.

Sometimes, however, we get off track.

You Probably Work Too Hard For External Resources

The money you earn and invest and the assets you buy or grow are your resources for building further wealth. It’s great to invest as this can eventually help you on your way to financial freedom.

The problem is that external assets often lose their value and the ability to bring income over time. Stocks and currency investments are well known for their volatility. But a property, business or info products are not less risky. There are many people who invest in assets during their entire life - and at the end everything they own loses value. You don’t want to be one of them.

Most of us work too hard for obtaining insecure assets. You must switch the focus to something better - like your greatest asset, the ability to generate income. Your internal resources - knowledge, professional skills, intuition, courage, enterprising nature, tenacity, and patience - are not dependent on the global market crisis, inflation, or government intervention. No one can steal what you have in yourself.

Even if you lose all your money, savings, investments, and property, your internal resources still remain and can help you stand up from the worst situation. The more you invest in yourself, the stronger you become an the less you depend on the economical crisis.

How To Invest In Yourself

The most popular way of investing in yourself is education. You know that getting a good degree increases your chances to get a high paying job. So should you plan getting a second degree? Maybe, but I don’t think this is the best you can do. A second degree is giving you better career chances, but its not the only thing that matters. Besides, getting a job is not the best way to create income.

Here are few ideas how to invest in yourself in a more efficient way:

Attend public speaking courses and events. If your knees start shaking when they have to speak in public, this is exactly for you. Facing this fear will help you feel a lot more confident not only when speaking to large audience (if ever you have to do it), but also when negotiating small business deals, a raise, or a new job. Even if your specialty does not involve speaking, the skills in rhetoric will help you get the most from the other side of every deal.

Learn sales and marketing. Similar to public speaking, your sales/marketing knowledge can yield much better returns than your investment portfolio. Many people hate the thought of selling and as a result, rarely get paid well enough for the goods and services they provide. If you are one of these people, you should try to fight this fear and learn to sell yourself and your services. Knowing how to sell will help you in all areas of life, even those that are not related to your finances.

Learn new language. Knowing a second or third language opens you the door for more specific jobs that many other can’t attend - it limits the competition. But the advantages go far beyond getting a job. Knowing another language can give you access to online resources that are not translated in English, better chances to conduct international business, or possibly find freelance translation work if ever you need to earn alternative income. Unlike technology specific knowledge, knowing human languages doesn’t lose its value in short time.

Train your courage. We lose too much time worrying about our little material acquisition that we often miss the big picture. Many people never lead a fulfilling and wealthy life because they are afraid to start action, to take little risks, and to change their life in the way they really want it.

Train your financial courage by taking small life changing actions every day. Investing in your own ability to act and take reasonable risks can change the way you look at your finances forever.

Increase your financial intelligence. One thing they don’t teach us in school is financial intelligence - and what an important thing it is. If kids were taught more about money we probably would see less people badly entangled in debt. Fortunately you can learn at older age too. Reading personal finance blogs is a great start, but then invest in some books, or consider receiving an education in practical finance. The results will usually pay for themselves over time.

Said in short, invest in your personal development. This is far more efficient than most financial instruments and sometimes can be done with little to no money at all.

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My current schedule. My normal work schedule is 8-5 with an hour lunch break, but there is some flex time involved. The main objective is for me to work 40 hours per week, and if that means coming in early and leaving early, or putting in a couple late nights and getting out early on Friday, then that’s what it takes.

I much prefer this arrangement vs. my old job which had a rigid 8-5 schedule (with lunch break). In the old position, it was very difficult to deviate from that schedule and basically needed managerial approval. In their defense, it was a consulting position at the client site, so it was more difficult for my old company to justify expenses if I wasn’t physically there.

Which shift is the best to work?

So which shift do you prefer to work? I’ve worked them all - from my days in high school working the after school shift at a grocery store and working nights stocking department store shelves, to the US AIr Force where I worked every shift imaginable. I worked days, nights, weekends, holidays, and even one 36 hour stretch where my only break was to get some food. Surprisingly, the 36 hour shift wasn’t the worst. The worst was working a combination of days, swings, and mids in the same week, then coming in for weekend duty. For those not in the military, exercises suck!

Here are the standard shifts:

Day shift: Day shift normally runs 8am-4pm or some variation. This is my favorite shift to work because it has normal sleeping hours and is the easiest to plan around. This is also the easiest shift to work while raising a family.

Swing shift: Swing shift, or second shift, usually runs 4pm-12am or similar hours. In my experience, this is where a lot of the work gets done because the bosses are gone for the day and there are fewer meetings and administration to attend to. The worst part is when you are trying to wrap up everything early on Friday so you can go out and you end up staying until 3 or 4 in the morning.

Night shift: Night shift, mids, graveyard shift… Many names, same shift. Mids usually covers the hours of 12am-8am or similar hours. When I was in the USAF, I volunteered to work this shift for two years so I could attend night school full time and get my degree. It was my best financial move in college because the military paid me to go to school. It wasn’t always easy going to bed at 10 am, sleeping until 3pm, then getting up, going to class, then immediately going to work. But the payoff was a degree and opportunity that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. The other benefit was there were fewer people in the way at work so it was easier to get my job done.

Split shift: Split shifts can be short 4-6 hour shifts like a part time job, or they can be full time hours split for coverage. Depending on where you work, you may not know your schedule until a couple days or weeks before you work. This makes planning life difficult. Split shifts can also be rough on your body if the hours are constantly changing. I’ve worked my fair share of these shifts; in the military the goal was to have coverage at all hours of the day.

Twelves: 12 hour shifts. I’ve worked more than my fair share of 12 hour shifts, and I don’t miss them at all! Especially when 12 hours meant show up half an hour to an hour early to get turnover, and stay an extra half hour to an hour to give turnover and wrap everything up. Often those 12 hour sifts turned into 13-14 hours. 12 hour shifts are common in medical fields, and among military, policemen, laborers, and similar professions, usually where around the clock coverage is necessary.

24 hour duty: This one is rough, but often you are on call and allowed to sleep. The best example would be firefighters or the on call medical staff at a hospital.

No shift: Those who are self employed, athletes, business owners, freelancers, writers, musicians, performance artists, and others may not have a shift at all. But that doesn’t mean they don’t work hard. Often, they work more hours because they know they will reap the benefits of their labor. They also tend to intertwine their lives with their work.

Which is your favorite? My current favorite is day shift so I can spend more time with my wife and easily take care of errands. But I’ve worked them all, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. Which do you prefer? (click through to see the poll).

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Anyone who has ever started a business knows how hard it is to get things off the ground. For some, the hard work was incredibly fulfilling and fruitful, while others wanted to jump off a bridge at certain points of the process. Whatever the situation, sometimes the people most affected by a new business are not the owners themselves, but those people who love them most.

Those blessed with an entrepreneurial mind and spirit definitely think differently than those who aren’t as entrepreneurially-gifted. It may be a bit more nerve-wracking for someone to go through the process of starting a business if they do not share the same enthusiasm and vision as the person starting the business.

This is especially true when it comes to money and the overall financial toll a new business places on a family or relationship in general. On top of the time spent working and getting a business off the ground, there also lies the possibility that money will get very tight. This can be especially hard for families who already live paycheck to paycheck and need to rely on a steady income just to survive month to month.

So how do you ease the tension and anxiety those close to you feel when you decide to go solo? What happens during the times when the money isn’t exactly rolling in each week?

Open Lines of Communication

Before proceeding ahead with a new business venture, discuss the financial issues your partner is concerned about freely and clearly, without being defensive. Have a clear understanding of how far your partner is willing to go outside of their financial comfort zone. Knowing and acknowledging their worst case scenario fears will help both of you set healthy boundaries and expectations.

Be Frank About Financials

From the very beginning, couples looking to establish an independent business, with or without each other need to have a set financial plan in place before officially starting a new venture. Lay it all on the table and discuss everything about finances. From credit card bills to the mortgage, make sure you both know how the bills will be getting paid for both business and personal things. Know how far your respective other is willing to go to help your business grow and become successful.

Discuss – Don’t Defend

In keeping with the open lines of communication sentiment, it is important you and your partner communicate in discussion form and not with an argument. It may be a gut reaction on both sides to become defensive, which is understandable. But if you are both in it for the long-haul, compromise will go a long way. Don’t disrespect each other or take feelings for granted. Two different viewpoints can work to your advantage instead of destroying a relationship. Having and showing support is probably one of the most important factors in establishing a successful business.

Get Involved

Just because you both may not share the exact same vision, it can make a difference simply by getting involved on some level, so each party can have a better understanding of how things work and see what each person is going through. Sharing a vision, if only on a minor level, can help strengthen a relationship and bring the business to a whole new level. Brainstorming ideas together can help start the flow of cash and bring a mutual understanding of what it takes to be successful.

It is not easy to start a business by yourself feeling unsupported and alone. It is just as hard to live with someone who focuses their time and energies somewhere other than your relationship for a large part of a day. Working together, at least on some level, can help ease the tension during the trying times of a start up business.

Tisha Kulak is a writer for Creditorweb.com, where she writes about credit card offers, business credit cards and small business finances.

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