HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR WIFE’S BUSINESS IF SHE’S THE ONE MAKING THE MONEY IN YOUR HOME

In 2014, I was one of the owners and Managing Director of a national business with branches in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Enugu and Abuja.

We did business with Banks, MasterCard and over 2000 businesses nationwide.

Eventually I left that business (with a lot of pain), and for a while I wasn’t making any money.

I had just gotten married, so it was a trying period for me.

My wife was working, and doing some side hustles to take care of things.

In that time, I learnt a few things about how to support your wife’s business especially if she’s the one bringing in the money.

1. Keep EGO one side: Guy man, see, I understand. Nothing pains us more than when we cannot provide for our family. We feel like we have lost our manhood, but we try to still maintain our EGO.

The EGO God gave us isn’t for the home, it’s for outside.

Calm down.

Let’s keep the ego one side.

2. Offer moral support: Offer your wife moral support and encouragement as she runs her business.

Let her know that you believe in her and are proud of her achievements.

3. Help with tasks and responsibilities: Help with tasks and responsibilities related to her business, such as running errands, answering phone calls, or assisting with administrative tasks.
4. Promote her business: Help promote your wife’s business by sharing information about it with your friends, family, and social media followers.

Share her business widely.

5. Be understanding of her workload: Be understanding of the demands and responsibilities of your wife’s business and try to be flexible with your own schedule to support her.
6. She will feel overwhelmed sometimes and may take it out on you: It’s not right, and it doesn’t make sense.

You can’t control how she feels, but you can manage how you respond. Allow her vent her frustration. In most cases, it will be work related and will have nothing to do with you.

7. Seek out resources and support: Research resources and support networks that can help your wife grow and sustain her business, such as business development programs or networking groups.
8. Pray for “the business”: Notice I didn’t say pray for “her business”. The reality is, the business belongs to both of you, so pray for the business. Pray for her.
9. Keep finding your own path as you support her. She needs to know that you aren’t lazy, or taking advantage of her. Stay active. Apply for jobs, work with friends. Plan to start a business, or start one, etc. (Avoid investment schemes biko).

There’s more to say, but let me stop here.

Akuchi is calling me.

Author: Ibe Nnamdi