Kerry Roy: Mixing Business with Pleasure

We have all heard the saying, “Don’t mix business with pleasure”. But in this industry we often do.

The desire to open a Glamping site often lures people in, with the idea that they can work alongside family members in a bid to increase quality time together and be the masters of their own entrepreneurial success as a collective. But is it really ‘quality’ time?

In many European countries, the majority of independent businesses operate as a family controlled operation. Italy, where I have my glamping site, has one of the highest rates of family business ownership at 80%. While according to Fortune.com the USA has over 87% that are family owned or controlled by family members.

The UK has seen a decline over the past few decades but with more and more people having a desire to leave the corporate rat race, it is slowly increasing again. Glamping is one of those types of businesses where family members can easily get roped in to help out and husbands and wives can see a way of sharing the workload front and back of house.

However, those in glamping and hospitality in general work long hours often across 24/7 operational periods, in case any guest problems arise. Finding the right balance of ‘quality’ time is not always as easy as it seems, especially as there is more to glamping businesses than just making beds, cleaning and checking in guests. Some families and couples relish being a tag team all day, every day but others can often find it a strain.

The Family Business

Working alongside various family members whether it be husband, wife, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles or children can be beneficial if all members have the same vested interest and potential financial gain or shares within the business.

The plus is that you can often trust family members with the finances and decisionmaking side of the business because their heart is in it with you. They share a common goal with you and do not just take a wage. They are willing to make financial sacrifices in order to benefit the future of the business. It can make for a more relaxed working environment with more flexibility. You can leave one another in charge to go on holidays, have days off without worrying if they are capable. They can make decisions without needing to contact you frequently. Ultimately, they are fully ‘invested’ into the core of the business, unlike some employees.

The minus is that fewer boundaries between family members can lead to huge rows, where there is little held back and historical grievances come into play. When this happens, as it inevitably does from time to time, there is nowhere to escape and work/ life descends into misery on both sides. The problem can be that we know each other all too well and employment laws tend to go out of the window. But given that it probably isn’t the first or last time that arguments happen within families it can also be easier for all to promptly forgive, forget and move on like nothing was ever said or ‘shouted’!

Older family members may be more ‘stuck’ in their ways which can lead them to resist change or try to pull rank. I’ve seen this often with the Italian business family models whereby the business just ticks along stagnating while the younger family members feel trapped inside it, because they can’t drive the business forward. The soul of the business becomes stale.

Sometimes, unfortunately, there will be some family members you just have to try and keep from from ‘helping’ or interfering, although they often have the best intentions. Otherwise it can become a hindrance to your business functions as well as damaging to the team morael if the a certain family member does not respect you as the owner along with your decisions.

Like everything in life, working with your family has its pros and cons!

Then there’s kiddiewinks! When you add your children to the mix you need to be able to adopt a more flexible approach to the business as the needs and responsibilities of your little ones can be unpredictable. You will find yourself some moments been torn between who to respond to first; your guests or your child! Both can be demanding when they need your attention!.

It’s a juggling task, especially as hospitality comes with many unplanned issues that can happen any time of the day. So having a screaming baby and needing to solve an issue with the guests at the same time is going to make you anxious. Therefore, you need a good support team around you in business and in the duties of babysitting. Sending an email that used to take a minute can take several minutes or longer, with a child around.

The Couples Business

Working with your spouse might seem like the dream – and while it can be extremely rewarding –it also comes with many challenges. As a couple, you have to remember to separate work life and pleasure, otherwise your work life will soon take over any pleasure time. Even when you take time out for romance conversions of business can soon creep back in.

It’s like having kids, if you’re not conscious you can spend 95% of the time only talking and focusing on the kids. Business as a couple can end up in the same rut if you’re both not careful, therefore it is important to set boundaries with each other to protect your relationship alongside yourselves independently to protect your individualism.

Relationships in general need nurturing, respect and understanding to be successful. In fact, the same key values need to be applied also as business partners, otherwise you will be in for a rough ride on what is a rollercoaster of challenges and emotions anyway.

Personal issues are easily carried into the work environment, and work issues may be carried back into the home life. This can lead to family problems that impact the company and the other workers. It can be testing but fundamentally it is essential to remember you are both aiming towards the same shared goals.

The Friendship Partnership

Some may say that their friendship is too valuable to put it to the test of working together. But many people can think of nothing better than building a business from childhood dreams shared with a best friend. Partnerships with friends can be fun, exciting and very rewarding but they are risky and can destroy your friendships if you’re not careful.

It’s imperative to set clear boundaries, roles and expectations from the beginning, to include a pact not to discuss your feelings about each-other in the work environment with other close mutual friends.

A formal legal contract of shareholdings, including exit clauses should be drawn up at the beginning of any partnership to ensure you are both protected should one partner decide to leave the business or be unable to continue.

Communication in any friendship partnership is key. It’s important you discuss openly and calmly your feelings with one another to maintain a positive connection for your friendship together with the managing of the business.

Often going into business with friends increases positivity, motivation and job satisfaction as you spur each other on and offer constructive criticism. Success tastes even more sweet when shared with a friend.

It’s worth remembering however that outsiders employed by the business may find it difficult to speak openly about any issues they have working alongside your close family member or friend. It may make it a delicate situation if some staff who are family members are hindering or not pulling their weight, causing frustration for outsider team members.

However, with established boundaries, defined roles and a mutual respect, mixing business with pleasure can be a fulfilling and lead to a generational heirloom.