Save your marriage--and business--with Friday morning breakfast meetings

The key to working from home for Brian and Kristine Jones of Krush It! Marketing

Working from home with your spouse? Ready to strangle them, figuratively of course? You might want to take a page from the playbook of Brian and Kristine Jones, owners of Krush It! Marketing, an SEO firm based in central Massachusetts.

Brian and Kristine Jones of Krush It! Marketing

Kristine began the home-based SEO business in 2010, with Brian’s family tire business as a client. When Brian’s family sold the business, he joined Kris at Krush It!, taking the sales and marketing role in 2020.

Working from the third floor of the couple’s home in central Massachusetts, Brian and Kristine have employed a number of strategies to foster a smooth working relationship.

Said Brian, “We’ve always talked business, mine and hers. It’s something we enjoy. So when I joined the business and started working with Kris that’s something that did not change.”

Kristine added, “It does help that we have our office on the third floor of our home. So, you know when you walk upstairs, you are going to work.”

“We also don’t work the exact same hours,” said Brian. “I like to go to the gym before work and am back to the office around 7:30. Kris likes going in the afternoon.”

Adds Brian, “Plus when one of us has a Zoom call and needs some privacy or space, we do have other office space in the house.”

So what have been the biggest benefits of running a business together and working from home?

“Definitely the flexibility,” said Kristine. “This year, we spent a month in Florida and worked from there. Next year, it will be two months.”

Added Kristine, “The other benefit has been the company. When I first started the business, our children were in college and finishing up high school. So, we were almost empty nesters. It was a bit isolating and lonely at times. Having Brian here has been great, particularly during the pandemic when client and networking meetings went to Zoom.”

What have been the biggest challenges?

“We have different styles of work,” said Brian. “When Kris is locked in to the coding and other work she does, she’s locked in. So when I have a question, she’ll start answering and then just kind of stop.”

“That is true,” said Kristine. “And its really unfair to Brian. He’s the newer one to this and he does have legit questions. That type of situation is what led to our Friday morning breakfast meetings.”

Every Friday, the Joneses will leave their home office and conduct a business meeting at local breakfast place or coffee shop for approximately one hour.

“We need a public place so we won’t fight,” joked Brian. “Seriously though, it has helped having a change of scenery and our discussions are far more focused.”

Adds Kristine, “It’s really something we look forward to. And to the person who suggested, one of my networking buddies, thank you for saving my marriage! I’m kidding!”

As you can see, in addition to Krushing It!on SEO for their small business clients, the Joneses also seem to be doing the same running and business and sustaining a marriage.

Do you work with your partner? Know somebody who does who might want to share their secrets with My Home Office Hacks? Drop a line or leave a name and business in the comment box.

A hack you can use right now

Spreadsheets. You simply can’t escape them. Lord knows I’ve tried. You can make them look much better with this hack.

• Simply click Ctrl A

• Hold the Alt key and type hoi

• Continue to hold Alt and type hoa

This action will align the rows and columns and neaten up the content. Check out this video:

Inspiring quote of the week

“I don't have to be logical; I'm a mother.”
— Carol Brady, mother on the Brady Bunch

As always, please…