When we asked Poppy Lane of Pop & Scott whether she and her husband Scott Gibson have any specific rules for maintaining their professional and personal relationship, she exclaimed, ‘No! Bloody hell! We need some rules!’ Though they seem to getting by just fine without!

Having spent almost 10 years working together and sharing a business, a relationship and two children, a lot of their success comes down to mutual passions and ideas. ‘When Scotty and I first met and fell in love, it was because we loved dreaming and discussing ideas!’ Poppy explains, ‘I felt like we started working together the minute we met.’ If you and your partner are staying up until the wee hours talking about ideas, it may be time to take the next step! 

While they both have their designated roles (Poppy as Creative Director and Scott coordinating production and new designs), the couple finds having each other as support makes a big difference. ‘Sharing the ups and downs of a small business with your partner can be confronting sometimes, but also very comforting,’ says Poppy, ‘sometimes you can get too deep into the issues with your business and take it personally’.

On the flip side, Poppy and Scott apply the strength of their personal relationship to their work life –‘You are always there to keep each other in check, have fun, fire up and inspire each other!’

After working full-time in their respective careers as an architect and a flight attendant, Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith of The Plant Society decided to take a change of direction, together. Creating specific roles based on their individual strengths and skills was important. ‘It happened organically, we began working on aspects of The Plant Society that we individually found most enjoyable,’ Jason says on how they initially began to define their roles.

Working together on their rapidly-growing business for just over a year now, the horticultural lovers cite honest and open communication, patience and knowing when to give each other space as key to maintaining a successful work and personal relationship. 

‘It’s not always easy, but we make sure our work and personal lives are kept separate… keep the personal emotion away from your work and make sure you have quality time together,’ they advise, ‘always communicate with each other and actually listen to the other partner… We’ve had to learn when to step in for one another, give each other space and also motivate each other with our own personal growth.’

Despite the crux of their business revolving heavily around a shared vision for a self-sustaining lifestyle, Matt and Lentil Purbrick of Grown & Gathered (who have been working together for five-ish years) rely on boundaries to keep things moving smoothly. ‘Have a space where you go to work every day’, says Lentil, ‘each have your own desk and space. It sounds super simple, but for years we worked at and shared the kitchen table!’

As well as separate work spaces, Matt and Lentil make sure they have clearly defined roles, and a scheduled weekly meeting to go through everything they’ve been working on individually. ‘Throughout the week, we write things on a notepad that we might want to talk about, and then we meet once a week over coffee to talk through it all’, Lentil tells us.

To maximise efficiency and minimise frustration, Matt and Lentil will write things they need the other to do on a blackboard throughout the day. ‘Then you can each look at it when you’re ready, instead of interrupting each other all day!’