My Spouse Doesn't Support My Business—What Do I Do?

Erin writes: "My husband supports me, but he really doesn't get it. He doesn't understand why I'm working nights and weekends on something that isn't paying off yet. I feel like I'm losing him."

This is one of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship that most people don't talk about.

Scott's story: Built a business for 17 months while suspecting his corporate job was ending. When it did, his wife asked: "Are you sending out resumes?" She didn't freak out—but she had concerns.

The belief shift: Your spouse is not the enemy. They are scared. Their resistance is often about love—disguised as doubt.

The Visibility Trap in relationships: They can't see what you see. They hear about your business—they don't live it. Money leaves the account. When is it coming back?

What not to do:

• Don't pitch them on the dream before understanding their concern (Episode 70 callback)
• Don't hide the business—that breeds resentment
• Don't make them the villain

What to do:

• Show them what's happening—talk about small wins, tangible progress
• Give them a role, even a small one

The pilot analogy: Passengers feel out of control. Give them a job—"help me look for other planes." Now they feel involved. Same with your spouse.

The ask: "Can we just go 90 days on this? Let's revisit then."

The hard truth: Some spouses will never get on board. You have to decide what matters most. The resistance from people who care about you piles onto the resistance you're already facing.

Scott's perspective: "I would want to protect the relationship more than the business."

Got a business question? Ask Scott here: scotttodd.net/ask