Year-End Recap with My Hubby, Justin

Many of my clients tell me that their relationship dynamic is either driving their business success or completely hindering it. After nearly 20 years of marriage and nine years of building businesses together, I wanted to have an honest conversation with Justin about what being a supportive spouse actually looks like.

Spoiler: it’s not what you think.

What a Supportive Spouse in Business Actually Means

Justin said something that stopped me cold: “Is support me meaning that I just go along with everything you say and tell you that you’re doing good if you’re not doing good?”

Real support isn’t cheerleading. Instead, it’s being the consistent sounding board of truth when maybe other people in your life don’t have that to offer. We know each other best. As a result, we can offer that perspective when no one else can or will.

The Execution Requirement

Here’s what Justin told me about what he needed to see in those early years: “If you’re going to spend money on coaching and then six months later you haven’t done any of the things your coach said to do, that makes it hard to be supportive.”

Nobody wants to hear this, but it’s true. If you’re using shared funds to invest in your business, you must execute.

For example, I remember women on sales calls saying, “I want to do this so bad, but my husband’s going to say I haven’t done the thing that the last few coaches told me to do.” And honestly? He’s right to say that.

How Married Entrepreneurs Build Financial Trust

Every single time I said I was going to invest in coaching or my business, I executed. Justin did the same with his knife business. We both took those investments and multiplied them. The receipts tell the story.

Now, when I want to spend $25,000 or $30,000 on coaching, Justin’s response is simple: “I know you’re going to do it.” Not if. He knows I will. Why? Because I always have.

That trust didn’t happen overnight. Instead, it happened through consistent execution over the years.

Building Business with Spouse Support: The Story That Changed Everything

This year we needed a new vehicle. I had my eye on a Land Rover Defender. My dream car. We were about to make the purchase, and Justin said something that made me furious.

“I’m in. You’re just going to pay for it.”

I felt abandoned. We’ve never done separate finances. What’s his is mine. What’s mine is his. And suddenly he’s putting this entirely on me? I was really angry.

Why He Did It

Looking back, that moment completely up-leveled me in business. It gave me a new level of ownership I didn’t even know I needed.

Justin said: “I’ve always seen you as this boss. I just wanted you to believe it even more than you already do. I knew how you were going to feel in that car, and it’s going to feel way better knowing that you are the one doing it.”

He was right. Driving that Defender knowing I paid for it with my business? That feeling is incomparable. Not because my husband didn’t buy it for me. Because I didn’t need him to.

Justin admitted this was an ego hit for him too. “I want to take care of you. I want to provide for you. But I really felt like if you want to be this woman, be this woman. You don’t need me to buy the car for you.”

This is what real support looks like. Not protecting me from growth. Pushing me toward it, even when it’s uncomfortable for both of us.

Money Conversations Every Business Owner Needs to Have

We have a rule: anything over a certain amount, we consult each other. That number has grown as we’ve made more money, but the mutual respect remains.

Here’s what makes financial trust work:

• Evidence of multiplication. When either of us invests in our business, we show receipts. We multiply those investments. You can’t deny results.
• Doing what we say. If I say I’m going to execute on coaching, I do it. If he invests in equipment, he does it. Every single time.
• Mutual respect around timing. We don’t make huge decisions independently. We talk through them. We consider the impact on our family and future.

Why Giving Money Away Grows Your Business

Justin helped me shift on something huge this year. I used to feel like my business was shifting and I didn’t have the money to give. But I gave it anyway. And realized if I can’t do that, then I don’t actually believe in my business.

We’re ending 2025 wanting to give more money away than we ever have. Once you realize it’s not your money, it changes everything. We’ve been put on this path. We’ve executed. We’ve made more than we need. So we get to give it away.

When we tithe to our church, we don’t know exactly where it’s going. We just trust that God will do good things with it. That level of releasing control? That’s what abundance actually feels like.

Marriage and Business Growth

Here’s what we’re realizing as the kids get older and more independent. We’re finding ourselves alone together at the house more. And it’s shining a light on something important.

We need to pay attention to the pulse of our marriage. We need to prioritize fun and spending time together. Because this is more of our future than not.

You have to prioritize your marriage. It’s not optional. Life gets busy, life gets hard, life gets fast. And you forget to go on date nights. You forget to say thank you for the small things.

That causes distance. And if you’re building a business, that distance can kill both your relationship and your company.

What We’re Both Working On

Justin is working on being more patient and not always trying to fix things. Sometimes I don’t want the things fixed. I want to be heard.

I’m working on creating pockets of presence. I’m easily a workaholic. I could work from 6 AM to 8 PM because I love it. But I’ve done a better job this year of being spontaneous. Random lunch dates. Our Friday lunch dates. Being fully present when I’m not working.

Because of that, I feel more excited and refreshed on Monday.

What We’re Working On in 2026

We’re both working on the same thing: faster decision-making. Not putting so much effort into every single decision. Acting more. Less analysis paralysis.

For me specifically, I want more hobbies outside of business. I love my work. However, it can’t be the only place where I get my endorphin hits. Rather, the joy should come from my life, not just my business.

The Bottom Line

Our marriage is based in love and our faith and supporting each other to be the best versions of ourselves. Not who we are now. Not who we were 10 years ago. But the best version of who we’re supposed to be.

That future version isn’t about the money we make. It’s the type of human being we are. It’s how we take care of people.

We’re only doing this marriage thing once. So how do we make it the best? How do we keep each other at the center? How do we be honest with each other about what we need?

If you’re building a business while maintaining a relationship, you have to have these conversations. You can’t avoid them.

Free Resources:

• “How To Get Clients” Limited Series
• 10 Powerful Questions Every Coach Should Know
• Follow on Instagram: @awalkmyway

A Personal Note

Thank you for being a listener to this show. You tune in every single week, and that means everything to me.

As you end 2025, I hope this conversation inspires you to sit down with your spouse and talk about what’s next. Where you can support each other. What that support actually looks like.

Wishing you the happiest New Year.