Create Better Balance Between Work and Home - Robert Fukui

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Robert Fukui, Founder of i61, Inc., located in Pasadena, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We have a business consulting company that assists married entrepreneurs in creating more excellent work-life balance. It's an exciting niche that helps the entrepreneur position the business to scale so that it can grow beyond the owner's capacity. This gives the owner greater freedom to do what matters most to them. Invest time back into their marriage and family.

Tell us about yourself

Kay Lee and I both come from entrepreneurial backgrounds and felt the effects that the lack of work-life balance has on the family. We found ourselves repeating the mistakes of the past when I was transitioning from my Fortune 500 gig in marketing/sales to business consulting. I would work my day job and then consult in the evenings. I found myself working until 2 am many nights.

When the weekend rolled around, even though I wasn't working, I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. So I wasn't present for Kay Lee even though I was physically there. It finally got to a point where I stopped and told myself, "there has to be a better way." I realized that I fell into the same trap many entrepreneurs fall into. Work hard and sacrifice everything. It's become an accepted standard, but it's not a law.

So I decided to get to bed by 11 pm instead of 2 am. That may not seem like a lot, but those 3-hour savings every weeknight made a world of difference by the time the weekend hit. And you know what? I found ways to become more productive with my time and move the business forward. That allowed me to leave my corporate job sooner. At the same time, we noticed our business owner clients were facing the same work-life imbalance that we dealt with, but they didn't have a side gig.

So it wasn't because I was working two jobs that created the imbalance. It was the same mindset I broke out of. You must go all in on your business and sacrifice your personal life to succeed. That's when Kay Lee and I looked at each other and said, this is an issue that no one is addressing and is hurting many families. So, we do this because we want to help marriages succeed at the same time their business does.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Trusting that there were married entrepreneurs that wanted solutions to be able to prioritize their marriage while they built their business. As I stated earlier, many entrepreneurs have bought into the lie that you must sacrifice one for the other.

We weren't sure how marketable this was. And pivot and focusing on this niche was interesting in the beginning. But momentum has built over the years, and now with our book, Tandem: The married entrepreneurs' guide for more excellent work-life balance, there is even a bigger spotlight on the issue.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Letting go of control. As business owners, we know nothing is guaranteed. So that is part of the reason that drives us to work hard. Because the buck stops with us, it also instills a sense of fear that we need to work as hard as we can for as long as possible and try to control the uncontrollable. This leads to long hours and doing everything.

As a perfectionist, I've had to learn to hire good talent and let go of control. Don't try and micromanage the situation because other people can't do it as I do. The reality is they can do it better. It's just different. Nothing is guaranteed; the less you try and control, the more things get accomplished.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Don't believe the lie that you have to give everything up to build a business. Yes, you'll have to work hard, but you need to be able to enjoy the journey. Taking time off regularly to take care of yourself and the meaningful relationships around you keeps you rested and energized to accomplish the tasks you need in business. It also prevents burnout and other medical issues. It also reduces stress, which is a risk factor in many common diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcers, certain types of cancer, etc., etc.
2. Hire a coach because we don't see our blind spots. Kay Lee and I have coaches, mentors, and accountability partners that keep us on track. Yes, coaches need coaches. When you're knee-deep in building a business, you often need to catch the apparent warning signs that you're going in the wrong direction.
3. Build a life plan, not just a business plan. We are goal-oriented people and can accomplish much of what we set out to do. So many entrepreneurs will create a business plan but not a life plan. They get so focused on achieving business goals that their personal life takes a back seat. The thinking here is that once you reach a particular milestone, you'll enjoy life. The common problem is those milestones tend to change over time and get pushed further and further into the future. A life plan consists of your vision of what your best life looks like now and in the future. Create a life plan and live your best life now.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://marriedentrepreneur.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powercouplesbydesign
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powercouplesbydesign/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertfukui/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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