Lessons learned
from working with spouse

By Alice Cunningham
Guest Columnist

When I met my husband, Blair Osborn, in 1975, I had no idea that our chance encounter would fuel a 30-year partnership in life and business. Since 1977, Olympic Hot Tub Co. has helped customers around the Puget Sound find relaxation in the comfort of their own back yards.

As marriage and business partners, we understand that stress, aches, pains and other consequences of busy lives give us all pause to seek more relaxation and rejuvenation in our lives. Making time for both is essential for us and the customers we are committed to serve.

Through countless ups and downs over the years, we’ve learned that there are several skills vital to the smooth functioning of any partnership. In no other endeavor is it more important to understand and master these skills than in a business relationship with your spouse.

Following are our hard-won lessons that will serve others seeking to get into business with a marriage partner without sinking the marriage — or the business.

Commitment is cornerstone. When Blair and I started our business, most people thought we were crazy. Still, we remained committed to our mission and vowed to stay with it. We quickly discovered that running a business required knowledge and resources we hadn’t yet acquired. We were generalists on a straight-up learning curve to acquire instant expertise in everything.

Our success also required a large amount of startup capital. Acquiring these funds was risky and stressful. Other obstacles such as emerging competition could easily have prompted us to throw in the towel, yet our commitment kept us afloat.

Woody Allen once quipped that 80 percent of success is just showing up. Blair and I always show up, and that continues to make the difference, no matter what the circumstances.

Trust combats conflict. When two are reliant upon each other for personal fulfillment and professional success, trust is vital. We vow to tell the truth and hold nothing back. Trust is attained when the ground rules are spelled out, especially the guidelines about how to deal with disagreement. Lack of a clear goal or agreed upon process causes undercurrents of confusion and eventually separation.

Speak and listen carefully. It is crucial to be clear about intentions. This is the case for both a loving and supportive relationship and a prosperous business partnership. And having both takes focus and intention. It is also important to communicate about the things that matter — good or bad. When plastic spas were introduced to the market, Olympic would have failed had we not changed our business, done due diligence and research, and found a line of portable spas we were proud to sell. These decisions and actions required much dialogue.

Sharing and flexibility are key. Both must extend beyond themselves to consider the well-being of the other and the shared goals of the partnership and the company. The partnership must adjust to honor the changing desires and circumstances of each. When one has an idea, share it with the other to gain insight, perspective and support.

Olympic Hot Tub has built a solid reputation with customers and suppliers. Consistent customer satisfaction and referrals have fueled our progress. However, this did not happen overnight. Blair and I spent countless hours sharing ideas to create referral programs, satisfaction surveys, maintenance standards and customer communications that reinforce our value proposition.

United you stand. Establish common understanding and decision-making processes to ensure consistent messaging throughout the business and clear vision for the future. Business philosophies need to be consistently aligned and remain so as the business grows.

Since 1977, Olympic Hot Tub has committed to make it easy to take it easy for our customers. Together we stand to deliver this promise. We do not let employees, vendors or customers cause division. Our like-mindedness directs business philosophies, operating guidelines and communication. 

Private time is a must. It is inevitable that the business will join a couple at the dinner table or on the weekends. Boundaries are necessary to maintain a sense of intimacy and togetherness. Be specific and intentional about creating a space where the business is not discussed, and be clear about where and when your best ideas come to light. We refer to our hot tub as our think tank. We get our best ideas when we soak together and are relaxed.

Olympic Hot Tub provides relaxation, comfort and togetherness for our customers. In like fashion, Blair and I realize similar benefits. Humor and optimism help us persevere through trials as we remember to laugh at mistakes, make progress toward our goals and enjoy our lives as marriage and business partners. By following these tips, you can, too.

Alice Cunningham is co-owner and co-president of Olympic Hot Tub Co. She and husband Blair Osborn have worked together to successfully open, operate and grow Olympic Hot Tub to include five retail stores located in Everett, Seattle, Fife, Issaquah and Lacey, and a sales and service center in Tukwila. For more information, send e-mail to alice@olympichottub.com, call 877-4HOT-SPRING or go online to www.olympichottub.com.

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