There's a lot of talk about how to achieve the all-coveted work-life balance—that is, the seemingly impossible ability to spend enough time at work to succeed and enough time outside of work to maintain a happy home life and all of the relationships, friendships, and self-care that come with it. For some couples, however, the line between personal and professional is pretty blurred because they are partners in love and business.
While spending 24 hours a day with your significant other may sound like a recipe for disaster for most, many who've done it say it's strengthened their work and relationships. Over the coming weeks, we'll meet 6 Wilmington couples who work together to balance business and life.
Allow us to introduce Ray and Anastasia Worrell, Owners of Slice of Life Pizzeria and The Green House Restaurant.
Tell us a little about each of your backgrounds and how you met.
Ray and I met in Latvia, where I was living at the time. I had just finished grad school and was working in IT marketing, while Ray had recently purchased the original Slice of Life. Sixteen years later, we now have four Slice of Life locations and The Green House Restaurant. I essentially married into the industry. Ray, on the other hand, has worked in restaurants since age 14 and put himself through college as a bartender. We never officially decided to start a business together, but we started a family, and our shared investment in the business felt natural.
What is the hardest part of building a business together?
It's easy to overload yourself and your partner, which leads to overwhelm and stress, but we are both pretty good at giving each other space when needed ( most of the time). RW.
How do you get the balance of work & life, right? What do you still struggle with?
Isn't everyone struggling with balance? It always seems elusive—when you think you've found it, something changes. AW
How do you spend downtime and non-work activities?
Most of our quality time is spent on the water—dinner on the dock, boat rides, and now our teenage daughter is practising her boat driving skills by taking us out. These moments not only rejuvenate us but also strengthen our bond. RW
Do you have clear and defined roles in each business? What are the roles for each of you?
Anastasia and I definitely have defined roles in our businesses with titles and salaries, but the nature of entrepreneurship means new challenges constantly arise. We've learned to be adaptable, and I always turn to her first. I know I can rely on Anastasia, as she always has my best interests at heart. RW
What advice do you have for couples thinking about going into business together?
We always encourage others to do that—it's like investing in yourself but with double the energy and brainpower. The journey may have its challenges, but the rewards are worth it. AW
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