By: Eric Cohen

Since the first months of my marriage I have been in business with my wife.  So Meg Hirshberg’s new book, “For Better or For Work” really resonated. But as I read it I realized the observations and suggestions she makes apply to any relationship. Meg’s motivation in writing the book was to share what she wished she had known as she fought to both build a business and raise a family, and her tips will help most families.

The book was a pleasure to read and is written in a no-nonsense style. It’s laid out so you can pick a chapter and get some insight and lessons that stand on their own. The chapter summaries are very helpful to reinforce her point. Between the tips and advice is the fascinating story of her 25-year “entrepreneurial marriage,” starting with manual labor on the farm and the financial struggles at the start of her husband Gary’s company, Stonyfield Yogurt, which is now a $370 million smash.

A few of the helpful tips I pulled from the book and hope to implement include the following:

Make your spouse a priority. Show them respect to move them to the front of the line each and every day. And when doing so, give them your full attention. Asking your partner how their day was while thumbing away on your iPhone doesn’t count. So put the device away for a set amount of time every day (we have a no phones at the dinner table rule).

Speaking of asking how their day was, do it often, and don't stop there. Ask how you are doing as a partner and spouse. Ask them what you can do better. It’s hard because you may get an answer that doesn’t thrill you, but if you take the time, your relationship will be the better for it.

She also recommends taking family vacations. Find the time, find the money and get away. There’s never a good time, so plan it in advance and go. Your business won’t tank, and you will strengthen your family.

Make friends with other entrepreneurs or people in similar situations. They can help you avoid potential pitfalls, and you can help them, or at the very least you can commiserate over common issues.

These are just a few of the lessons I gleaned from reading For Better or For Work. They apply to me as a spouse, father and entrepreneur, and will apply to anyone looking to get some insight from an interesting writer and improve their own relationship with their family.