( ENSPIRE Business ) Power Couple of 13 Years’ Secrets to Blending a Successful Work-Life Balance
ENSPIRE Contributor: Matthew Carbonell
Working hard is usually a by-product of living. But, finding the spare time to live life can get very tricky. Making the time to be social, meet up with friends, or laugh with loved ones can be pushed aside as work takes priority. Though it seems impossible, there are ways to have a good work-life balance. One power couple publicly shares their inspiring story of holy matrimony mixed with spearheading their thriving brands and businesses.
Brooke and Xavier Carrington are both passionate creatives who had their wholesome meet-cute during their graduate studies in Boca Raton, Florida. It was their shared love for creative artistic expression that deeply rooted their connection. Then, in a tale as old as time, that endearing friendship evolved into the foundation for their enduring marriage. Now, after 13 years of matrimony, their union has blossomed into a harmonious blend of love and partnership.
With a lifestyle so rare it is few and in between, Brooke and Xavier happily shared their secrets on how they make things work. They also shared important perspectives on how to grow a brand for a flourishing company.
The way the two of you live your lives is truly inspiring. Do you have any advice for new entrepreneurs struggling to find time for anything other than business?
As entrepreneurs, we understand the struggles of balancing personal and professional lives all too well. One piece of advice we’d offer to new entrepreneurs is to prioritize time management ruthlessly. It’s essential to carve out dedicated time for both your business and personal life. Set boundaries, delegate tasks whenever possible, and don’t forget to schedule some self-care and relaxation.
Remember, a healthy work-life balance is crucial for long-term success and happiness.
Tell us about your businesses. What inspired them, and how do they complement your personal lives?
Our businesses were born out of a shared passion for fashion, innovation, and creativity. Brooke Deron Apparel is a brand focused on spreading positivity through empowered tees, hoodies, and athleisure wear. With Wrapper’s Delight, The Wrap Culture, we saw a gap in the market and were inspired to fill it with our unique vision of holiday gift wrap featuring black and brown characters. What’s remarkable is how our businesses complement our personal lives.
They allow us to merge our professional aspirations with our personal values and interests. Thus, creating a seamless integration of work and life.
Some might say a relationship can be a part-time job, let alone marriage. How do you keep it so that something that requires just as much work as running a business doesn’t become an obstacle, but instead the support for growing a brand?
Maintaining a relationship indeed requires just as much dedication and effort as running a business. We’ve found that communication is the cornerstone of a successful partnership. We prioritize regular check-ins, open dialogue, and actively listening to each other’s needs and concerns.
Instead of viewing our marriage as a separate entity from our businesses, we see it as a crucial support system that fuels our personal and professional growth. By aligning our goals and supporting each other’s endeavors, we’ve created a symbiotic relationship where our marriage and businesses thrive together.
What were some growing pains when getting your projects off the ground?
Like any entrepreneurial journey, getting our projects off the ground wasn’t without its challenges. From securing funding to navigating market competition, we encountered various obstacles along the way. However, each challenge presented an opportunity for growth and learning. We embraced setbacks as valuable lessons, adapted our strategies, and remained resilient in pursuit of our goals. Overcoming these growing pains strengthened our resolve and ultimately propelled our businesses forward.
How do you balance your personal and professional lives, does it get tiresome seeing each other all the time?
Balancing our personal and professional lives is undoubtedly a juggling act, but we’ve found strategies that work for us. Setting clear boundaries between work and home life is essential. We designate specific hours for work and make a conscious effort to unplug and spend quality time together outside of business hours.
Additionally, we prioritize self-care and pursue individual hobbies and interests to maintain a sense of fulfillment and independence. While it’s true that we spend a lot of time together, we’ve learned to cherish and appreciate each other’s company in both personal and professional settings.
The couple relishes in the joys of family life and creating lasting memories together through travel, social events, or simple moments of laughter. All of which further strengthened the bond they built as friends in graduate school. Their family, including a son and daughter, also has a podcast: “Balanced Behavior”. Amidst their successful businesses, Brooke and Xavier seamlessly translated their shared passion into a thriving professional partnership that also brings joy to their personal life.
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