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Husband & Wife in Business: How Natalie & John of Ralston Contracts Make It Work

• Amanda Hughes • Episode 39

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Ever wondered what it’s really like to run a business with your other half? In this uplifting conversation, I’m joined by Natalie and John of Ralston Contracts, a hard-landscaping, family-run business in Ayrshire. We get into the rhythms of life/work overlap, how they divide roles (site operations vs. client care & growth), keeping calm through cash-flow wobbles, and why shared values + complementary strengths beat “same job, same view” every time.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Morning routines, school runs, and the seamless switch from family to work mode
  • Clear role splits: on-site leadership vs. customer journey, planning & business development
  • Disagreeing like adults: communication, respect, and zero drama
  • Cash-flow lessons from year 1 to year 2 (and how monthly management reports helped)
  • Boundaries, late-night emails, and switching off as a team
  • Advice for couples considering a family business (especially if you’re in trades)

Connect with Ralston Contracts: Looking for patios, paths or garden builds in Ayrshire? Find Natalie & John @ Ralston Contracts here (Ayrshire, Scotland)

Special thanks to our sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by KM Tax Returns. KM tax returns is a unique small business accountant that checks in monthly so you always know your numbers, stay on top of tax, and avoid end-of-year stress. Get more details at kmtaxreturns.co.uk

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SPEAKER_04:

Hi, hello, welcome. I'm Amanda Hugh, your host of Small Business School Tatics. I escaped to corporate world after 12 months of a side hustle which turned into my full-time income. Fast forward 10 years and I'm running not my first but my second small business, and this time around it's with a passion to share all that I know, all that I've learned and all that I'm still learning with fellow small business ownership. As the title of the show suggests, I am addicted to growing my business and I know you are too. Growth means different things to different people though, and that's why we talk about a whole lot of subjects in growth addicts. Whether that's a solo episode, just me and with one of my many autumn guests. Between us we shared advice, tips and real life entrepreneurial experience. So grab a pen, a cutter and a biscuit, obviously, and get ready to grow that small business of yours. This is Small Business Growth Addicts. Hello and welcome to another episode of Growth Addicts. Thank you so much for joining us today. When I say us, I do mean us because I have not one but two incredible guests joining me today. I have Natalie and John of Ralston Contracts. Natalie and John are a husband and wife team who run their family business. Ralston Contracts, which is a hard landscaping company based here in Ayrshire, where I live as well. They between them have got so much experience, between them more than 35 years combined experienced in landscaping and construction and all sorts of things. But what I really want to know today is how they work together as husband and wife. So without further ado, let's dive into this conversation. Let's pause there for a second to hear a word from our sponsor.

SPEAKER_02:

Tired of only hearing from your accountant once a year. Hi, I'm Kirstine at KM Tax Returns. We check in monthly so you always know your numbers, stay on top of tax, and avoid end-of-year stress. Find out more at kmtaxreturns.co.uk.

SPEAKER_04:

Natalie and John, welcome. Welcome. Of course we know each other to photography, which is John's favourite time of the year, twice a year when I come out with my camera and get photos for the website. Are you sure it is, John?

SPEAKER_01:

Love it. Can we wait the next time?

SPEAKER_04:

So today we're going to talk about what it's like running a business for your other half. This is not something we've discussed on the podcast before. I don't think I actually know any other husband-to-wife combos. So, me personally, I'm I'm looking forward to getting into this. And I know Natalie, you've mentioned before that lots of people say to you it's not for them, but you guys just can't imagine doing it any differently. I'm going to just dive in. Totally curious for the first thing in the morning, because you guys have got kids as well, haven't you? Yeah. How does a day start for you? Do you start as business partners or husband and wife? And if it's husband and wife, wait, where does that transition come in?

SPEAKER_03:

I actually start solo. So my gym classes are like six o'clock in the morning, and that's kind of how I keep my sanity throughout the day. So I start myself, and John very kindly does the getting the dressed and the nursery run and things, so that when I'm home I'm getting dressed and getting the school run done. So I suppose it is as a family we start and then it's on to the work once the kids are away.

SPEAKER_04:

Wow, and what's that morning like for you, John, as someone else who does the getting dressed part?

SPEAKER_01:

It's absolutely fine. Um kids fall into line pretty well, to be honest, you know. Um they're not the best of sleepers, but Emily's up and dressed for nursery pretty radically, to be honest. She's quite good. And Rudy sometimes stays asleep until Natalie gets home for the gym, to be honest. So that's um that's an easy one in the morning, yeah. It's it's not bad at all. It's not manic or too easy to try and get rough out of the door and get to work. It's pretty laid back, to be honest.

SPEAKER_04:

You're not like pulling your hair out by time Natalie gets back or anything then?

SPEAKER_01:

No, definitely not. No, that's they're very good.

SPEAKER_04:

Can you have everything? So if they're no great sleepers but they're good in the morning, then can have everything.

SPEAKER_01:

That's for cause.

SPEAKER_04:

I hate actually even saying this, sleeping not too bad just now, you know, the feeling like I actually feel sick saying that in case I've just jinxed it, touch wood. But aye, mornings are chaotic, I've got a bribe and everything to get them dressed and get them out the door. So aye. It's good to hear it's not like that for everybody. And if that is the case then, so very much starting the day as a family, how do you then transition your day into being business partners?

SPEAKER_03:

I'm not entirely sure it ever leaves you, to be honest. I don't think we have right we're business partners between nine and five. We have our time, we have our time with the kids, we have our time with each other. John and I met at work, so we both worked for the same construction company, and it's quite easier then to kind of make work work and life life. We didn't have the kids then either, but it's obviously because it's our own business, it does kind of it is your life, you know, it does consume you, and you do talk about it at the weekends and at evenings, and the kids come along to the courts with us at the weekends as well, and they're very much involved. We were clients. Rudy was off school. We had a work thing that we've had to go to, so he he had to go with John to work for an hour yesterday, and he was in the client's house just chatting to him and asking him what he liked and stuff. So we very much do like portraying the whole family business thing because we are one, we are building our business around our children. When I'm working obviously in the office in John's own site, so it's not like we're sitting here in an office all day either. So we do have our different roles in the business as well. It's just a kind of combination of everything. We don't have specific work time as such. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_04:

You don't sort of shift modes, you're just always in either or. So you can be working, talking about the kids, who's doing what, or whatever, or you can be in amongst the kids thinking, Oh, did you reply to that email? Or you know, it's just all it's just all one.

SPEAKER_01:

The working environment's very laid back as well, you know, when we're speaking about work, it's we'd be remember this or remember that. And if we if we have one of us have forgotten, we just be with it then then, you know, it's not a it doesn't become an issue as in, oh that's not been done or this has not been done. It's just what will go with the flow kind of thing.

SPEAKER_04:

So Brilliant. I love that. And so tell us how did you meet then? You met you mentioned you met in uh the same construction company, so you worked together before?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, so I was um in procurement and John was on site. That's a bit of an argument who chased who, but there always is, isn't there?

SPEAKER_04:

Um yeah, that's how we made. So who who do you say chase who, Natalie? I think John done the chasing. What do you say, John?

SPEAKER_01:

I think that face is telling a bit of lies there.

SPEAKER_04:

Was it all hard, John? Could you not get piece at your work?

SPEAKER_01:

It was hard to get work done, yeah. I think that's how we ended up under leave. But uh yeah, but yeah, no, it was it was good. It was a very um it was a good time of life, you know. It was it was it was a good company to work for and we we both enjoyed it and obviously we we actually worked well together at the time. We've done a lot of work through the plant and stuff, a lot of plant dealings and buying materials and stuff we worked together through. So actually we kind of look back and think we actually did work well together back then, even though it wasn't for us. But we both we both worked hard, you know, so we both um put the role into it. So it was um it went well back then as well. So I think it was I think it was quite an easy step of stone to move into it together for for this this for our own business. So it worked well back then and it's it stands, just now it's working well so brilliant.

SPEAKER_04:

And so how did it become about that you left to do did you leave that job to do your own business both of you then? How did that come about?

SPEAKER_03:

John left to do the business, but I had left 2017 and then we started the business in 2022. So in between that time I was I had a job at Colin Zero Space, so I was procurement in there for a few years, and then I kinda took the time to have the kids and stuff. And then John left three years ago.

SPEAKER_01:

Two years ago, yeah. So we were in the the the business we were in so that the construction company were actually they were revolving a little bit with the the civil side of things. Um so I I kind of moved into the engineering department in there and and it was absolutely fine. I know I I did like it and I liked all the guys in there, but it kind of just posed the correct time in life because we had speaking about it for over a year and when we had started the business. So yeah, it was a right time to go to go and do it, and I think it worked both sides, but it worked well for like the construction company, you know, they but they were great with me as well. So um yeah, it it moved in, it moved into a transition pretty well.

SPEAKER_04:

If you know me by now, you'll know that I love social media. It's how I've grown my businesses and now I want to help you do the same. That's why I created Get Seen Get Sales, my mentored group for small business owners who want to get seen online and actually attract followers that convert to customers. Inside you'll get weekly content prompts, live workshops, and support on everything you need to grow confidently on social media. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just ready to do things differently, I've got you. Head to smallbusinessgrowthaddicts.com to join us. Good. And so Natalie, when John's did John start the business while you were still in the aerospace business then?

SPEAKER_03:

No, no, no, it was a joint venture from the beginning kind of thing. So I must have left the air in 2020. I must have left the aerospace and then I dabbled in a few things that turned out not for me. And then As you as we do? Yes, just but mostly because obviously the kids we had to structure our life around them. But I'm also not the type of person that can sit. I mean, I absolutely admire full-time mums, but I couldn't do it. I needed something for me. So that's why I dabbled in a few other things, but none of them worked. And then we spoke about starting this business because it was always something that we had spoken about, to be honest, just not brave enough to do it, I suppose. Yeah, so I was away from Air Space for a couple of years before the business started.

SPEAKER_04:

And then so it was a total joint decision you decided to get into together then to start up Ralphson's contracts. Yes. And was there any hesitations about doing it together, about working together for like your relationship?

SPEAKER_03:

No, I don't think it ever was a question. It was always we're in it together, you know. If John had done it by himself, I would have been like, oh, why am I not involved in that? So yeah, it's always, always going to be a joint venture. Yeah, I mean you sound like a great team.

SPEAKER_01:

We get along, we get along and we get by, so yeah, it's it's Natalie how I've been involved. Yeah, I would have been I would have always been asking Natalie's for that for our input anyways.

SPEAKER_03:

So I weren't paid for that service, you know?

SPEAKER_04:

Quite right. Quite right. You know, I'm providing free labour here. And I've seen Natalie out there where fleece on shoveling stuff and moving stuff. You've got the pictures to prove it, I mean. I have indeed. You must both bring different strengths to the business, surely. So what would you say? It'd be great to hear from both of you. What do you think you bring to the table, what your strengths are, how do they work well together?

SPEAKER_01:

I've been site-based all my life, partial office time, you know, but um mainly on site, organising guys and sequencing the works and stuff. So that that's where my role lies. The organization, the order, and uh that part of it all falls in Natalie. The first instinct is dealing with the clients falls in Natalie, I then go and meet them kind of thing. But from that point, the customer journey falls to Natalie, basically. So she um she deals with them through all sorts of contact. Unless obviously when I'm on site, I speak with them, I deal with them on site. However, everything any queries need to resolve, etc. Natalie does with them, Natalie deals with any any communications that way. So she's very good that way, and the organization is something to be awarded, to be honest. It's very, very good that way. So it's very good. It makes our life on site easier if if we know the organization behind us. So that's a big one for us, to be honest. So and then yeah, on site it's uh a day-to-day flow with on site, but I mean the last couple of days it's been potential range, so you just that's what it is, you know. We'd we we're not the only people out there, so it's um everybody just needs to get all the punches and we do, you know, we don't we don't get uh hung up on it. We just we just need to keep going with it.

SPEAKER_04:

And Natalie, what would you say?

SPEAKER_03:

Would you agree with that that that's where your strengths lie? It's where my strengths lie. It's very much a day-to-day part of the business. However, future plans I really and really like the development side of the business. So doing all the planning and the cash flows and the business plans for new ideas, different avenues, all the SWOT analyses and things, that's what I like doing. And I am very much a person that I mean, John will tell you there's been several times that I've had ideas and I've went with and went with and went with and it's not worked out. But obviously it's one of these things you need to try. But John is very good at keeping me a level headed to say, hold on a minute, you know, because I'm very much let's do this, let's do this. But John's very laid-back person, so he's like, let's just think about this first, you know. So it works well that way as well.

SPEAKER_04:

Brilliant. It does sound like the perfect balance then, doesn't it? And you think, John, if it wasn't for Natalie doing like stuff like this, like podcasts and building the website and maybe generating new work and whatever, would you have to hire somebody to do that anybody anyway, if that wasn't the case? Is that not that not for you?

SPEAKER_01:

The background area things, it's um as Natalie says, the the development side and the the the keeping is, you know, the the even the the training of the guys and stuff, you know, keeping all the SVPs and stuff up to date and they're looking forward, they're looking the the the business plans with the you know, the one year, the three year, the five year, the ten year business plans, you know. Like Natalie says, I'm quite laid back, so I'm kinda I'll wing it and see what happens, you know. And most of the time I'll work out, but it's probably because Nathalie's planned it to work out. Yes. I mean that that's how it works, you know. And that's just what people are, you know. I can I can I can't say that I would change and manage that myself because I wouldn't. I would either fall and crumble or would swing it and get by. But I would just mean that the the the development stage of the businesses as we like to look at it wouldn't wouldn't grow as it because it probably should or we would like it to. So yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_04:

Absolutely perfect. Like how incredible you guys have found each other, like obviously fell and love and had kids and a family and whatever, and been able to build a business together as well. That's honestly fantastic. However, in relationships, any relationship, a business relationship, a personal relationship, there's disagreements, there's fallouts. Now, how do you manage them when you're running a business together? Do you have to get a leave it at the door policy or does it spill into home life?

SPEAKER_01:

I I can honestly say well, haven't had an argument about work life or personal life, it's crossed over in any ways, shape, or form. I think with a few things, like I said before, like do you remember this? Do you remember that in this one? No, I haven't. But whether you argue about it there and then or whether you just go deal with it and then it's the argument. You've got to deal with it after the argument anyway, so what's the point, you know? But like we say, but uh although I'm really back when that's the news fairy, like it'll be what it'll be type as well, you know. That we'll we'll work things out. There's I don't think we've had something within the business that's made us fall out. In fact, I know I know we haven't fell out over the business. There's been nothing big enough. And I don't think there could be to make us have an argument and shout each other and fall out and store out of the door. I don't I don't think it could be possible to be honest. Uh I think maybe just like this is at the end of the day it's it is a business, you know, and and as people always say, well business is business and personal is personal, which is true. But it crosses over the line with pretty pretty easily so far. Like you say, it's working pretty well. So we're we're we're going to continue that way, and that's that's the way we'll see it. If it gets to the point that it's going to cause arguments, then that's the point we'll probably say, look, why are we doing it then? There'll be no point for us if if it was if it was crossing into making us fall out and affecting my personal life or our family life. So I just don't I don't see it happening, but yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

I think John and I are quite s similar in the way that even in our personal life, we just don't argue, it's just not us. And I know that that sounds cliche or nobody will believe us, but we genuinely don't. But it's because we're both the type of people that would rather hash it out, this is my view, this is my view. Where do we meet in the middle? Or actually, oh no, you're actually right, no, you're right. We're very much adult, so we talk about it and we sort it out and then we move on. It's not we're definitely not the type to ball and shout at each other or no speak to each other either. But just let's sort it out kind of thing. There's been a couple of things in the business that John's thought is a something is a good idea, and I'm like, well, I actually don't agree with that, but we'll go with it anyway. It's just getting your point across, but coming to an agreement as well. Let's pause to hear from our sponsors today.

SPEAKER_04:

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SPEAKER_02:

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SPEAKER_04:

Mm-hmm. Perfect. Yeah, that's brilliant, isn't it? Brilliant. It sounds like it does sound like the perfect setup, absolutely. And how do the kids feel about mum and dad working together and the whole family business? Do you think they totally understand like that? That's it's something quite special, or is it just what they've always known? I don't know.

SPEAKER_03:

They know that like when they see our logo and stuff, they're always like, oh, that's mum and dad's work. Like I think they might just be a wee bit too young to understand actually what it is. They don't realise it at the moment, but they are very, very patient with us, you know. When we are sitting and we're like, right, watch TV for an hour while we get these quotes done, or as I say, they come to site with us at weekends to speak to clients and stuff. So although they don't realise it, they are very, very patient with us, which is obviously really good for us because it means we can actually go and push on. So they are good. Even when we're getting more photography done as well, there in the background, but they're quite happy just running about.

SPEAKER_04:

They are, they're great kids, yeah, absolutely. They're quite content being on site with us that day, weren't they? Yeah. Um and managed to get a few wee snaps for them as well, which was nice. But I wonder that as well when my kids, because John's employed, I'm self-employed. And you just wonder at that wee age if they totally realise that you know the differences there. And especially having your mum and dad work together and being part of a family business is really quite special. So I'm sure as they grow up, they'll start to really realise that that is something quite unique.

SPEAKER_03:

And as well, like because we are structuring the business around the kids. I'm there for every school drop-off, I'm there for every school pickup, which they won't realise just now, but as they get older, they will kind of start to realise. Like Ruri's mentioned before about his friends going to after school club and things, but obviously their mums and dads need to work to whatever time. So he doesn't have that, he doesn't need to go to these things, and it's not until he's older that you'll realise the kind of meaning behind it.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, absolutely. And you know, way back before I even, you know, John and I were married or we had kids or anything like that, it was always something in my mind thinking I'd love to be self-employed to have that flexibility. So if ever I do have a family, I want to do the drop-offs and the pickups and everything, and I don't want to have to ask anybody's permission, you know, to have to take my kids to an appointment or be there or whatever. So yeah, they often see grands and papies and whatever picking their friends up. They've asked sometimes. How come papy never picks us up from school? I'm thinking, because that's bad. And I work round about you, but it means sometimes when we get in, like you say, I might need to say, give me 10 minutes, guys, I just need to wrap something up in my office room, as they call it. So I it is unique, but you just hope as they get older that they're going to really admire that and and realise it's something quite specially. Yeah. If anyone's listening, I think there will be who is thinking about setting up a family business, thinking about asking their husband, wife, partner to help out or whatever, but a bit nervous about how it works out, you know, if it would have any impact on the relationship or whatever. What what advice have you got for them?

SPEAKER_03:

I think I would just say if the relationship is strong enough, then certainly go for it. But if you're already arguing behind the scenes or you're already disagreeing, or you're already in that point where you're I mean, even like being nervous to approach it, that would be a red flag for me. I would be like, Why am I nervous? you know, the relationship's got to be right before, because it does test you, you know. Some I don't know, many times we've said, Why are we doing this? Like, why are we actually doing this? It is trying and it is hard work, but it is so rewarding as well at the same time, because again, you've got that flexibility for your kids, you're watching your brand grow as well, and that's a really good feeling as well. When you're building this team who you get to know and you care about as well. And we're now at the point we provide three people jobs, we employ three people, so that also impacts their families and their lives at home as well. So it it's a good feeling. It is a good feeling.

SPEAKER_04:

What about you, John? For that, your sort of perspective, any advice you would give out to any males that that are thinking of it?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I think it would be a different aspect if if it was an unknown business, you know, if somebody would jump into something to kind of let's try this out, and it's an unknown, because then it there would be a lot of a lot of stuff that would creep up and surprise. With us, we were both we both had the background of this industry, which I think assists us very well, you know. Obviously, I've been working on sites for a number of years now. It's good to have the knowledge of that. So I think I think bringing that forward into the business assists because if it had just been I came out of working in a factory, you know, and and then thought like, okay, I can I can do a bit of this, so let's go for it. I think we would have found it a lot harder. And obviously that's what's part of the end of the the buying side of things and I think both three things link together pretty well for us, which helps us in that way. There's a couple or whatever going through kind of business here. I think if we look at the knowledge of the business, I think it would definitely help them in in a in a sense rather than jumping into something that this it's the unknown which would throw a lot of coverballs at them. Would maybe cause friction within that business sense. But other than that, then it's a happiness to try and then go for it, you know, 100%. But why not? You know, there's there's more to life than than what coming happened. So it's I mean there's a lot there's a lot of feelings, we get feelings over what they say, or failed a few things, you know.

SPEAKER_03:

It's just learning, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01:

Of course it is. Everybody's going to find things that are tough and and but you just need to give the resilience for it.

SPEAKER_03:

So just to touch on John's point as well, I think it works so well for us as well because we have got different experience, but combined it's strong for the business. Whereas if we both were landscapers, we would probably end up having different views, different opinions, and oh no, that's not how you do that, that's how you do that, you know. So I think partnering with someone who is strong in an area that you're not is a good thing as well.

SPEAKER_04:

I'm thinking about my own Aries as well, with John, not this John, another John. And we know our strengths, we don't particularly work well together when it comes to like see like DIY or M or that. I just feel as if John starts speaking in our language, and I've got no idea what he's talking about. And then he'll get frustrated with me because I don't know what he's talking about, and I'm getting frustrated because I'm like, I feel stupid because I I don't understand to feel like he turns into a different person. But you were saying about different strengths, though. So we would potentially fall into the similar sort of roles as you if we were to get into some sort of business together. John's an engineer, he's hands-on, tools fixing things and about machines, whereas I'm more would probably take to the sort of things you enjoy, Natalie, behind the scenes and the growing the business and getting us out there, you know. So yeah, I think that's a really good point to make actually. Because if it was both of us getting to, I don't know, build flat pack furniture, let me assure you, it wouldn't end well. Iike is probably responsible for quite a few divorces, aren't they? I mean, if we're solid at home, but see whenever we go to do it like that together, and even if he's listening to this, he's I'm not telling him any of this, no, we're just shrubbing.

SPEAKER_01:

But you probably find that's the case everybody, everybody that that's a stigma behind that, you know. One person stands back and holds an instruction booklet and one person builds. And the instruction booklet. But to be fair to Natalie, no, we've we've had times when we first started and we had one guy employed with us and we were working together and he called in sick, which is obviously it kind of costs. So luckily that day the kids were in the nursery and Natalie's put her boots and her gloves on and came to help me, you know.

SPEAKER_04:

So shoveled four-tony windows. Love it. And then on that day, Natalie, did you have to give John his place and think, you know, this is his domain here?

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, absolutely. I would always take direction. I've even helped him in the garden and stuff, and I'm always I'm always labouring to him, you know, I'm always quite happy to take his direction and take breaks when he's not looking.

SPEAKER_04:

Likewise, John, if you're in the sort of office side of things that Natalie's running the show, you're happy to take direction in that department.

SPEAKER_01:

100%, you know. This isn't fence, so 100%, you know, if there's but like Natalie says, if if I've got a uh an opinion I'll I'll I'll raise it and then I'll obviously be shot down in flames when I'm getting told otherwise. No, I know it's like I say, yeah, if there's there's stuff you've done elsewhere that we both adapt and overcome, you know, it's that's but it's just just just part and parcel.

SPEAKER_04:

So there's a lot of respect there, obviously, as well. Respect for what each other does, respect for what each other brings to the business and admiration for that and happy to fall in along those boundaries and knowing each other's strengths. So it's really nice. It's really nice to hear that and know you, and of course, I've been out and spent time in your company as well. And I can feel that as well, you know, with the kids running about and you guys working together. I've never ever felt any tension or anything like that, you know. It's always been quite nice. You know what you're doing, you know what your roles are, and it's really nice to hear. Lovely. And before we sort of wrap up though, I'd love to do some wee quick fire like Mr. and Mrs. style questions if you're up for it. Right, John, who keeps calm when the other one's stress level rises?

SPEAKER_01:

Probably Natalie. I I I like you say I'm like Blackball would say Natalie in that sense. When it comes to knuckling down, you know, that's why you look like let's look at it and I write it down on a bit of paper and work it out point by point.

SPEAKER_03:

Would you agree, Natalie? Yeah, I suppose I'm quite oh as much as I'm a two feet person, I'm quite level-headed, I think. Quite I see things from far away.

SPEAKER_04:

Good. And Natalie, who's more stubborn in an argument?

SPEAKER_03:

Now these have many. Absolutely me. For example, if you said, Oh, remember that time we went to that shop? And I'm like, No, that wasn't me, that wasn't me. And I could go on for like half an hour, and then I'm like, oh, that was me. Oh yeah, definitely me.

SPEAKER_04:

Happy to agree with that, John. Most dead, huh? Yeah. It just made me think as when we put a movie on, and John will be going, We've seen this, and I'm like, No, I've not seen this. This doesn't ring any bells at all. And then about 20 minutes in. I never watched it with me, you know. And then about 20 minutes in, I'm thinking, Oh, I think we all seen this. Aye, so could relate to that. What about when things go wrong, John? Who's more of the optimist?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, definitely me. I will work out or whatever it, you know, 100%. Yeah. If something's not turned up or something too much turns up, I will I will deal with it. You know, it's a I I'm I'm pretty much a will be with it type of person. So I I think that one's following me, yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

And I'm very much but what if that doesn't happen? What is our plan?

SPEAKER_04:

And that's why you work so well together. Yep. Quick pause from our conversation because I'm wondering how you'd feel if I told you I could give you a free£50 today. Yep, if you've been thinking about moving your business bank account, or perhaps you don't have a business bank account yet, I can highly recommend Monzo. And if you open an account with them via the link in today's show notes, you get a free£50. Monzo are free to bank with. I bank with them personally. It's so easy to use, and also they won Best Business Banking Provider in the UK in 2024. So if you don't have a business bank account yet, or you're looking to change from where you are just now to free business banking and£50 in your account, head over to spobbusinessgrowthadicts.com for the link and enjoy. Who's more likely to still be working after hours? Whether it's staying on a wee bit later or checking emails at night or I think it's both, to be honest.

SPEAKER_03:

I don't think that's a one-sided thing, because it is things we need to do together, and the only time we get together is at night when the kids are happy in front of TV for an hour or they're in their bed, or yeah. Or we got up. Sometimes we've seen us getting up at five o'clock in the morning to work for an hour before the day starts, so I think that's a both thing.

SPEAKER_04:

Is boundaries something that you struggle with? Boundaries of sort of set work times.

SPEAKER_03:

I don't. I am very good at maybe reading an email but not replying until the work day. But John doesn't have that filter. John replies at like nine o'clock at night to clients.

SPEAKER_01:

I would reply anytime, you know, but it's probably part of that. I feel it's part of my life, so why not, you know? There then there is nothing very good to see like there's there is work time where we can respond within work time and it's Saturday night, you know. If my clients text as a phone desertion, I'll be like, Well, just phone the mark or just text the mark book. Because that is my life, you know, that that's I feel I feel like that. So I'm I I know there is there is there is time for work and take at home but because we do emerge pretty well I think um I'm happy to go with it and and it is it is but nothing is Nathalie is very good at trying to switch off to be honest you know when the when when it when it is time to switch off we switch off. No phone no phones at a table because if if the phone at a table and there's a client text you know I would pick up and I would reply but it's like no let's just have our dinner and then we'll be with it later.

SPEAKER_03:

Sometimes though he has his phone on on his knee if there's football on and he's like pretending eating his dinner but actually watching the football on his phone in the knee.

SPEAKER_04:

Listen, you're not alone. On our wedding day, there was a big uh football game on in our wedding day, unbeknownst to us when we'd booked our day and whatever our wedding was all planned quite no no quickly like in a rush, but there was no big, you know, year or wait or anything like that. But there's a big football game on that day and John kept nipping away because the guys had it on that someone's phone at the table he keep nipping away looking over. If he can do that in your wedding day, I would expect John would do that as well, have it on his knee or him if there was someone. Who makes the final call and big decisions, would you say?

SPEAKER_01:

Definitely combines, you know. But again it also falls on what part that is the big decision, what part that is, you know, whether it's is that a client we want to work for and I think Nafi's very good at deciphering that kind of thing. Timescales. I mean timescales are fallen on me because I'm programming it works and it it can things run on and stuff. But I think it if there's any I mean small decisions we make together. So if we make the small decisions together, we're gonna make the big goes together. Most definitely most definitely a joint joint decision. There's no way one of us would make a big decision without involving the other. We wouldn't take a phone call and say yes or no without talking to each other. That's uh I don't I don't I'm not saying it's a we we know within ourselves not to do it. I just think it would be ourselves not to do it. Um to think that speak to that or speak to Nath speak to John we'll we'll come back so I most definitely most desperate a joint joint combination to to make any sort of decision I think.

SPEAKER_03:

Do you agree with that Athlai? Yeah I think so even for the ideas that we have for developing the business it's like well what do you think? Let's explore it a bit more and then right what do you think at this stage you know so it's it's always conferring and getting each other's opinions so perfect.

SPEAKER_04:

And who's most likely right to want a takeaway after a long day? Who'd be first to reach for the phone? 100% Definitely 100% I would have a Chinese mostly every night probably but oh fantastic guys you'll be glad to know that's it that was that was just a wee bit of fun there. See if your answers married up but all of them digis are just too good. So where is the best place to come find you and learn more about your work if someone is looking for that in the air shit area?

SPEAKER_03:

Where website's probably the best place to go. Social media we're not great at keeping up with we do kind of post sometimes but not all the time. We are going through a kind of project just now where we're doing uh case studies. So they'll be uploaded to the website pretty soon hopefully that'll be good for potential clients to see how we'll work before. Brilliant.

SPEAKER_04:

And have you got a favourite job you like doing?

SPEAKER_01:

Er no I think we all fall into the realm of i it's it's all a cumulative aspect. Um obviously when you get to the the the winter months and you're digging through mud it's not as good looking as when you're doing the nice porcelain patios and sandwich patios, you know, but it's all part and parcel of the work we do. So I'm glad I can I can be happy my work with some two feet in mud or if I'm on site with trainers on you know it's it's uh it's it's all part and parcel and we enjoy it. So it's probably one of the biggest things is we enjoy our work. It's there's nothing worse than getting out of bed tomorrow and thinking oh here goes another day but yeah we we enjoy it and we feel the guys that work with us enjoy it as well. We've got a good surrounding with us so it's enjoyable just now so if we can keep enjoying it tomorrow we keep doing it.

SPEAKER_04:

Brilliant. And you were often quite something quite unique for Christmas is that right you had gift vouchers available for Christmas.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah so we made we gift vouchers for sleeper planters we found them quite popular through the summer and we thought we'll try it just um get some Wii vouchers made because it's quite a unique gift to give someone so and it's obviously all these mums and dads, aunties and uncles who have got everything you don't know what to get them. It's a nice wee gift for them.

SPEAKER_04:

Mm-hmm so was that would that be come out and building the planter in the place where you want it in your garden?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah so I've got we've got two different sizes. We've got a small one and a large one just obviously depending on your space and requirements and then it would be built on site and then fill with good quality soil so that you can then get on where you're planting.

SPEAKER_04:

Fantastic that is a really good idea isn't it for a garden lover that's got everything something different as well.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah absolutely and can we find those gift features on your website as well? You just need to email us and we don't have like a shop facility on my website so it would just be a contact on a email.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah no bother okay so I'll link the email and website in the show notes today so everybody can find that really easily there was just one thing I was thinking of I meant to mention earlier was is there any stress when it comes to income? Because of course when you're self-employed your own business income can fluctuate but if one's employed you know you've got a steady income one's self-employed you can kind of fill in the gaps is that a bit of pressure or he's how do you manage that?

SPEAKER_03:

It was a pressure at the beginning of the year. So we're first year in business where cash flow was really good for second year well the beginning of this year wasn't so much we couldn't quite pinpoint why so we kind of got digging we got speaking to our accountant so she then started doing management reports for us every month and then we looked at different areas where it could possibly be so we've now kind of ironed it out and we've improved our cash flow so that at the end of the month there's always money there for the wages. There were three things that happened at the one time and that's why our cash flow then started kind of going back the way there's three kind of big bills that we had to pay. But it was about learning to manage that and also learning to manage your payments as well throughout the month. So now that we are kind of on top of that it is kind of at a level pegging now that we're at the end of the month there's always money for the wages. So that was quite stressful. Yeah I can imagine.

SPEAKER_01:

I think that I think that the money side of things um we don't panic about the money side of things. I mean everybody needs money everybody's wages if we know we've if if we know we've got the the books are busy enough we know we've got to have enough money there. Mm-hmm because I think it's more we we we we we probably worry not saying worry but about the about our our guys and and myself first you know so it's making sure that we've got if we've got to work ahead of us, we know we can pay the wages, we know we can pay the bills.

SPEAKER_04:

So that that's the biggest thing is making sure we've got to work because it's that keeps the business going so yeah in a sense if you're strong management on there, working closely with your accountant making sure that doesn't become a stress you know that you would know in advance if there was anything to sort of be concerned about keeping top of it. Again that's not brilliant oh thank you so much for that guys that's just been such it's such a lovely conversation honestly and like I mean I don't think I'd be expecting you to say that you're falling out all the time because why would you be working together if that was the case anyway. So and I I know you guys I know that that that's not the case but it was just so lovely to hear such a positive story a family business and you guys weren't told it was so well together. Thank you for sharing that with us. Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah thank you.

SPEAKER_04:

Thank you so much for joining us today for another episode of Small Business Growth Addicts. I hope today's episode has given you inspiration and tangible tips that you can use to grow your small business in a way that feels right for you. If you love today's episode please head over to smallbusinessgrowthadicts.com and check out today's show notes where you can find details of our wonderful guests, sponsors, discounts, freebies and so much more. Please also don't forget to leave a review today reviews are invaluable to us to help us get the show out there. Every single one is read and very much appreciated. Until next time