Tandem: The married entrepreneurs' guide for greater work-life balance by Robert Fukui, Kay Lee Fukui
Married entrepreneurship is a unique adventure. It can be inspiring, energizing, and deeply rewarding — but it can also be exhausting, confusing, and occasionally chaotic. In Tandem, the authors take an honest, experience-driven look at what it really takes to grow a business and a marriage at the same time, and they offer a framework that couples can actually apply.
What sets this book apart is its practicality. Rather than giving broad advice, the authors walk readers through specific systems for communication, role alignment, time management, and decision-making. They emphasize that balance doesn’t look the same for every couple, and they encourage readers to create a shared definition instead of chasing someone else’s version of success.
A few standout elements:
• Realistic, empathetic guidance — The authors understand that married founders carry an emotional load most business books overlook, and they address that head-on.
• Actionable exercises — These aren’t filler; they spark real conversations and help couples confront long-ignored friction points.
• A focus on partnership, not just productivity — This is ultimately a relationship book wrapped inside a business book, and that’s what makes it powerful.
• Sustainable work-life systems — Instead of “hustle harder,” the book encourages clarity, shared goals, and thoughtful structure.
What I appreciated most is the message that balance is created, not found. And Tandem gives couples the tools to create it together.
Whether you’re already running a business with your spouse or considering it, Tandem is a resource worth reading — and re-reading as your business and your relationship evolve.
You can find this book on Amazon.
Robert and Kay Lee Fukui will be my guests on Your Partner In Success Radio this December. Stay tuned!