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Our story & why we work with couples and families in business.

Supporting you to create abundance together.

We're Mike and Lisa, a Kiwi-British couple based in beautiful Aotearoa New Zealand.  We both grew up in family businesses, have been business owners since our 20s, and have been coaching in business together for more than two decades.

Because of our individual life journeys, and our business story as a couple, and family business owner, we decided to bring our skills and life experiences together in this work.  We now support other family business partners to thrive in life by finding the magic in the unique dynamic that each family business has - and use it to create abundance in business, whatever that means to them.

We learned how to create a calm, aligned and profitable business that supports our life in the way we need it to.  It hasn't always been easy.  We've struggled.  In life, in love, and in business together. 

In 2022, when it became clear to us that being aligned or misaligned led to losses and wins at different times in our businesses - harmony or disharmony - we chose to focus on aligning ourselves, our ways and our business, and then sharing that with others.

We know that being in business together as a couple, or as family members, has greater potential for misalignment because of the inherent intertwining of personal and professional relationships. 

Our work is what's never talked about in family business.

When everyone’s pulling in different directions in family business partnerships, it can feel isolating, upsetting, and progress can feel impossible.

We want to make a difference for couples and families in business together, with how they feel as they experience life where love and business collide.  Because we know exactly how tough it can be.

Our simple resources, that we wish we'd had in our journey of being in business together, are a game-changer for the business leaders we work with. 

We'd love to meet you in our online coaching community, and talk more together, so come on in!

Getting it together, together...

Lis & Mike

How ekoYOU started as a family business coaching practice

From coaching and supporting others with tools we created, and then writing a book, How to be Yourself, in 2014, we saw the makings of a business that could support others if we put everything we had learned together.

Time goes fast, life can be tough, as well as short! 

Along with our unique life experiences, perspectives, life and business coaching skills, and professional work over three decades to support organisations and individuals through change, we’re doing what feels right.

Harness your family relationships to strengthen your business and life

Be aspirational and inspired as you transform the way you think about your life as a couple or family in business together; you’ll never be the same again! And we’ll support you all the way.

If you have the desire and the will to change up your life and your business for the better, we’re ready to support you on your self-defined transformational journey. You deserve to spend some intentional time with yourself to grow and develop, unlearn and relearn, as you assemble a toolkit for life and business.

If you're ready to see more calm, harmony and profits, book a free chat with us and we’ll help you unlock the full potential of your relationship and your family business.

Latest insights for couples and families in business

Why Good Strategies Fail: Validation, Alignment & Behaviour in Family Business

Many of the strategies we create for a better business, better relationship, or better life don’t fail because they’re poorly designed. They fail for another reason - one that’s almostRead more

The Hidden Cost of Misalignment (The Profit You Never See)

Most leaders are looking in the wrong place for profitability. They watch revenue. They watch costs. They watch margins. And yet, even when all three look “okay”, something still feels off.  Read more

The Money Illusion: Why Businesses Struggle Financially at Every Stage (And What To Do About It)

“Money struggle means we need more revenue, better pricing, tighter costs… maybe we just need to work harder.” This is the common story: ·         Early stage: “We just need moreRead more

Alignment Isn’t Soft - It’s Structural

Illusion Alignment is about feelings, harmony, and nice conversations. Reality Alignment is about speed, leverage, and value protection. ⸻ What Alignment Really Is Alignment is the shared clarityRead more

Decision Deadlocks and Open vs Closed Systems

The Illusion “If we don’t agree on the way forward, we can’t move forward.” This illusion shows up as: •                    Endless discussionsRead more

Money isn't the problem - your Money Personality is

1. The Illusion “We just can’t agree about money.” Most couples and families in business assume the problem is the money itself: “We’re spending too much.” “You’re too cautious.”Read more

A Vital Practice for Couples in Business: Self-Care First

Running a business together can quietly drain your energy, and your relationship. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, this guide gives you a simple self-care-first routine to reduce burnout, setRead more

5 Conversations Every Sibling Business Needs

5 Conversations Siblings in Business Need — Before Time or Tension Forces Them Running a business with your siblings can feel natural. You already share history, trust, and values. But over time, lRead more

Building An Abundant Business - Whatever That Means To You

Starting and running a business as a couple or family can be incredibly rewarding, both financially and personally. And it should be about creating a business that not only provides wealth but alsoRead more

Own Your Vision: Stop Seeking Validation!

Your vision is yours and yours alone. You don't need to seek validation for it. You're here now, with countless options before you. Let's call your ultimate goal your North Star. You've created thisRead more

The Transformative Power of a Values Exercise

Over the years, I've engaged in a number of values exercises, each time hoping to gain deeper insight into what truly motivates and guides me. However, these attempts often left me feeling uncertainRead more

Never-ending Work Day

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, the line between work and personal life often blurs, especially for couples running businesses together. The once sacred dining table transforms into aRead more
 

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