Marriage, Million-Dollar Milestones, and the Bookkeeping That Holds It All Together
Twenty-one years of marriage.
Two kids.
A business that hit $1 million in lifetime revenue this year.
As I celebrate my 21st anniversary today, here are some thoughts on how business, marriage, and bookkeeping intersect for me. You’d think those things have nothing in common, but truthfully, they’re built on the same foundation: communication, consistency, and choosing the work that matters.
💬 Communication Is Everything — in Marriage and Business
If I’ve learned anything over 21 years, it’s that partnership only works when there’s open, honest communication.
In marriage, that means keeping each other in the loop about schedules, plans, kids, and what life looks like this week. If my husband and I don’t talk, things get missed. We drift. And the connection that keeps everything running smoothly? It frays.
In business, it’s the same thing.
If my clients don’t tell me they bought a new vehicle, took out a loan, or opened another bank account, it’s impossible for me to keep their books accurate. And when the books aren’t accurate, their decisions aren’t grounded in truth.
Communication keeps marriages alive; it keeps businesses healthy. Without it, everything falls apart quietly—not because of bad intent, but because nobody said the thing that needed saying.
🧾 The “Bookkeeping” of Marriage
Marriage has its own kind of bookkeeping—the daily, often invisible maintenance that keeps it balanced.
My sister has this saying: “Choose your love, love your choice.”
That’s the work. Every day, you choose to love the one you chose. Some days it’s easy; other days, it’s an intentional act of service.
That choice isn’t about control; it’s about serving.
It’s empowering and supporting your partner. It’s choosing to encourage and want the best for them.
And honestly? That’s not that different from doing your bookkeeping. You have to choose to do the task even when it feels repetitive or inconvenient (the reconciliations, the follow-ups), not because they’re thrilling, but because they keep everything balanced.
🛠️ Systems, Surprises, and the Joy in the Process
If I could give advice to both a newly married couple and a new business owner, it would be this:
Find joy in the unexpected and create systems that help you handle it.
Neither marriage nor entrepreneurship comes with a predictable script. You’ll have curveballs, hard seasons, and moments where you wonder what the hell you signed up for.
That’s why systems matter.
In marriage, it’s your communication rhythms and how you show up for each other.
In business, it’s your workflows, your bookkeeping, and the structure that keeps the chaos manageable.
❤️ The Power of a Partner Who Tells You the Truth
My husband has been my biggest cheerleader. He’s encouraged me, supported me, and pushed me to go after growth. I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am without that kind of steady, honest support.
And sometimes, that honesty stings a little.
I remember having a client I really needed to let go of, but I kept hanging on. Every month or so, I’d vent to my husband about what had happened, how frustrated I was… Finally, he said, “I thought you were going to fire them.”
Oof.
Not what I wanted to hear. But absolutely what I needed to hear.
That moment reminded me of what I do for my clients. I’m not here to sugarcoat. I’ll tell you what you need to hear—not what you want to hear—because I care about you and your business. That’s what real partnership looks like, in marriage or in bookkeeping: truth served with love.
🎉 Celebrating the Wins
We’re not big gift-givers. When we celebrate, it’s through experiences—a nice dinner out, a weekend trip, a memory over material things.
But this year, when my business hit $1 million in lifetime revenue, I decided to mark the milestone differently. I wanted something tangible, something I wouldn’t normally buy, to remind me of how far I’ve come.
So, I bought the Louis Vuitton purse.
Not out of vanity, but as a symbol. A reminder that every reconciliation, every client win, every decision to show up and do the work… it added up to something worth celebrating.
✨ The Takeaway
Marriage and business are both long games. They take communication, intention, and a willingness to do the daily maintenance that no one applauds but everyone benefits from.
Whether it’s reconciling your books or reconnecting with your spouse, it’s the quiet consistency that creates lasting success.
So here’s to 21 years of marriage, and to every business owner learning to love their numbers the same way: with honesty, effort, and the kind of partnership that makes the work worth it.
If you’re ready for a bookkeeping partner who’ll celebrate your wins, tell you the truth (even when it’s uncomfortable), and keep the communication real—let’s talk. Because your business deserves someone who’s in it for the long haul.
Want to learn more on how to become a better communicator? Check out this blog post on Honesty in Business.
