I am 42 now and wish I’d taken many more bold steps much earlier. Retirement is only getting closer.

It all returns to communication and clarity. Talking about it, getting straight what each of you needs/wants, and working on possible paths.

I’d also love to hear from Pam and from Dave on what he and his wife did.

If I could show you how my life has changed 180 degrees every few years over the last decade, you would be flabbergasted, but each change brought my life to new heights. What enabled me to make these changes was having a spouse that respected, supported and believed in me.

Opening our first business was the toughest. It took a lot of courage and planning, but 5 businesses later, we count our blessings every day. We’ve closed or sold 4 of the 5 business and haven’t looked back and continue to build our lives in the fashion that we see fit for us.

Regarding what other people think: Don’t let your insecurities stand in your way. It really doesn’t matter what anyone thinks except the 2 of you. At the end of the day, no one will live you life for you, pay your bills, and love your spouse for you. All these things are your responsibility, therefore, only your opinion matters. Besides, the naysayers are usually folks who have never had the guts, talent or resources to open up their own businesses. You know that saying, misery loves company?

As far as getting your wife on board, letting her know that you cherish and respect her opinion above others is vital. However, remember these few points: 1) you only gain a lot if you dare risk alot 2) very successful people make decisions quickly 3) you have only one life to live and you certainly don’t get do-overs, so DECIDE how you want your life to be, write it, live it 4) you have a year’s worth of living expenses which is way more than most folks, however, get more funding in place because you most likely will need it and since you have money in the bank, it’s easier to get a line of credit (especially in these tough economic times) when you have money 5) TIMING is everything

I know you will both make great decisions together…Good luck and here’s to a prosperous 2009 to you!
Lee

I spent 28 years in the corporate world and got married in year 27 to my spouse.

Year 28 result in me being given a choice to stay or leave the firm with a financial inducement. I took the inducement and took time to discern my next step.

I made the decision to respond to a deep, inner yearning and have been pursuing my entrepreneurial vision which has been the best thing for me.

My spouse revealed that part of her decision to marry me was because I was “Steady Eddie – Joe Corporate!”

Conflict!

Not the first and not the last.

Do what you gotta do, otherwise you are likely to be one miserable unhappy camper.

I always support the idea that everyone can get out of the situation what they want – it’s all in the planning

So, your wife wants that one of you has a stable job (actually she probably means herself as she seems to think that yours won’t be that stable) – any way, how long might it take her to find the new job? has she started already? How much time does she give herself for this transition? realistically it should not take her more than several months – if it takes longer than it is not “I am changing my job” than it is more like “I think I should look out for an opportunity”. Let’s assume she is really looking for a new job – if you could agree that you wait with your transition for another 3-4 months giving her time to find a new job than you can start pursuing your business once she has her new job.
You mentioned you work together with your uncle – why not mention to him that you are contemplating developing your own business and ask him not to move into the new position? Or ask him if you could work part-time (or let’s say 4 days a week)

What I am trying to say here – try to break your situation and all the components into parts and then look how you can combine them in an unconventional way … look at your situation as being in a flow so that ou can exchange each “ingredient” through a different one, break the order of things in time …